The Paris-Dakar Rally participants' flight by Gazpromavia
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On January 1-21, Gazpromavia provided passenger and cargo flight for the Paris-Dakar rally. Three AN-74 jets were involved in transportation services. The 1st airliner delivered medical personnel, the 2nd one, equipment for reporters and the 3rd one, helicopter spare parts and cargo for racing teams. The 3rd jet was also full-time surveillance operational and had to make to 5 flights per day. |
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One of Gazpromavia’s planes was always positioned on a special runway in each airport. In case of a racer’s accident, the jet undertakes an emergency flight to the nearest hospital. |
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Aircraft landed every 10 minutes. On arriving at an airport, the airliner headed for a parking area where aircrews offloaded luggage setting up a camp. |
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All rally-related flights were at daytime. African airports lack runway night landing equipment. At the very sunrise the jet caravan took off into the sky. On the photo: the Quarzazate airport in Morocco |
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Some 20 airliners (from Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria and other countries) were servicing the Rally participants. Air trafficers, responsible for the flight security, were first to reach new destinations on a light Cessna. On landing, flight controllers set up a control unit to coordinate the landing of all other planes. On the photo: air trafficers’ plane |
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Some 20 airliners (from Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria and other countries) were servicing the Rally participants. Air trafficers, responsible for the flight security, were first to reach new destinations on a light Cessna. On landing, flight controllers set up a control unit to coordinate the landing of all other planes. On the photo: air trafficers’ plane |
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All crews servicing the Rally were staffed with high-class pilots. There were no vacancies for unskilled staff as planes had to land in various environments. Gazpromavia’s pilots were highly respected for experience in the severest Extreme North environment operation. On the photo: landing during a sandstorm at the Tidjikdja airport (Mauritania) |
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The most sophisticated jets servicing the Rally were of Russian origin. The AN-74 airliner was designed especially for operating in severe environment as it can land not only on any runway but any hard soil area, as well. |
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The Rally route passed via France – Spain – Morocco – Western Sahara – Mauritania – Mali – Burkina-Faso– Mauritania – Senegal. Its length totaled 11,147 km. |
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The organizers of the Paris-Dakar rally selected Gazpromavia as a preferable flight agent based on simple reasons: the airline owns reliable planes and employs highly professional crews. Despite tense competition when servicing the Rally, French doctors annually keep insisting on being transported by Gazpromavia’s jets and crews. On the photo: medical hospital. |
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Mauritania is a country mostly situated in the Sahara desert and is the last rally stage before the participants reach Dakar, Senegal’s capital. On the photo: Gazpromavia’s 3 aircrews at the Nouakchott (Mauritania’s capital) airport before flying to Senegal. |