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VITEBSK, 1 August (BelTA) – A Czech investor has plans to purchase five L-410 aircrafts for the future Vitebsk-based air carrier in 2012, BelTA learnt from PDW Group s.r.o. board member Pavel Gorodnov. Preliminary arrangements were reached with Aircraft Industries a.s. from Czechia. The first airplane is to arrive at the Vitebsk Airport in early 2012; a total of three to four aircrafts will be purchased next year, including one business-class airplane, the remaining aircrafts will transport passengers and cargoes. Apart from that, the Czech aviation company is set to establish a maintenance center for L-410 aircrafts. At present only two maintenance centers are operating – one in Czechia and one in Yekaterinburg; therefore, the center in Vitebsk will be able to service these airplanes operating in the Baltic States and the CIS, Pavel Gorodnov said. The official agreements are to be concluded at the International Aviation and Space Salon - MAKS 2011 that will be held in Moscow on 16-21 August. Czechia will present a business class airplane based on L-410 aircraft which will be purchased for the Vitebsk airline company. The Czech investor will set up five specialty companies in Vitebsk, including an air company, a business aviation service company, a fuel servicing unit and an airport service company, and also a transport and logistics center near the Vitebsk Airport. The project investments are estimated at ?50 million. The airline will operate L-410 aircraft made in the Czech Republic. In the future the company will look into a possibility of leasing IL-114s or the Franco-Italian ATRs, upgrading IL-76 transport aircraft. The investor intends to recruit local flight engineers and technical personnel. The project also involves the construction of hotels, restaurants, upgrading of the Vitebsk Airport terminal and developing additional services.

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