Rostec awaiting formal decision on MAKS air show site
MOSCOW. Oct 2 (Interfax-AVN) - Plans to keep the MAKS air show in Zhukovsky are under consideration, and the president and the government will make a final decision, the Rostec state corporation told Interfax on Monday.
"Such plans are indeed under consideration. Decisions are made by the president and the government," the press service said in a statement.
"We are expecting an formal order on exhibition of military-purpose products in 2018-2019 determining the sites, including for MAKS, in the near future," it said.
The Kommersant daily reported earlier citing defense industry sources that the MAKS international aerospace show, held in Zhukovsky, Moscow region, will not be transferred to Patriot Park in Kubinka, which is subordinated to the Russian Defense Ministry.
According to the paper, the president has not agreed to transfer the show and the government has also not approved the idea, saying that preparing the infrastructure in Kubinka alone will cost 100 billion rubles.
"Sources told Kommersant the Industry and Trade Ministry has said that the given Defense Ministry facilities should meet specific international air show requirements. Specifically, the site is to have 80 stationary chalets and a spectators' sector with an area of some 300,000 square meters, placement zones for aerobatic teams and for preparation of planes for demonstration flights (140,000 square meters), as well as a parking site for 200 aircraft and a runway 3,200 meters long," the article said.
The Kubinka military airfield lacks these facilities and is 15 km from Patriot Park, where the pavilions are located, the article said.
"The runway in Kubinka need a major overhaul: it is only 2,500 meters long and the concrete cover is 0.3 meters. It does not suit some heavy-class planes, whereas in Zhukovsky the runway is 5,600 meters long and one meter thick," Kommersant said.
According to the paper, the statement stated that transfer of the air show necessitates construction of a motorway leading to the Kubinka airport, and no budget funding is envisaged for its construction.