History
As from mid 90s AVIACON ZITOTRANS has been specializing in delivery of outsize, military and humanitarian cargo worldwide with its fleet of classic IL76TD freighters.
In 1995 former pilots of Sverdlovsk branch of the Soviet Aeroflot founded a cargo airline with the assets taken from the regional cargo fleet of it’s mother airline.
Originally started as a primarily charter passenger airline with the fleet of old Russian TU-154s, rivalling Ural Airlines, Aviacon focused on IL76TD aircargo business by the end of 1990s.
Originally designed as a military transport, with pressurized cabin, capable of operating from short and unpaved runways, IL76 freighter achieved an excellent reputation for its versatility and operational reliability.
The aircraft proved to be ideal for transportation of 3 20’ sea containers vehicles, military pallets and other heavy, out- and oversized cargo.
Being a workhorse for the all-cargo industry, the aircraft has flown vital cargo into the dangerous regions of the world for decades, using its rugged construction, rough-field performance and ramp-loading capabilities to great effect.
In early 2000s the airline has been a major airlift supplier for humanitarian agencies and UN peacekeepers providing ad-hoc charters and long-term solutions for a number of UN organizations, including the World Food Programme (WFP), UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), African Union/ United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) and the Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
From 2004 to 2007, one of Aviacon’s Ilyushin-76 aircraft was permanently based at the UN logistics base (UNLB) in Brindisi, Italy, operating under the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) banner.
The aircraft was on permanent standby either in Brindisi or within 48 hours of “reactivation” depending on demand. Painted in the full UN livery and operated under Aviacon callsign, it has flown over 2400 hours in support of humanitarian activities worldwide.
Since then, Aviacon fleet was a feature of all major natural disasters and conflict responses requiring airlift, including the Asian tsunami, the devastating earthquakes in Iran, Haiti, Nepal, flood in Pakistan, hurricane in the Caribbean, and support for refugees in war-torn regions worldwide.
Under the UN long-term contract in 2011-2012 Aviacon Ilyushin was deployed in Kinshasa and Entebbe to provide airlift support for the UN mission in Darfur and the election campaign in Democratic Republic of Congo, sponsored by MONUSCO.
Aviacon’s fleet was positioned in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As part of the UN fleet, it provided airlift logistic support for election campaigns of 2011 and 2016. Till March 2017 two IL-76s of Aviacon were contracted by the UN mission in DRC (MONUSCO). For 147 days the planes made 500 hours with only one day categorized as non-mission ready due to a crewmember sick.
In early 2010s a special record-breaking airlift was added to our professional portfolio.
In March 2013 Aviacon’s IL76 flew GE gear (turbine rotor) from Russia to South Korea and backward to meet the short deadline to deliver a 46,2 tonnes monopiece for the urgent repair.
This was the heaviest monopiece ever moved by IL-76TD aircraft.
Operating the type within niche market for more than 25 years, Aviacon has gained a reputation of one of the most professional commercial operator of that type of aircraft.
In 2014 one of our planes was chartered by a UN agency to deliver materials related to anti-Ebola fight during the outbreak in Western Africa.
Then we obtained the valuable experience in handling of the cargo at the airport of destination, safe coordintion with airport authorities and handler’s employees, mitigating concomitant risks to which pilots and cargo cabin crews are exposed.
This experience is very useful now during anti-COVID-19 fight where the whole aircargo industy is on the fronline.