Vladimir Polyakov, Tyumen International Airport (Roschino) - Аэропорт Рощино (Тюмень)
Release Date: 2009-08-26
What are the particularities and main features of Tyumen airport given its location in one of the largest oil and gas regions in the world?Tyumen airport appeared in 1968 and was subordinated to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. At the time, the entire transport aviation sector was concentrated in the south of the Tyumen region. So, historically, Roschino was the basic airport providing transport communications to the whole of Tyumen during more than 40 years. The territory of the region is very large: the distance from Tyumen to its northern areas is larger than the distance between Tyumen and Moscow. Aviation used to be the priority transport here as there were no railroads or highways, and three types of passenger aircraft and three types of cargo aircraft (An-26, An-12 and Il-76) were operated in the airport. Regional transportation accounted for almost half of the bulk of flights.
Was the active development of the airport a direct consequence of the mass development of oil and gas fields that the Tyumen region is so rich in?
Of course, the airport was formed in the midst of the active development of western Siberia´s oil and gas infrastructure; pipes, materials, equipment and other related cargo had to be transported to the north of Tyumen region, where the fields are located, and this became the core cargo operation of the airport.
Some say that currently the industry is lacking the great impulse it enjoyed when the need in developing new routes and infrastructure was so high…
We were busy with the development of transport aviation during those years, including planes and helicopters. More than 300 helicopters were lifting off every day here! Today, you won’t find this amount of helicopters flying in the whole Russia.
A lot is being said about the impact that the development of new hydrocarbon fields in East Siberia will have, but it would be hardly possible to exploit them efficiently without helicopters and, in general, aviation. In the past, helicopters and hydro modifications of aircraft (hydroplanes) were at the service of geologists and geophysicists who would otherwise literally ´drown´ in the moors. In the conditions of Tyumen region, all kinds of aircraft have technological features of practical importance, just like electric cars are used in factory facilities. We used to have up to 70 flights per day to shuttle in and out the constructors, the oilmen, the gasmen from the Ukraine, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, who were working here in shifts round the clock. That required vast amounts of aircraft!
Over 40 years, a railroad and motorways have also been constructed in West Siberia towards Noviy Urengoy in the North, so the demand for aviation is no longer as great. However, Gazprom is constructing a new helicopter airfield for the development of new deposits such as the Bovanenkovo field. As a rule, oil companies are the key investors in the regional aviation, and, in turn, oilmen and gasmen are also its main customers.
At a recent press conference at MAKS, Andrey Shibitov, President of Russian Helicopters, said the development of the Russian market is one of the top priorities of the sector, and that there are planned talks with all the regional governors on the purchase of Russian helicopters. Is Tyumen region in these talks or is it planning to be?
This is not necessary in our region: UTair and Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant have already agreed on a supply of 40 Mi-171 helicopters, a very good helicopter operated in Russia and abroad. In fact, the helicopters of UTair - one of the largest helicopter companies in the world - are already being operated by Gazprom in the north of Tyumen region.
Does Roschino Airport need new investments and what does the airport need to develop further?
Our main investor for many years has been the Government of Tyumen region. At present, we are interested in service equipment for modern types of aircraft and for maintenance of the maneuvering area. In this regard, we are regular participants of international exhibitions such as INTER AIRPORT Europe 2009 (the International Exhibition for Airport Equipment, Technology and Services) that is going to take place in Munchen (Germany) in October. Today, 90% of our equipment is made in Germany. The reason for this is that there are some types of products like covered air stairs or machines for servicing high-level aircraft parts that are not produced in Russia yet and need to be imported.
What would you say to the readers of www.RussianAvia.net about the main plans of Roschino Airport for the future?
In 2009 we plan to develop the construction of a new service terminal that had been temporarily suspended due to the crisis. In our last meeting with the Tyumen Governor, he reassured us that the plans would be implemented as soon as the situation becomes stable.
Infrastructure in Tyumen is developing very actively: a new business centre and a hotel were inaugurated only two weeks ago; and there is also a new technopark. In general, the year 2009 did introduce certain corrections and slowed down some projects. Although the overall activity decreased, a slowdown of the airport’s operation would seriously damage the life of the region.
Thank your Mr. Vladimir Polyakov, for talking to us.
| Company: | Tyumen International Airport (Roschino) - Аэропорт Рощино (Тюмень) |
| Position: | General Director |
| Country: | Russian Federation |