Event overview
This year the founder of that educational institution and the pioneer of aviation in the Kyrgyz Republic would have turned 102. The bronze figure of the legendary pilot, with a focused look, seemed to gaze at the faces of participants and guests of the celebration, especially at the faces of future conquerors of the sky. The unveiling ceremony was attended by employees of the republic's aviation enterprises, aviation veterans, teachers and cadets of the I. Abdraimov aviation college, representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Roads, and official guests.
Ishembay Abdraimov was a devoted worker of the skies, a teacher of many generations of the republic's aviators. Even today, the cadets of the aviation college he founded are raised by his former pupils on the wise precepts of the first pilot,
The participants were greeted by the head of the Department of Financial and Economic Analysis and Monitoring of Development of the Presidential Administration, R. Seitkasymova, who read out the congratulations of the Head of State A. Atambayev on the professional holiday of aviators. The greeting from Prime Minister S. Jheenbekov was read by the Deputy Head of the Transport Department of the Government Apparatus, D. Isakov (full texts of the President’s and Prime Minister’s congratulatory messages are published in this issue of the newspaper).
The sky is an unusual world, little known to air passengers. It may seem that the air space allows everyone to fly boundlessly and uncontrollably. But this is not so. Only the precise work of a coordinated team of civil aviation staff can resolve the subtleties of these air spaces. Only by working together on this difficult task do they ensure a safe flight for unsuspecting passengers. We are very proud of you, we value your experience and heartfelt devotion to the industry. I am confident that you will continue to successfully solve assigned tasks and make a significant contribution to strengthening aviation and flight safety, preserving and continuing the remarkable traditions laid down by Ishembay Abdraimov and his associates,
He also noted that this year a development programme for civil aviation of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2016–2020 was adopted, which envisages creating conditions for the further development of aviation enterprises and attracting investment to this important sector. The head of the department presented honorary certificates to distinguished pilots, navigators, aviation engineers, flight attendants and veterans of aviation.
Awards and gifts
The workers of the skies were warmly congratulated and presented with breast badges of distinction by the head of the Association of the Union of Aviators of the Kyrgyz Republic Zh. Alybaev, the director of the state enterprise "Kyrgyzaeronavigation" U. Rakhmanov, the chairman of the Council of Veterans of Civil Aviation of the Kyrgyz Republic E. Kambarov, the director of the I. Abdraimov aviation college U. Kurmanov; and the head of JSC "MAM" E. Chukuev donated two monitors to the aviation college to improve the quality of cadet training. Awards also recognised the leaders of the capital's aeromodelling sections and clubs, who received certificates of recognition. The same distinction was awarded to a high school student from one of the Tokmok schools, Muhammed-Ali Abdrakhmanov, who became the winner of an international aviation competition in Malaysia. The young man created an original design of an aviation-salon capsule that detaches from the airliner in an emergency and descends gently to the ground by special parachutes. International aircraft manufacturers have already shown interest in the young designer's development and calculations.
Veterans' memories
Veterans of Kyrgyz aviation — Major General of Aviation K. Oruzbaev, A. Kozubekov, T. Boshumova, R. Dairov — who warmly received the participants of the celebratory event, spoke and shared their memories of Ishembay Abdraimov.
Ishembay Abdraimov — biography
Ishembay Abdraimov entered the Tashkent flight school on a Komsomol assignment. After graduating, he worked fruitfully in his native skies. In 1933, flying a light U-2 biplane and a twin-engine Li-2, he laid many routes across the highland regions of the republic. He participated in the Great Patriotic War, defending the homeland as part of the 62nd Guards Aviation Regiment of the Belorussian Front. Having completed 155 combat sorties, he was awarded eight orders and 17 medals of the USSR. After the war he graduated from the Leningrad Academy of Civil Aviation. I. Abdraimov's work record totals 50 years, of which 41 years were flying. He mastered 16 types of aircraft, on which the pilot logged 17,000 hours, rising from an ordinary pilot to the head of the Kyrgyz Civil Aviation Administration. For 25 years he served as chief pilot to the country's first leaders.
At his initiative and with his direct assistance, in 1973 an aviation-technical school was opened in Frunze, which later became a college named after the celebrated pilot. I. Abdraimov is the author of three books: "Steel Birds over Ala-Too", "Half a Century in the Skies of Kyrgyzstan" and "Flights Continue" about the formation and development of KR aviation. These publications have become real professional textbooks for future aviators. In 1966, Ishembay Abdraimov was among the first 27 pilots awarded the high title of Honoured Pilot of the USSR No. 1; in December 1994 he was awarded the ICAO gold medal; and in May 1997 — the highest international award — the Soldier's Order named after Marshal G. Zhukov. For the 95th anniversary of the celebrated pilot a special postage stamp with his portrait was issued; in 2009 a memorial plaque was installed in Bishkek on the house where I. Abdraimov lived; and in 2011 one of the capital's streets was named after him.
Museum opening and presentations
The professional holiday was also marked by another event held that day at the aviation college. A museum was opened, whose stands tell about the formation and development of the country's aviation, the pioneers of this industry, the history of the college itself and its graduates. Graduates of different years and from different countries flew in for the opening ceremony. For example, Zarina Danabaeva came from the USA. Four years ago she graduated from the college with a flight attendant diploma but by chance ended up in the state of Texas, where she now works in the ground handling service of Houston airport. She misses Bishkek, where she was born and raised, and her alma mater. Having learned about the wonderful celebration, she could not fail to come, Zarina told us.
The tour of the museum's sections and exhibits for participants and guests of the celebratory event was conducted by the college's long-serving former director R. Dairov. He told that the first U-13 aircraft arrived on the territory of Kyrgyzstan in 1927 piloted by the Finnish pilot Theodor Suolio. And 1933 is considered the birth year of the republic's civil aviation; at that time the first airport in Popenovka was created. The first air fleet consisted of three agricultural-purpose aircraft. That same year, on the U-2, pilot Nikolai Ineske, overcoming the mountain ranges Kungoy and Kyrgyz at an altitude of 3,500 metres, opened the Frunze—Rybachye—Przhevalsk air route. The Pispek—Tashkent—Alma-Ata air line also began to operate. The rapid rise of domestic aviation came in the 1960s, when the country's fleet was replenished with new aircraft types and numerous ground aviation service facilities and airports were built.
Current state
The sector achieved noticeable development already during the period of Kyrgyzstan's independence. Today Manas International Airport is the largest transport and passenger hub in Central Asia. It has the longest artificial runway.
Currently the republic's air fleet includes 30 aircraft and 9 helicopters of international modifications, of which 16 are passenger and 23 are used for cargo transportation. Eleven airports operate in the country: 5 international and 6 domestic. Civil aviation of the Kyrgyz Republic is currently attempting to exit the EU 'black' list. International standards are being implemented in the industry for its sustainable development. All measures are aimed at ensuring flight safety, and our specialists closely cooperate with the EU and ICAO. An expert council of industry veterans has been created; a 'roadmap' for exiting the 'black' list is being implemented; programmes to enhance the capacity of flight personnel and agency inspectors on operational safety and airworthiness are in operation. In 2017 Kyrgyzstan is preparing to undergo an ICAO audit, which will allow it to claim exit from the EU 'black' list.
Publications
On the day of the opening, presentations were also held of the book "History of Formation and Development", dedicated to the creation and activities of the Kyrgyz Aviation College named after I. Abdraimov, and of the brochure "Ishembay Abdraimov — Honoured Pilot No. 1 — Founder of Kyrgyz Aviation".
Alexander SHEPELENKO.
12.10.2016.
Source: https://slovo.kg/?p=76427