Airbus Beluga in Muscat: What do you know?

Muscat: Muscat International Airport witnesses a major event with the arrival of the “Beluga Airbus A300,” the world’s largest cargo aircraft.

Oman Airports said it highlights the airport’s readiness and the efficiency of its operations team, reaffirming the strategic role Muscat, plays on the global air cargo map.

The Airbus A300-608ST Beluga, called ‘BCO4003,’ left for Hyderabad from Muscat at 7.27 pm.

The aircraft began its journey on August 27, taking off from Toulouse, France, before landing in Marseille, France.

It continued its route on August 28, departing from Marseille and landing in Cairo, Egypt. On August 29, it took off from Cairo and landed in Muscat.

According to FlightRadar24.com, Airbus uses A300-608ST Beluga to move aircraft components from manufacturing to final assembly, while @Airbus said its #H175 helicopters are on the way to their destinations, taking almost six days with a few stops along the way for the Beluga to reach its destination.

Airbus said its #H175 helicopters are on the way to their destinations

Airbus said its #H175 helicopters are on the way to their destinations

Airbus said its #H175 helicopters are on the way to their destinations

About Beluga

The BelugaST retains the same flight deck that is in worldwide operation on Airbus A300-600s and A310s.

The cockpit includes controls for a transportable heating module that can be installed in the main deck cargo compartment. This module provides temperature-controlled conditions for sensitive payloads carried by the BelugaST, including satellites – and even paintings.

In 2004, a Beluga delivered relief supplies to the Indian Ocean region following the devastation of coastal areas by a tsunami.

In 2005, the type transported humanitarian aid and medical supplies from the United Kingdom and France to the Gulf Coast of the United States as part of disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The Beluga has seen recurrent use to transport bulky objects, including vehicles, for various space programs.

In 2001, sections of the unmanned Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) space vehicle were transported by a Beluga from Turin, Italy, to Amsterdam, Netherlands.

In 2004, multiple Beluga flights were made to Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, to deliver Astrium-built satellites.

In 2009, a Beluga was used to convey the Tranquility module of the International Space Station from Turin to Kennedy Space Center, United States.