Turkmenistan increases logistic potential of civil aviation

During the session of the Cabinet of Ministers on December 1, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that advantages of geographic location of Turkmenistan on the crossroad of the main routes of the continent allows favourable realization of national transport resources for the provision of Eurasian connections.

In this aspect, the Head of the State paid special attention to the necessity of dynamic modernization of all branches of national transport, which are to operate on the best world’s standards level. Civil aviation is one of the branches, which development is supported by big investments from the State.

Opening of new International Airport in Turkmen capital, the main air gates of the country, was another important step toward the implementation of grandiose idea of the Leader of the Nation on making the largest transport and logistic centre of the continent and the main link connecting Europe and Asia out of Turkmenistan.

The airport was opened one year before 2017 Asian Games and made unforgettable impression on the participants and the guests of grandiose sport competition not only by its size and design but also by its capabilities. Around one hundred infrastructural facilities were also built on its territory.

At present time, modern passenger terminal is operating in International airport. Together with the second terminal, which is designated for reception of more than 3 million passengers, it is able to service more than 17 million passengers per year or 3000 passengers per hour. Up to 200 thousand tons of cargo can be processed via automated cargo terminal.

New airport has two air strips 3800 meters each. Air traffic control service is provided with top modern navigation equipment. The air harbour of the capital is able to receive any type of aircrafts of any cargo capacity providing the world-class level of service.

Ashgabat International Airport became the main link of transport and transit infrastructure of the country. The main air carrier “Turkmenistan Air Company” Open Joint Stock Venture has first-class fleet, which is regularly supplemented. Recently, the fleet was supplemented with three top modern Boeing planes of new generation.

Providing timely technical service and maintenance, 10 planes, which had many flight hours, were brought back to operation. Comfortable new generation aircrafts Boeing-737-700 and Boeing- 737-800, which are the most popular models, replaced the planes that worked out their resources. At present time, there are 24 aircraft with high flight characteristics. The number of this type of air carriers will be increased and by 2020, the entire fleet of the country will be replaced with these planes.

Placement of the first Boeing-737-300 aircraft on the demonstration ground of the Aviation Personnel Training School was the symbol of 25-yar history of the cooperation between Turkmenhowayollary Service with Boeing Corporation. Training aircrafts – four Diamond plane and two Emestron helicopters, were procured for flight training of young pilots

Modern simulation centre provided with the most advanced equipment was opened on the base of the Aviation Personnel Training School. If previously the crews flying New Generations Boeing had to go twice a year for the work practice to the training centre of the company in England, now, the flight personnel improves their pilot skills in the country what allowed to speed up the proceeds of the improvement of professional level.

Besides, airport complex of the capital is provided with modern ground equipment. More than 300 units of top modern loaders, refuellers, territory cleaning machines, lifters, ramps and other and many of this equipment is used for the first time in the airport.

The airport has fuel complex, which is able to provide uninterrupted supply of jet fuel to the planes from the tanks of via pipeline system, what gives the opportunity to increase the number of serviced aircrafts, to make faster the fuelling and to save considerable money.

Training of highly qualified aviation personnel played great role in successful mastering of new equipment and technologies. During the construction of the airport, 900 aviation specialist were trained and received the certificates. It allowed improving the service of the passenger and bringing it to international level as per the order of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

In short period, the volumes and quality of air passenger and cargo traffic were considerably increased. The use of modern equipment gave opportunity of the expansion of the geography of new international and existing flights. From the beginning of the year, air carriers of the capital made around 2 thousand international and more than 2400 domestic flights.

Aircraft with the logo of Turkmen falcon make flights to 18 destination overseas and 11 air lines in our country. Turkmen aviators made trial flights to Dushanbe and Erevan. 1 620 000 passengers and 11 400 tons of cargo and mail were transported in all direction in 2017. Economic indicators of air traffic has grown considerably. From the beginning of the year, the rates of cargo and mail air traffic increased 30.6 percent. The income grew to 52.3 percent for nine months of the year.

The interest of foreign carriers to use air space of the country for transit flights and aircrafts refuelling increased considerably. Air traffic control system and number of radar stations used in automatic system of air traffic control on the routes and in airport zone were completely modernized.

Ashgabat International Airport was equipped with modern system of aircraft landing by navigation equipment and other modern equipment from THALES company. Owing to that, the number of aircraft flying across and refuelling in the country increased ten times. Air traffic is also constantly growing as foreign companies give preference to shorter routes provided with modern traffic control and navigation equipment between Europe and South-East Asia. 1666 aircrafts made landing and refuelled in the airports of the country for the last 10 months

The construction of modern airports providing entire complex of services to the passenger and air strips able to accept any type of aircrafts in all velayats is a part of general strategy of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for the establishment of developed infrastructure of air transport of the country and for provision of it with newest equipment for safety and reliability.

Thus, International Airport in Turkmenbashy and passenger terminal and air strip in Mary were built according to the initiative of the Head of the State. Construction of International Airport in Turkmenabat is under completion. New air strip in Dashoguz that is able to receive Boeing-777-200 LR and other aircrafts was built in Dashoguz airport.

Civil aviation of Turkmenistan continues developing and expanding the geography of international flights. The representative offices of the company are opened in 11 largest cities of Asia and Europe. From this year, it is planned to start selling the tickets online via corporate website www.turkmenairlines.com.