Further expansion of the air base in Pápa

There have been numerous developments in Pápa in recent years. As we have reported on several occasions, the four-lane expansion of the 83 main road has been completed, a new bypass road is under construction, and the Hungarian Armed Forces" 47th Air Base, and the multinational Strategic Airlift Capability is establishing a new Combined Air Terminal facility in the implementation of STRABAG. The load-bearing drying tower, a simulator unit to aid training will now be added to the warehouse and office building.

Built on modern technology

The investment in the new C-17 Aircrew Training System (Simulator) Building of the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) at the MH 47th Air Force Base in Pápa. The construction of the SAC at the P47 Base Airfield was kicked off with the ceremonial "first dig" by Gregory Clark, representing the contractor NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) NATO Air Mobility Management Program Office (NAMPO), and Imre Etl, representing the contractor STRABAG.

At the heart of the new building, which measures around 1438 m², is a 14-metre-high simulator bay, to which a ground-floor section is attached. This section will house the offices and workshops for the C-17 simulator operations staff, as well as classrooms and briefing rooms for flight crew training.

Efficient building to support training

The development, carried out by the STRABAG team, will be built on the site of a former fighter aircraft stand. Except for the simulator technology, the STRABAG team will be responsible for the construction of the prefabricated reinforced concrete support structure

• the complete engineering,
• strong and weak current,
• and the construction of the road around the building,
• parking, pavements and landscaping.

The training unit will be topped by a high-efficiency solar panel system that, together with a heat pump heating and cooling system, will support the building's environmentally friendly operation with renewable energy. Electric car charging stations will also be installed in the car park around the building, which will allow charging of vehicles used by the SAC.

The design of the building began in 2022, with designer Óbuda Építész Stúdió laying the foundations for BIM right from the programme planning phase. Construction is expected to be completed in March 2025, followed by the installation of the simulator equipment. The C-17 aircraft simulator housed in the building is expected to be available for use by the Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) personnel from September 2025, who will be able to practise a wide range of flight tasks required for military air transport operations.