RUSAL, a leading aluminum producer, the MASS GROUP investment company, and SIAL Group have signed an agreement to conduct research and development work, as well as build Russia's first experimental aluminum runway. The construction of aluminum runways is designed for small aircraft, including An-2 aircraft and the prospective Baikal aircraft, which will significantly improve the transport accessibility of Siberia and the Far East.
According to Alexander Sobolev, General Director of MASS GROUP, the idea to build an aluminum runway came from the successful experience of constructing and operating aluminum helipad projects.
Aluminum platforms are successfully operated in various regions of Russia, including in extreme climatic conditions. Aluminum coatings ensure safety during takeoff and landing of helicopters of any class, from light to the heaviest cargo machines such as the Mi-26.
Aluminum strips provide high strength and corrosion resistance, making them an environmentally friendly and effective solution for civil aviation, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Choosing aluminum instead of traditional concrete reduces delivery and construction costs, making the cost of a full-fledged aluminum runway 15–20% cheaper than a similar concrete one. The projected length of the runway will be up to 600 meters, and its creation will require about 300 tons of hardened aluminum alloy.
Earlier, www1.ru reported on the construction of a workshop for the assembly of the Baikal aircraft, the production of which will begin in the coming years in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The new aircraft will replace the outdated An-2.
