Flight Planning and Scheduling
On 20 July 2010, the Antonov An-12B aircraft registered RA-11376 was scheduled to operate flight NI-9236 from Keperveem to Komsomolsk-on-Amur. An application for airspace usage had been submitted on 17 July 2010 for a flight originally planned on 19 July 2010. However, due to a departure prohibition, the flight was not performed on that day, and the application was rescheduled to 20 July 2010.
Preflight Preparation and Maintenance
Preparation of the aircraft for the flight was conducted on 20 July 2010. Operational technical maintenance was performed during preflight preparation by the engineering and aviation support personnel of Vostok-Chukotka Airlines under the A1+OV (departure assurance) form, as documented in job card No. 229 dated 21 July 2010. The difference in dates between the flight day and the job card date is attributed to the 12-hour time difference between local time and UTC.
Two engineering specialists from Vostok-Chukotka Airlines were listed as crew members in the flight assignment to conduct ground maintenance: the Deputy Technical Director for Aircraft and Radio Electronic Equipment, and an Aircraft and Engine Technician.
The preflight inspection, as required by the Aircraft Flight Manual, was performed by the flight engineer and recorded with a signature in job card No. 229 dated 21 July 2010. According to the entries in the job card, no discrepancies or remarks were noted during the preparation of the aircraft for flight.
Fuel Loading
The aircraft was loaded with 13,500 kg of TS-1 fuel with added PVK-liquid (fluid "I-M"). This fuel amount was sufficient to fly the planned route from Keperveem to Komsomolsk-on-Amur, including the alternate airports of Khabarovsk and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk selected by the crew. The addition of PVK-liquid was in accordance with the order of the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation No. DV-126 dated 17 October 1992. It is noted that at airports located beyond the Arctic Circle, aircraft refueling is performed with the additive regardless of the outside air temperature.