A project commissioned by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) was awarded a gold medal on the Lithuanian Product of the Year 2016 Awards. The goal of the project was a major reconstruction of Kyviškės aerodrome's runway pavement at the Flight Training Unit of Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute (AGAI). The reconstruction was carried out by AB Panevėžio keliai.

 

One of the biggest road and railway design and construction companies in the Baltic States – AB Panevėžio keliai – was acknowledged for unconventional, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solution. During the implementation of the project, the Lithuanian capital company applied Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology and automated equipment management systems.

 

"In pilot training, it is very important to have an infrastructure which corresponds to the requirements stipulated in the international civil aviation safety legislation. The reconstructed runway significantly improved the quality of students' flight training and also it contributes to more efficient use of the aircraft fleet. During the period of May-August flight training is exceptionally intensive on this runway. Approximately 2-3 hundred flight arrivals and departures are carried out every day. From now on students and flight instructors can be more confident using the new and safe runway," says Director of VGTU AGAI institute Jonas Vytautas Jusionis.

 

The renovated Kyviškės runway will ensure the high quality of practical pilot training. AGAI is the only higher education aviation school in Lithuania that educates and trains specialists in four main areas of aviation: aviation mechanics, avionics, aircraft pilots and flight control. In terms of competences that are developed here, it is the leading school for aeronautics studies in the region.

 

For the first time in the history of country's aviation the reconstruction works on Kyviškės runway were carried out according to the Yellow Book requirements published by the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). These requirements cover contracts when the design and execution of building or engineering works is carried out by contractors themselves. This enabled the use of unconventional modern solutions in the project, and it was implemented in much shorter time: the scheduled 4-month works were carried out in just over 2 months. During this period the runway's base was reinforced, required slopes were formed, surface of asphalt concrete was changed, safety zones renewed, and pavement was marked.

 

Until the reconstruction, the asphalt cement surface pavement of Kyviškės aerodrome's runway, which is 540 m long and 23 m wide, was used for more than 35 years. It did not comply with the aviation safety requirements anymore. The surface was damaged, deformed, with some 7-9 cm wide gaps.

 

The main goal of this national competition – "The Lithuanian Product of the Year 2016" – is to increase the competitiveness of Lithuanian products, to encourage the choice of Lithuanian products and develop Lithuanian businesses. The awards are given to the most progressive projects and the ability to compete with the best international examples, also for the use of innovations, environmentally-friendly production, solutions to ecological and environmental problems, functionality and significance to society, efficiency and many other criteria.