For Immediate Release....

Gigantic cargo plane loaded up for Sumatra

by Clair Johnson
The Billings Gazette

Billings On its approach into Billings on Wednesday afternoon, the Russian cargo plane didn't look like the world's second-biggest cargo aircraft. But as it taxied to a stop on the tarmac at Billings Logan International Airport, there was no doubt that this plane could haul two Huey helicopters, a fuel truck, supply trailer and large crew to Indonesia to aid tsunami victims.

The AN-124-100 Ruslan, chartered by Le Bas International on behalf of Air Serv International, a Virginia-based nonprofit humanitarian airlift organization, dwarfed airport vehicles that awaited its arrival.

Within a half-hour of landing, the plane's nose flipped up and the tail door opened for cargo to be loaded from either end.

The plane is scheduled to deliver its load in the eastern Sumatran city of Medan early Saturday, one week after Air Serv hired two Montana flying services to help with the relief effort.

The whirlwind project kept Billings Flying Service and Tamarack Air Services of Stevensville scrambling right up until the transport plane landed, making sure everything was ready to go.

Gary Blain, a pilot with Billings Flying Service, said he was tired but figured he could sleep on the flight. He was happy to help out, he said.

He'd been so busy packing the helicopter that he packed himself "about 15 minutes ago," Blain said as he stood next to the giant plane. Among the items tucked into the helicopter were life jackets and rafts because they'll be flying over water, he said.

Blain, his brother, Robert, and nephew, A.J. Blain, 18, will fly aircraft to deliver food and supplies. A third brother and A.J.'s father, Al Blain, will join the crew a little later along with others from the longtime family flying company.

Blain friend Cobey Theade, who retired eight months ago from 20 years as a Billings police officer, had a passport and volunteered to go along. "They needed the extra help," he said.

Theade will help set up camp and drive the fuel truck and supply trailer from Medan to the Banda Aceh region where the group will be working. There is supposed to be a U.N. escort, he said.

The trip is being organized by Air Serv, which is under contract with World Vision, a nonprofit Christian relief organization.

Mark Abbott, Air Serv's board chairman and a FedEx pilot, said the cargo plane was scheduled to leave Billings about 4 a.m. today. The plane will fly to Russia for fueling and then head to Medan, where it will arrive early Saturday.

The Montana group will be stationed at an air base on Sabans, an island nine miles from Banda Aceh. Banda Aceh and the northern region of Sumatra is the epicenter of the Dec. 26 tsunami catastrophe that killed more than 165,000 people in 11 countries.

Indonesia's Health Ministry on Wednesday declared dead more than 70,000 people previously listed as missing. If confirmed, the overall tsunami death toll would climb to more than 221,000 people.

A 30-minute flight by helicopter would be a 12-hour drive by vehicle in a country where the tsunami wiped out many roads, Abbott said. "There are thousands and thousands of people who are going to be assisted,'' he said.

Loading the cargo plane drew a large crowd of spectators of support staff and family members of those preparing to leave. Almost everyone got a chance to walk up the broad steel ramp under the cockpit and into the belly of the aircraft for a look around the dark, cavernous interior. Nearly everyone had a camera and took pictures.

The supply trailer was loaded first through the back of the plane. Next came the red helicopter from Billings Flying Service. The rotors were tied down parallel with the helicopter and wheels were attached to the back of the skids. A cable attached to a bar at the front winched the helicopter up the forward ramp and inside.

In addition to a second helicopter and fuel truck, other gear included supplies sent by World Vision's Denver office.

While in Billings, Abbott bought two new Honda all-terrain vehicles, and spent $4,000 at Costco stocking up on food and supplies that the group of nine will need for a two-month stay. Among the items were 5,000 bottles of water, two generators, microwave ovens and plastic tables. Abbott said he also bought soccer balls to give to the children.

Six students in Rocky Mountain College's aviation program helped Abbott with shopping and loading the supplies onto the plane. "We went to Costco and sort of cleaned them out," said Sam Rettig, of Bridger, who has nearly completed the requirements for his commercial pilot's license.

The AN-124 is a far bigger craft than the C-5B Galaxy used by the U.S. military. The wings span 240 feet, 5 inches and the body is 226 feet, 3 inches long. (That makes the plane similar in size to the Boeing 747 widebody passenger jet.) The airplane has two decks. The lower deck is the cargo department and the upper deck is the crew cabin, which can accommodate 21 people.

The AN-124 began service in 1986, according to aerospace-technology.com. The plane is designed for long-range delivery and has a payload capacity of 150 tons.

Le Bas International specializes in arranging transport for heavy and unique cargoes around the world.

Copyright © The Billings Gazette 2005

Headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California, Le Bas International is the leading provider of charter aircraft worldwide. The company is relied upon extensively by corporations, airlines, financial institutions, personalities and heads of state throughout the world. Its two operations centers located in California, USA and Shannon, Ireland, maintain seamless 24 hour "daytime" service by taking advantage of two time-zones, ensuring immediate response time and customer service every day of the year. For more information please visit www.lebas.com.