Czech aircraft for Tajik Airlines performed a flight to an extreme airport in the Pamirs
The Czech company Let Aircraft Industries demonstrated the capabilities of its L-410NG regional turboprop aircraft for the Tajik airline Somon Air, representatives of the government of the Republic of Tajikistan and leaders of the country's aviation structures, first presenting the aircraft at Dushanbe Airport.
The plane of the Czech aircraft manufacturer performed a flight to Khorog, the tourist center of the Pamirs. The city's airfield is one of the three most difficult in the world for takeoff and landing. It is impossible to land here using instruments, but only with the so-called “by eye” technique. There are unstable weather conditions, unfavorable terrain, mountains reaching a height of more than 6000 m above sea level, and the border with Afghanistan passes through the river, over which the entire flight takes place. It is for these reasons that there were no commercial flights between Dushanbe and Khorog for almost ten years. Previously, the area was served by old Soviet An-28 aircraft, but they are technically out of order. Instead of 58 minutes by air, all transport connections took up to 14 hours by car.
Somon Air is currently considering various options for expanding its fleet for local and regional flights, including the L-410NG, as well as the Chinese Y-12E manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (part of the AVIC aircraft manufacturing holding). Both types of vessels are designed to carry up to 19 passengers, the aviation portal ATO.ru reports.
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