Japan's Sendai Airport Reopens to First International Civil Flight After Earthquake and Flooding

By Volga-dnepr Group, PRNE
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

SENDAI, Japan, April 14, 2011 - Volga-Dnepr Airlines has transported a special mobile medical vehicle
from Miami (USA) to Sendai (Japan) to help survivors of the country's
devastating earthquake and tsunami. Volga-Dnepr operated the flight free of
charge as a gesture of support to the Japanese people.

(Photo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110414/449844 )

The AN-124-100 'Ruslan' freighter flight, which touched down in Japan
today (April 14th), was the first international civil flight to land at
Sendai Airport since flood waters and debris from the tsunami deluged the
airport on March 11th. Although the airport was seriously affected by the
natural disaster, all the necessary safety conditions were ensured for the
landing of the AN-124-100 heavy freighter with its urgently-needed relief
load onboard.

Moscow-based Volga-Dnepr chose one of its AN-124-100 cargo aircraft for
the flight because of the non-standard height of the medical vehicle, which
exceeded 3.5 metres. The specialist medical van was delivered on behalf of
the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in the United States. It is designed as a
mobile clinic to provide on-the-spot diagnostics and treatment of
ophthalmologic diseases in those regions where medical aid is urgently needed
because buildings which had housed medical centres were destroyed or badly
damaged by the earthquake and flood waters.

Alexey Isaikin, President of Volga-Dnepr Group, said the flight was to
signal the Group's support and admiration for the Japanese people at such a
difficult time. He commented: "People all over the world have watched the
impact of the tsunami unfold and have been so amazed and humbled by the
strength and resilience of the Japanese people and by their determination and
selflessness in both helping others and beginning to rebuild their lives and
their country. The fact that we have been able to land our aircraft at Sendai
Airport today is a tribute to their resolve. We hope that the mobile medical
equipment we have delivered today will ensure the lives of many people
affected by this natural disaster are made a little easier."

Media contact: Jamie Roche, JRPR, T: +44-(0)1753-621-666 E: jamie at jamierochepr.co.uk

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