On October 18, 2013, UkSATSE state enterprise opened an ultramodern air traffic control center at the Kharkiv International Airport. By its technical equipment, the new complex surpasses all other current Ukrainian objects of similar purpose, and is one of the most up-to-date in Europe.
The air traffic control center in Kharkiv is a 10-story structure consisting of an aerodrome control center and a unique 45-meter aerodrome control tower. On the ground floor, there is a medical room and a briefing room; on the second – a radio transmission operator and an automation complex which gathers and analyzes information. The air traffic control service occupies several floors. On the 10th floor, there is an air traffic control room with a viewing angle of 360 degrees. The construction of this object was started in 2011. The total amount of 87 million hryvnias has been invested in the project. According to experts, such air traffic control center will help greatly improve the quality of work of all services at the airport and coordination between them, and as a result, will increase flight safety. In addition, owing to new technical capabilities, the airport’s traffic capacity has increased.
The opening ceremony of the air traffic control centre at Kharkiv Airport was attended by Oleksandr Vilkul, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mykhailo Dobkin, the Head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration, Sergey Chernov, the Chairman of Kharkiv Regional Council, Yuriy Cherednychenko, the General Director of SE UkSATSE, Volodymyr Vasylchenko, the General Director of New Systems AM (Kharkiv International Airport). In his short speech at the opening ceremony, Oleksandr Vilkul highlighted the significance of this step for both the Kharkiv airport and the whole country in general, since the improvement of flight safety makes Ukraine an important player in the international air transport market: ‘We have become very close now to signing a Treaty on Open Sky with the EU. It is very important for our country. More companies will fly to Ukraine, more jobs will be created, and therefore service will be improved and, most importantly, tickets will be cheaper’. Yuriy Cherednychenko, the Director of UkSATSE, drew attention to the equipment of the object: ‘In Kharkiv, we are launching the most up-to-date control tower in Ukraine. It will allow to perform any functions required for flight control for another 50 years.’ The great significance of the new air traffic control centre for the Kharkiv International Airport was underlined by Volodymyr Vasylchenko. ‘We are actively working on development of the airport, expanding its flight geography and increasing its passenger flow. Under contemporary conditions, this would be impossible without an adequate level of safety. Therefore, opening of such a centre is an absolute must for the Kharkiv Airport’, he concluded.
Background
Kharkiv International Airport (http://hrk.aero/) is one of the key objects of the capital of Sloboda Ukraine. It was reconstructed in preparation for the finals of the European Football Championship 2012. The large-scale project dates back to April 1, 2008, when New Sistems AM (DCH Group, the owner is Oleksandr Yaroslavskyy, a well-known Ukrainian businessman, general investor and coordinator of the Kharkiv’s preparations for Euro 2012, the President of FC Metalist in 2005-2012) won a competition for a long-term lease of an integral property complex at the Kharkiv airport.
The Kharkiv International Airport was reconstructed by a state and private partnership. Oleksandr Yaroslavskyy invested in the project (airport and surrounding area) US $ 107.2 million in total. The State Budget invested US $ 191.3 million in the reconstruction of the airport.
