The track's construction is set to begin this December after a formal signing and the Municipality of Pirkkala have awarded the first phase of the Pirkkala-Linnainmaa tramway construction contract to NRC Group Finland and YIT Finland will commence with the construction of the tramway and associated street and traffic arrangements The initial phase will extend from Hatanpään valtatie to Partola in Pirkkala and from Tays to Niihama The cost estimate for phase one stands at approximately €211.8m ($228.4m) with NRC Group’s share amounting to around €81m track construction will begin this December with the first phase expected to be completed by August 2028 The formal signing of the contract’s first phase is anticipated to take place on 5 December Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis NRC Group CEO Anders Gustafsson said: “The first phase of the construction of the Pirkkala-Linnainmaa tramway in Tampere is an important win for NRC Group and a testimonial to our solid collaboration in the alliance “The work will start at the end of year where YIT and NRC Group Finland are responsible for the construction phase we believe this project can pave the way for other cities to choose sustainable transport.” has committed to the Paris Agreement’s climate goals The company aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% by 2025 and achieve net zero by 2050 Earlier in January 2024, NRC Group Finland and together with YIT were appointed to provide services for Area 2 of the Espoo City Rail Link in the country and the construction of bridges and platforms Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network The construction is also preceded by relocating or removing trees lining the streets within construction areas -    The traffic arrangements are designed so that the access routes remain the same for as long as possible during construction we ensure that routes are safe and that there is good access to properties and places of business The existing bus routes will continue to operate in all areas and access to the stops and waiting areas will be arranged near the construction sites Project Manager of Tampere Tramway Pirkkala-Linnainmaa Alliance lane arrangements will be carried out around the construction sites during the rest of the year and the beginning of next year There will always be at least one lane in each direction for vehicular traffic with the necessary turn lanes or temporary roundabouts in the junction areas Pedestrian and cycle paths will be rerouted but connections in the vicinity of the tramway line will be maintained Replacement connections will also be available during construction There will be pedestrian crossings at regular intervals indicated with flashing lights when there are no traffic lights in use Trees lining streets at the construction areas will be relocated or removed The guiding principle is to save as many trees as possible and remove only what is necessary Almost as many trees will be replanted along Hatanpään valtatie and in Härmälä and Partola as will be relocated or removed Tampere City Council will have trees removed from the tramway construction site and the planned residential area -    The actual construction work will begin with the transfer of the utility cables and pipelines They will be moved away from the route of the future tramway and the municipal infrastructure will be upgraded  The overhaul of the bridges at Viinikanlahti and Härmälänoja will also start early next year says Valjus. Pirkkala to become Finland’s first tramway municipality The first phase of the Pirkkala-Linnainmaa tram line -    We are very pleased to be able to start the implementation phase of the project which we have carefully planned in cooperation with various stakeholders Construction will be carried out safely and efficiently with minimal impact on the daily lives of residents With the Pirkkala-Linnainmaa tramway section Tampere Tramway will become a regional operator with Pirkkala becoming the first tramway municipality in Finland the construction of a tramway is a significant decision that will determine the development of the municipality for decades to come This is a development project that will shape the streetscape of Pirkkala in the coming years The construction work is now starting in Partola and the aim is to continue construction all the way to Suuppa in the centre of Pirkkala in the second phase of the project We believe that the tramway will make Pirkkala even more vibrant says Pirkkala Community Director Jouni Korhonen The aim is for the first phase of the service to Partola and Niihama to start in August 2028 -    It is exciting that in the future we will be able to offer the superb Ratikka travel experience not only to the people of Tampere says Pekka Sirviö.The tramway is very popular in Tampere as evidenced by the steady growth in ridership and high customer satisfaction According to a Tampere Tramway consumer survey the use of the tramway has resulted in an increase in the use of public transport as a whole. -    The City of Tampere has had very positive experiences with the tramway It is great that the Pirkkala-Linnainmaa project will bring more tramway tracks to Tampere we are overhauling municipal infrastructure and existing bridges as well as improving pedestrian and cycling routes Construction Manager for the City of Tampere.  