Almaty will connect transport air flow between Asia and Europe thanks to new runway

November 15, 2008
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On November 15, 2008 presentation of the second runway
took place in Almaty International Airport
for Nursultan Nazarbayev, Head of the State.

"Passenger traffic flow will grow, therefore the need in the second runway is proved”, said Nursultan Nazarbayev while viewing the project.

This project was realized with support of Akimat (City Administration) of Almaty and Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Akhmetzhan Yessimov, Akim of the city and Kulnazarov S.D., General Director of Kazaeronavigation RGP took part in ceremony of the presentation.

Akim of the city Akhmetzhan Yessimov said: “The unique runway allows landing at visibility 50 meters. It increases the city level again allow for the fact that we are expecting the gaming of Asiad.

“In recent years Almaty airport has achieved positive substantial changes. It has obtained status of an international hub oriented for bringing in main cargo and passenger traffic between Asia and Europe. Launch of new runway will allow Almaty International Airport significant increasing of all-freight and passengers operations”, – said Tair Idrissov, President of Almaty International Airport. 

The new runway in length of 4,5 km. and width of 60 meters is able to accept all types of aircraft without restriction of take-off weight and operations frequency. 

Cost of the second runway construction is more than $87 mln, air traffic control and meteorological equipment facilities construction is more than $7 mln.

In recent years passenger and freight traffics, transit flights operated via our country by leading world airlines (КLМ, Lufthansa, FEDEX and many others) on heavy types of aircrafts B-747-400, MD-11, An-124 has grown expansively. Frequency of overhaul of flexible (asphaltic-concrete) pavement is 5 to 7 years as per standards and operating life of the existing (the first) runway after reconstruction has been already 9 years when it is operated with heavy-duty aircraft. 

In connection with this management of Almaty International Airport made a decision to construct the second runway. During the construction of the second runway materials and technologies which were in conformity with the best world standards including installation of special lighting equipment by Siemens were used.

Almaty airport locates in fog zone within autumn-winter period therefore lighting to be used  under conditions of limited visibility is mounted in new runway as well as the latest navigation aids with instrument landing system with both directions.

Planum, Yugoslav company, that has more than 50 years experience in airfield construction made paving of runway.  This company has already constructed 15 airfield runways including Sheremetiyevo and Kemerevo runways. Geotextile preventing ingress of moisture into base course and special mesh reinforcement stabilizing a ground were used for bottoming of the second runway. During the concrete pavement construction special cement М500DО of Russian production in bulk of 67,000 ton was used. During the runway construction 164,000 m3 of concrete was laid within 5 months. Lighting by Siemens satisfying the latest requirements was mounted; 168 km of cable were laid.   

From September 08 to 10, 2008 expert bodies from Interstate Aviation Committee surveyed Almaty aerodrome for conformity with aviation rules in stage of issuance of Aerodrome Certificate for flights under conditions of ICAO Category III A that highly appraised quality of executed works.

On September 30 the new runway accepted the first aircraft of Air Astana airlines operated by the route Pavlodar - Almaty. Pilots highly appraised its quality and technical characteristics.

Alena Kochneva
 PR assistant to the President, Almaty International Airport
tel.: +7 (727) 388-8773
cell: +7 (701) 722-1619
AKochneva@alaport.com