First Flight Landing on Renewed Runway at Solovki

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First Flight Landing on Renewed Runway at Solovki This event marks a milestone in the progress of the major project to create a state-of-the-art airport hub at the archipelago (work carried out by STG). 29 November, the gateway received the first plane exactly on time.

L-410 aircraft brought locals to Solovki. Russian Aviation Administration Manager Alexander Nerad’ko and Arkhangelsk Region First Vice Governor Alexey Alsufyev also came to the archipelago to inspect the new airstrip. The renovation project was carried out on a tight schedule and in tough climate conditions. But thanks to the fast speed of construction, the project was commissioned as scheduled.  “The completion of the renovation job on time is an excellent example of a good coordination between the federal and local authorities, clients and STG as contractor,” said Russian Aviation Administration Manager Alexander Nerad’ko, after inspecting the renovated facility.

STG launched the renovation of the airport hub this May. Over 200 specialists were used for the project, 51 units of construction and auxiliary machinery were mobilized to the island.

Phases 1 and 2 of the project have been completed by now. The airstrip was renovated and re-paved with 991m out of 1,500m commissioned. A new taxiway and apron for 4 aircraft with a de-icing treatment area were built. Joints were constructed between PAG-14 RC airfield slabs which were used to build the runway, taxiway and 4-aircraft apron. Markings were applied to the pavement. Lighting poles, utilities and new transformer substations, on-site communication systems and on-site 6kV power supply systems were completely installed. Flight safety lighting systems were installed.

Within project phases 1 and 2, focus was placed on the waste treatment facilities. An airport is a facility that has large concreted areas where water would pond if not diverted to the sewer. Besides, due to the facility specifics, the airport waste water contains a lot of chemical compounds, oil products, etc. and therefore the waste water treatment system must be as efficient as possible. A system of treatment facilities was built. Waste water from the Solovki airport will undergo multi-stage treatment from filtration through oil/grit separators to UV neutralization to kill bacteria and viruses including spore-forming bacteria. These design concepts meet the requirements of UNESCO who supervises the progress of the airport renovation at the World Heritage Site. This status was assigned to Solovki in 1992.

The airport is currently classified D (Г) and can handle airplanes with a maximum takeoff weight of 30 tons such as An-2, An-24, An-28, L-410 and helicopters of all types. The renovation will significantly improve the runway so the airport will be able to handle modern heavier airplanes and to double the airport’s throughput capacity.

The airport renovation project is being implemented under the national program for the Solovetsky Archipelago infrastructure development. The commissioned new runway will give impetus to a dynamic growth of air links not only between the archipelago and Arkhangelsk, but with other parts of the country.

The project was delivered on a tight schedule as the special construction process dictated by the high requirements put to such facilities demands that work be done during the warm period of the year. At the same time, the Solovetskiye Islands are a remote area, building materials and machinery are brought there by water transport that can operate during only a limited navigation period. And the material requirement for the project was very large.

Key figures after completion of Phases 1, 2:

Sand imported	151,848 Mt
Mixed cargo delivered	18,131 Mt
PAG-14 airfield slabs delivered	7,667 ea
Old runway metal plates removed	42,949 m²
Total quantity of PAG-14 airfield slabs installed on runway, taxiway and apron	6011 ea
Runway, taxiway and apron joints sealed	52 km
Markings on pavements applied	4,543 m²
Total concreting of foundations and cast-in-situ sections	960 m³

During Phase 3, STG will complete the construction of the remaining runway section, install navigation lighting and weather equipment, build storage facilities for machines and equipment, access control point, patrol road, etc.