Phase 2 of the Pirkkala-Linnainmaa tramway is scheduled for 2028–2032 with the aim of completing the sections from Partola to Suuppa and Niihama to Linnainmaa The implementation of the second phase is subject to the confirmation of state funding The extension of the depot and the electrification of the Itsenäisyydenkatu street switches will be carried out during phase 1 The conversion of Hermiankatu street tramway into a dual-track line is planned for phase 2 These alterations are intended to prepare for the expansion of tram traffic The total cost estimate for the tramway construction investment for phases 1 and 2 is EUR 357.5 million.  The construction of the tramway will cause temporary inconvenience to residents and businesses in the surrounding area with their accessibility and amenity affected The aim is to mitigate the impacts by working closely with stakeholders The first work phases on Hatanpään valtatie include traffic arrangements and the demarcation of work areas The cable and pipe relocations and municipal engineering work will start during December and January Trees along Hatanpään valtatie will also be removed and relocated early next year •    There will be lane arrangements at the junction of Hatanpään valtatie and Tampereen valtatie and a roundabout will be built at the junction in the spring the junction area will be prepared for the upcoming traffic arrangements including paving work and the removal of traffic dividers Some preparatory work may be carried out at night  •    There will be lane arrangements on Hatanpään valtatie and part of the street will have one lane in each direction Pedestrians and cyclists will be directed past the work areas via detours. •    The earthworks and roadworks on Hatanpään valtatie are planned to start at four different locations: north of the junction of Tampereen valtatie and Hatanpään valtatie; at Jokikatu; north of the junction of Hatanpäänkatu and Hatanpään valtatie at the southern end of the wastewater treatment plant; and in the Lahdenperänkatu junction area the construction sites will be located on the west side of the highway. •    The aim is to keep the traffic lights and lane arrangements in the junction areas of Hatanpään valtatie in use for as long as possible.During the work December: The first work phases at Nuolialantie road in December include the preparation of traffic arrangements and the establishment and demarcation of work areas paving work will also be carried out in connection with future traffic arrangements and lighting will be installed for the work areas Motor vehicle traffic on Nuolialantie road will mainly run on the current routes  Traffic lights will be removed at some intersections with lanes being moved or roundabouts used during the work indicated with flashing lights when there are no traffic lights in use.•    At the junction of Nuolialantie and Hatanpään valtatie one lane for right turns will be removed for traffic entering Hatanpään valtatie. •    The southern Talvitie junction will be closed on 11 December for both bicycles and motor vehicle traffic traffic lights will be removed and tarmac will be laid for the traffic arrangements At the junction of Talvitie and Nuolialantie will start right at the beginning of January access to Talvitie is via other junctions and Härmälänkatu The aim is to open the pedestrian and bicycle path from Talvitie to Nuolialantie as soon as possible. •    Preparations for traffic arrangements will begin at the Valmetinkatu junction on 11 December The traffic lights at the junction will be removed and a roundabout will be built which will be taken into use during week 51 Traffic arrangements are partly carried out at night. •    Trees along Nuolialantie will be relocated and removed starting from 11 December  Trees will be relocated to Niemenranta among other places. •    The Nuolialantie pedestrian and bicycle lane will be run alternately on the southern and northern sides of the street The southern lane will be renovated in December before the transfer of traffic Signage will be put in place for pedestrian and bicycle routes around the work areas January: The earthworks and roadworks proper are planned to start in January replacement of soils and installation of foundations are among the first tasks to be carried out municipal infrastructure will be overhauled The rest of the traffic arrangements prepared in December will come into use in January