RUSAL and MASS GROUP will build an experimental aluminium runway

RUSAL, one of the largest aluminium producers in the world, the investment company MASS GROUP and the Sial Group of Companies will build Russia's first aluminium runway. The promising solution is designed to develop airfield infrastructure for small aircraft and increase transport accessibility, including in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

RUSAL and MASS GROUP signed an agreement to cooperate in carrying out research and development work and constructing an experimental aluminium runway. With the help of experiments conducted with the participation of leading specialized institutes, it is planned to eliminate regulatory restrictions on using aluminium solutions in runway construction. This will be the first such facility in Russia.

The length of the experimental aluminium runway will be up to 600 m; its creation will take approximately 300 tonnes of hardened aluminium alloy. Several existing airfields are being considered as possible options for its location.

"We expect that aluminium runways will be a very effective and environmentally friendly solution for civil aviation infrastructure, especially in remote and inaccessible areas. Due to its strength and anti-corrosion resistance, aluminium can replace traditional concrete, and due to its lightness, delivery and construction costs will be significantly reduced. According to our estimates, the cost of a full-fledged aluminium runway, taking into account logistics, installation and operating costs, will be 15-20 per cent cheaper than a concrete runway," said Evgeny Vasiliev, Market Development Director of the RUSAL Sales Directorate.

"Our company, in addition to its core business, provides comprehensive turnkey technical support for aluminium helipad projects. Aluminium sites are successfully operated in various regions of Russia, including in extreme climatic conditions. Aluminium coatings ensure safety during the take-off and landing of helicopters of any class, from light to the heaviest cargo vehicles such as the Mi-26. The successful use of aluminium surfaces as landing pads for helicopters influenced the decision to develop an aluminium runway. This is a serious challenge for us, but we believe in the success of aluminium solutions; together with the developer of aluminium airfield panels, Sial Group of Companies, and with the support of RUSAL, we plan to solve all technical problems, which will be a real breakthrough for civil aviation infrastructure," said the General Director of JSC "MASS GROUP" Alexander Sobolev.

Over the entire life cycle of an aluminium product, it shows significant savings compared to analogues due to the durability and corrosion resistance of aluminium alloys. Aluminium runways are designed for small aircraft, including the An-2 aircraft actively used in Siberia and the Far East, as well as the promising Baikal aircraft being developed in Russia. Small aviation is the only mode of transport for a significant part of the Siberian and Far Eastern Federal District territories.