224th Flight Unit

The 224th Flight Unit (Russian: 224 Летный отряд, also rendered as 224 Flight Unit or 224 FU) is a Russian cargo airline specialising in the commercial air transport of outsized and heavy freight. It is headquartered at a military air base in Tver and is 100% owned through a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Defence, which places military-owned Il-76 and An-124-100 aircraft at the disposal of third-party customers through this commercial structure. The company presents itself as one of the world's dedicated heavy aircraft operators, with more than 40 years of experience in aviation, and says it is trusted by governments, major international organisations, military and civilian shippers, manufacturers and private customers. The airline was registered with the International Civil Aviation Organization under the three-letter ICAO code "TTF" on 16 October 1995. Its fleet consists of two aircraft types: the Ilyushin Il-76 (reported as 14 Il-76MD aircraft) and the Antonov An-124-100 (reported as seven aircraft), with the fleet, especially the number of An-124-100s, described as permanently expanding. All An-124-100 aircraft comply with ICAO Chapter 3 noise regulations, while the Il-76MD complies with Chapter 2. The staff of "224 FU" JSC numbers about 650 people, including 430 flight personnel. The company holds special licensed divisions for maintenance and overhaul and performs most aircraft maintenance in-house, except heavy maintenance on the An-124-100, which is carried out at Aviastar SP JSC in Ulyanovsk. It has the right to perform cargo charter flights worldwide, including to North America, following a permission granted by the US Department of Transport on 2 February 2010. It operates under continuous EASA monitoring and held a TCO authorisation valid until March 2018, with UAE GCAA authorisation valid until January 2018. The airline is also entitled to perform parachute landing of cargoes and paratroopers, including low-altitude parachute delivery (LAPD) operations, and cites experience in Antarctica and at the North Pole. Its main customer is the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, alongside state entities such as Rossiya Special Flight Unit and Rosoboronexport. After the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war, the 224th Flight Unit was placed under international sanctions. Its aircraft have notably been used in Africa to supply Russian military and paramilitary forces, including the Wagner Group and later the Africa Corps.

The 224th Flight Unit traces its operational identity to a Russian military flight unit based at Tver, and its commercial airline arm was formally registered with the International Civil Aviation Organization under the three-letter ICAO code "TTF" on 16 October 1995. The company describes itself as having more than 40 years of experience in the aviation industry, reflecting the long service history of the unit from which it derives. The airline is 100% owned through a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Defence. This ownership structure means that military-owned aircraft — Ilyushin Il-76 and Antonov An-124-100 transports — are made available to third-party customers through the commercial entity. By 2011, the company was reported to operate 14 Ilyushin Il-76 and two Antonov An-124-100 aircraft stationed at an air base in Tver, belonging to the Russian air force and placed at the disposal of third-party clients through this structure. Over the following years the fleet expanded, particularly the number of An-124-100 aircraft. The company's own account states that it operates 14 Il-76MD and seven An-124-100 fixed-wing aircraft, with the fleet permanently expanding. It built up a broad customer base including governments, major international organisations, military and civilian shippers, manufacturers and private customers. The Office of the President of the Russian Federation is described as its main customer, alongside state entities such as the Rossiya Special Flight Unit federal state enterprise and Rosoboronexport. The airline obtained permission from the US Department of Transport on 2 February 2010 to perform cargo charter flights to North America. It operated under continuous EASA monitoring, holding a TCO authorisation valid until March 2018, and held UAE GCAA authorisation valid until January 2018. It also developed specialised capabilities, including the right to perform parachute landing of cargoes and paratroopers, including low-altitude parachute delivery (LAPD) operations, and cites experience in Antarctica and at the North Pole. Heavy maintenance on the An-124-100 is carried out at Aviastar SP JSC in Ulyanovsk, while other maintenance is performed in-house by licensed divisions. After the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war, the 224th Flight Unit was placed under international sanctions. Its aircraft have notably been used in Africa to supply Russian military and paramilitary forces, including the Wagner Group and later the Africa Corps.

• 2018

  Held EASA TCO authorisation valid until March and UAE GCAA authorisation valid until January.

• 2011

  Reported to operate 14 Il-76 and two An-124-100 aircraft based at Tver.

• 2010

  Granted permission by the US Department of Transport on 2 February to perform cargo charter flights to North America.

• 1995

  Registered with ICAO under the three-letter code "TTF" on 16 October.

Dedicated heavy-lift cargo operator trusted by governments, militaries and commercial shippers for outsized freight worldwide.

• Il-76MD cargo aircraft operations

• An-124-100 heavy-lift cargo aircraft operations

• Worldwide cargo charter flights

• Parachute landing of cargo and paratroopers (LAPD)

• Aircraft maintenance and overhaul services

1. 1О нас224lo.com
2. 2About224lo.com
3. 3224th Flight Unitwikidata.org
4. 4224e brigade volantefr.wikipedia.org