More information on these will be provided at the beginning of January December: The traffic arrangements to be introduced early next year are being prepared in the Partola area in December The related paving work will be carried out at the end of week 51 (19–20 December) the pedestrian and bicycle path on the northern side of Nuolialantie will be closed between Lentokonetehtaankatu and Pereentie and rerouted along the southern side of Nuolialantie No other traffic arrangements will be carried out in the Partola area before Christmas A base for the project will be established near the Pereentie junction during the rest of the year trees lining the streets in the area will be relocated starting from 11 December The trees will be relocated to the Pere and Nuolialantie areas January: •    The Pereentie junction area will be moved slightly west in January which is why the current pedestrian and bicycle bridge will be removed and the access will be moved to the south of Nuolialantie  •    The construction of a new wastewater line on Kaartotie will result in changes to motor traffic which will be directed to a detour route via Pakkalantie The area's combined pedestrian and bicycle lane will remain in use Some of the parking spaces along Kaartotie will be unavailable from Epiphany as the earthworks for the wastewater line begin in the area This work phase is estimated to last until the end of February  •    A roundabout will be built at the Naistenmatkantie and Nuolialantie junction early next year and the construction of municipal infrastructure district heating ang gas pipelines under Nuolialantie will begin during the spring access to services in Partola-Keskus and to local businesses will be ensured during the work Preparatory work on the tramway will begin in the area between the Kauppi campus and the future tram stop in Niihama during December Bases will be established for the construction site in the Tenniskatu and Teiskontie junction area as well as on Lääkärinkatu December: •    Preparations will take place for traffic arrangements at the junction of Arvo Ylpön katu and Teiskontie but no changes to motor traffic will occur before Christmas. •    The pedestrian and bicycle lane on the east side of Arvo Ylpön katu will be closed in December and the access routes will be transferred to the west side of the street and also to the plot of the electricity supply station for the future tramway at the corner of Arvo Ylpön katu and Lääkärinkatu The plot of the electricity supply station will be fenced off as a construction site before Christmas so parking in the area will not be possible in the future.  January: •    In January paving and lane arrangements will be carried out in the Arvo Ylpön katu and Teiskontie areas Cable and pipe relocations will begin on the east side of Arvo Ylpön katu the City of Tampere will also begin removing trees from the tramway construction site between Arvo Ylpön katu and Toimelankatu and from the future residential area. •    The replacement of the structural layers of the street and of the wastewater lines leading to Lääkärintie will begin at the junction of Niveltie and Lääkärintie in January A detour bypassing the construction site will be provided for pedestrians and cyclists and there will be minor changes to the roundabout at the junction of Lääkärintie and Arvo Ylpön katu.  The connecting bus traffic to and from the tram stop of the Kauppi campus will be operational at all stages of construction Tampere Tramway website https://www.tampereenratikka.fi/Tampere Tramway Pirkkala-Linnainmaa Alliance website https://pirkkalalinnainmaa.fi/  You are on the official website of the City of Tampere.  E-mail[email protected] Frenckellinaukio 2 BP.O. Box 48733101 Tampere Kari Haug and Tim Lobb pictured with Pirkkala’s chairman Mika Viitaharju and general manager Markus Junni Golf Pirkkala in Finland is to extend its facilities from 18 to 27 holes and has hired a team comprising of architects Tim Lobb and Kari Haug plus Kai Hulkkonen and Jim Ferguson of Turnkey Golf, a development and project management firm. Pirkkala, which was founded in 2007, is near the city of Tampere. The club has an 18-hole course designed by Kosti Kuronen and has Finland’s largest junior golf programme, with 500 junior members. Hulkkonen has been working with Pirkkala for some time, investigating opportunities for the club to expand. With his help, and with the participation of the local municipality, the club has acquired around 75 acres of new land bordering the existing property. The club’s general manager Markus Junni said: “This is a vital project to make the club sustainable in the long term. We have a very large membership with a huge demand for golf and we look forward to seeing what the team – which we believe is an outstanding one – comes up with.” Construction is expected to begin in summer 2024. a community nearby Tampere in