Air Charter International (ACI) a leading aircraft charter and leasing company based in Dubai, said it has successfully completed the shipment of an outsized de-mining machine from Europe to Bagram airbase in Afghanistan.

The de-mining machine was transported to Bagram for a commercial leader in the environmental remediation of landmine, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) pollution, clearing battlefields and the management of conventional weapons worldwide, the company in a statement.

With this Air Charter has once again shown its capabilities of dealing with difficult air charter missions, it added.

Claire Brugirard, commercial manager at Air Charter International said this was an extremely complex task which required proper organization and preparation.

'It is a perfect example of the type of Air Charters where Air Charter International excels and can truly apply its knowledge and provide added value to a customer,' she remarked.

Brugirard pointed out that the 40 tonnes cargo was transported in a Russian Ilyushin 76 ramp loader to Afghanistan.

For several years now, efforts have been put into place to make Afghanistan a mine free country by 2013, the company said in a statement.

As such several de-mining companies have already been contracted to assist with the process and help the Afghani nationals claim back their land and ensure it is free of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO's).

Each year since the de-mining action has started in Afghanistan, over 80,000 anti-personnel mines, 100 anti-tank mines and 2.5 million explosive remnants are being destroyed. As a result mine related casualties have significantly dropped, the ACI statement added.-TradeArabia News Service