tností - IDEB – MEDZINÁRODNÝ VEĽTRH OBRANNEJ TECHNIKY ...

Cannot the funds be used more efficiently
rather than being spent on private air companies?
Indeed, they can.
The solution is simple: to modernize the SVK
IM Air Unit and transform it into a joint stock
company, which will be fully certified under
the European system for commercial air transport
– this should be combined with the reorganization
of the SVK Armed Forces’ Transport
Squadron, because it does not meet all the
requirements for which it was set up. A stateowned
joint stock company is a viable solution
to meet the air transport requirements of
the SVK Armed Forces.
By properly readjusting the legislation, we
need to set the operating conditions for the
existence of such a joint stock company and
enable it to provide air transport services
to third parties (short-term aircraft leases
through ACMI, VIP module leases, summer
charter flights, etc.). Such a company would
be expected to obtain additional funding in
order to minimize the burden on the state
budget. From previous experience we know
that the Interior Ministry’s spare air capabilities
used to be leased for commercial purposes
to Slovak air companies. Being short of
their own flight capacities, the air companies
often leased aircraft from the SVK IM Air Unit.
However, today the airlines no longer use
such services, which may be attributed to uneconomical
operation of the air unit’s fleet of
aircraft. This is mainly due to fuel consumption,
overflight and landing fees. To compare
the average hourly fuel consumption of the
Tupolev Tu-154M and the Airbus A319, the difference
of 3.5 tons of fuel clearly favours the
modern A319, because fuel savings amount to
4,000 euros per flight hour under the current
fuel prices. Not to mention the overflight and
landing fees, which again disadvantage the
Tupolev Tu-154M, as its maximum take-off
speed is higher by dozens of tons in comparison
with the commonly operated commercial
aircraft for short and medium routes. For this
reason, if necessary, our air transport providers
operate less expensive aircraft on ACMI
leases from abroad.
In the interest of modernizing and transforming
the air unit, it is inevitable to buy new
aircraft. There are different financing options
– through banks and subsequent leasing
or the operating leasing scheme offered
by leasing companies. Examples are plentiful
and not so far away from us. Consider,
The following are some benefits
of the A319 CJ, compared
to the Tu-154M:
state-of-the-art flight instruments,
fuel consumption lower by 3.5 t/h,
range extended by 8,000 km with auxiliary
tanks,
greater variability of interior arrangements,
low maintenance costs,
fewer crew members,
aircraft leasing to third parties,
Airbus A319 CJ VIP module.
for example, the Czech Republic which has
leased its fleet of JAS-39 Grippen supersonic
aircraft for ten years, with the option to extend
the lease or to purchase the aircraft
from the manufacturer.
But let us return to the air unit’s modernization
initiative. The need to modernize the
aircraft fleet is an indisputable fact. In this
regard, many will argue that it would be inefficient
and costly. The aircraft would be possessed
by the state and run up maintenance
and direct operating costs. Yet nobody has
mentioned the air unit’s actual operating
costs, staff salaries, etc. Regardless of whether
the aircraft may be grounded or may be
flown on a very limited scale, the unit’s operations
cost the tax payers lots of money.
So why don’t we embrace a new form of a
state-run joint stock company – a small air
transport services provider which would generate
financial resources to cover its operating
costs through its entrepreneurial activity? So
why don’t we go for more economical, more
advanced aircraft which may be leased to
third parties and ensure sufficient flying hours
and precious experience for pilots, thereby
making sure that the history of disasters, such
as the Slovak An-24 or Polish Tu-154M crashes,
does not repeat itself?
A lot of airlines are currently phasing out
their fleets of Tu-154M aircraft. Some government
air transport units from the former
Eastern Bloc have already phased them out
of operation, for instance, the Czech Republic,
Bulgaria, Ukraine. These countries have
LETECKÁ TECHNIKA / AIRCRAFT
replaced the uneconomical and inefficient
Tu-154M by the modern Airbus A319 CJ. This
type of aircraft is operated by many other
governments from countries such as France,
Turkey, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Jordan, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia,
etc. This is one modernization option for our
government to consider.
The Air Unit would, in case it is modernized,
exploit the possibilities and operational capabilities
of the Airbus A319 CJ (Corporate
Jetliner). One of them would be configured as
a VIP module, the other one would seat 124
passengers (8 business class seats and 116
economy class seats). The aircraft’s interior
arrangements may be modified according to
the requirements, depending on the number
of passengers from 10 to 124, and may be
quickly reconfigured into the MEDICAL module
for the purpose of transporting wounded
and injured personnel when disasters or tragic
events occur.
The Airbus A320 family of jetliners
(318/319/320/321) are among the most
widely operated commercial aircraft for short
and medium distances. Depending on the
variant and the commercial load, their range
varies up to 5,500 km. The auxiliary fuel tanks
can extend the distance up to 12,000 km, allowing
the aircraft to reach any place in the
world with a single stopover.
doc. Ing. Stanislav Szabo, PhD., MBA
Ing. Peter Hanák, PhD.
Photo: Ján Begala, Michal J. Stolár
IDEB EXCLUSIVE 2012 59