Australia eases noise threshold for AN-124 operator

Australia eases noise threshold for AN-124 operator    Ruslan International has operated its first AN-124 commercial freighter flight from Australia since the acceptance of its aircraft as Chapter 3 International Civil Aviation Organization noise-compliant by the country's Department of Infrastructure and Transportation.
   Ruslan was required to submit 'letters of support' from its charter principals to the department, proving it flights were in the public interest, before it could obtain operating rights. This requirement was recently rescinded after Ruslan submitted noise certificates for all 17 AN-124s, satisfying the department that its fleet fully complies with the international noise standards
   Ruslan is a joint venture company which markets and manages the combined fleet of AN-124 freighters belonging to its parents Antonov Airlines and Volga Dnepr Airlines.
   Ruslan's most recent flight from Australia included 105 tons of specialized drilling equipment for Tom Browne International Pty Ltd. in Sydney to Nouakchott in Mauritania.