09.02.2024 - Aluminium Association

On February 6-7, the 11th National Exhibition and Forum of Civil Aviation Infrastructure NAIS was held at the Crocus Expo NAISIEC. The Aluminium Association presented aluminium-based solutions for airfield infrastructure, as well as an extended range of palletising solutions for aviation. The exhibits include easy-to-assemble aluminium airfield paving solutions, as well as LD3 and LD3-45W aviation containers and a container pallet.

Easy-to-assemble aluminium paving solutions are designed for use in harsh climate and places with challenging geological profiles. The project aims to improve transport accessibility in hard-to-reach areas of the country with a lacking road network. The aluminium paving system makes it possible to quickly set up a landing pad for helicopters of any type, including the heavy Mi-26, on unprepared ground, without the need for any special equipment.

Why aluminium? It is durable; stable in any climate (± 60 °C); strong and corrosion-resistant; recyclable; can recoup the investment after use.

Representatives of the Association also took part in the NAIS-2024 business agenda. Elena Kotelnikova, Project Manager at the Aluminium Association, spoke at the 'Design, Construction, Maintenance and Management of Airport Infrastructure in Current Conditions' conference. The expert talked about the advantages of using aluminium in airport construction. The use of aluminium paving, lightweight and durable, can reduce the cost of logistics, construction, and maintenance by up to 30%. Additionally, it helps speed up the installation process. Aluminium landing pad paving can withstand a nominal load of 100 metric tonnes/sq.m; the soil-bearing load does not exceed 28 kg/sq.m.

The pad design features profiled coupling and additional locking elements, which eliminates the risk of lock failure.

Such paving can be delivered in small containers in a single flight. A team of six can assemble it in four hours. Quick-assembly aluminium pads are in demand in agriculture, sports, business, air medical services, and more. Aluminium paving is a great solution for quick assembly and reassembly of solid and stable surfaces. The applications include taxiways, aprons, parking areas for vehicles, temporary haul roads and driveways, and storage areas.

The palletising solution includes a special-purpose container intended for the air transportation of luggage, cargo and mail.

The aviation container and pallet have been fully developed in Russia. They are manufactured under Russian and international standards and are suitable for carriage by various types of aircraft.

Previously, aviation containers were not manufactured in Russia. Russian airlines resorted to importing them from Europe and China. Aviation containers are a product with an ever-increasing demand due to the gradual deterioration of the existing container fleet. This year, the exhibition features new Russian developments: the LD3 and LD3-45W aviation containers (designation per IATA international classification). The products are made of 7xxx-series extrahigh tensile aluminium alloy. The load capacity for the LD3 (DKH) container is 1,588 kg with a mass of 75 kg; for the LD3 (DKE) container, it is 1,225 kg with a mass of 66 kg.

Aeroflot has already successfully tested the containers of both types, and Red Wings is currently testing them as well. This year's plans include completing the certification of products with the relevant agencies.

Cargo airlines are also very interested in aviation pallets. These are pallets designed specifically for transporting baggage and cargo in wide-body aircraft and some types of narrow-body aircraft. A pallet weighs 91 kg, and its maximum cargo load can exceed 6,800 kg.

About NAIS:
Since 2014, the NAIS National Exhibition has been showcasing hundreds of samples of cutting-edge equipment and technologies for Russian airports and airlines. NAIS is a traditional event held with the backing and participation of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia), and the Federal Service for Transport Supervision (Rostransnadzor). The event is customarily attended by leaders and experts in the aviation industry, government officials at all levels, suppliers of technology and equipment, and representatives of Russian and foreign airports and airlines.