The first helicopter company in Belarus has been registered in Orsha

The state enterprise "Belaeronavigation", with the support of the Department of Aviation of the Ministry of Transport, will continue the reconstruction of the Vitebsk airport and work on expanding its potential at the expense of the parent organization.

This was reported by the Director of the Department, Vladimir Kostin, in response to a question from "Vitebskiye Vesti" during an online conference on the BELTA website. A scheduled reconstruction of the runway was carried out in Vitebsk, he recalled. The next stage will be the reconstruction and expansion of the existing airport terminal.

– All airports in Belarus, including Vitebsk, are currently international. To make them attractive and meet the requirements, we are carrying out scheduled work on modernizing runways, taxiways, terminals, and airport complexes, including equipment, primarily related to air traffic control at the airport, – emphasized Vladimir Kostin.

Plans for 2014 for the Vitebsk airport include the installation and commissioning of a new modern radar produced by the French company Thales.

Regarding the further development of air traffic using the potential of regional airports, the head of the department noted that "Belaeronavigation" is constantly working to attract foreign airlines. In addition, today, at the government level, issues of cooperation with the Russian company "Novaport" are being worked out, which specializes in implementing comprehensive airport development programs, in particular, on creating an international transit aviation hub at the National Airport Minsk, and options for including Belarusian regional airports in the discussed project. Another Russian investor – the enterprise "Airports of Regions" – offers cooperation, including the development of regional aviation with the participation of regional airports.

Continuing the aviation theme in the context of the Vitebsk region, Vladimir Kostin noted that the recently registered airline "Orsha Air", established on the basis of the Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant, has become the first helicopter company in Belarus. A conclusion is currently being prepared for the issuance of a flight operating license to this airline.

"Orsha Air" plans to engage in the transportation of passengers and cargo. Its fleet already includes one "Mi-8" MSB helicopter and four "Mi-2" helicopters. Another task of the airline will be to demonstrate the capabilities of helicopters that are undergoing modernization at the Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant. "I think the company will expand as funds become available to purchase additional helicopters," Vladimir Kostin added.

Sergey Kochetov, "Vitebskiye Vesti"