the Pirkanmaa region has been ranked as the country's most vibrant municipality Open image viewerPirkkala's new municipal building "Tiima" opened in August 2022 The colourful four-storey structure stands out from the other buildings in the city centre Image: Juha Kokkala / YleYle News30.10.2024 12:16Once again this year a survey by the engineering and professional services firm WSP Finland has placed Pirkkala at the top of its ranking of the vibrance and viability of Finnish municipalities Only a 15-minute drive from the centre of the regional capital Pirkkala has a population of around 20,900 and is doing better than other municipalities by many measures says Pirkkala benefits from its location near Tampere But there many other factors working to its advantage as well The study used 22 different indicators to measure municipalities' productivity human capital and ability to adapt to the future The index includes measures such as employment Almost 70 percent of Pirkkala's population is under 55 years of age and up to 35 percent are university graduates and this attracts younger people to the municipality," says Tikkanen-Lindström Open image viewerPirkkala has a relatively young age structure There are four libraries in the municipality - the main library Image: Juha Kokkala / Yle Pirkkala has also benefited from the shift to online commerce with several large logistics companies located next to a main highway and Tampere–Pirkkala Airport The fact that Pirkkala has a retail cluster close to its city line with Tampere also adds to the availability of local jobs A further boost is likely as Tampere's tramway system is also being extended into Pirkkala The 20 most vibrant municipalities in Finland a new boat and ship dock with terraces was completed in Pirkkala Image: Juha Kokkala / YlePirkkala is home to an exceptionally high number of high-income earners and entrepreneurs The local weekly newspaper Pirkkalainen reported last year that there were seven people in the municipality who earned more than a million euros that year The average income of Pirkkala residents is also higher than in most muncipalities the city of Tampere was ranked 19th in this comparison with all of its neighbouring municipalities gaining higher scores this reflects a new kind of role for Tampere as an urban centre while families with children often move to neighbouring towns in search of more living space Open image viewerTampere has done well in general attractiveness comparisons but in the WSP ranking it was far from the top Photo of Hämeenkatu in Tampere's city centre Image: Sanni Isomäki / YleOn the other hand consumers are increasingly making purchases online and no longer always come to the city to do their shopping Tikkanen-Lindström is urging local leaders to think of alternative development "The city centre needs to recognise its changing role When people no longer come to the centre to do their shopping Helsinki made a strong showing in the rankings alongside Espoo one reason being that the capital has attracted a large number of migrants from both home and abroad Helsinki also set a record in tourism during the year under review and cultural events also contributed to its vitality where green investment is supporting employment showed the biggest gain in the ranking since last year Humppila in Kanta-Häme (251) and Hailuoto (204) in North Ostrobothnia fell more than 70 places in the ranking Users with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience REDEFINING THE END-TO-END PASSENGER EXPERIENCE AND BUSINESS PERFORMANCE Airport | Ancillary | On the Ground // Jan 2024 Share on LinkedInLinkedInShare on TwitterTwitterShare on FacebookFacebookShare on RedditRedditShare on FlipboardFlipboardShare on TumblrTumblrShare via EmailGmailShare on WhatsAppWhatsApp Tampere-Pirkkala Airport has upgraded its food & beverage offer with new cafés and restaurants both in the departure hall and the gate area after security control “Tampere-Pirkkala Airport’s air passenger numbers have grown steadily since the COVID-19 pandemic and we have been systematically developing the customer experience at the airport,” said Mari Nurminen Finavia’s Director at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport restaurant services are an important part of the passenger experience and many passengers have been especially asking for lunches that can be taken onboard.” Finavia has invested more than €20 million in the development of Tampere-Pirkkala Airport In addition to the development project completed in 2018 Finavia has invested in improving the customer areas and services at the terminals as well as reducing the airport’s environmental impact the restaurant services at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport will be provided by Finavia’s contractual partner SSP Finland which has already been working with Finavia for many years at other airports IOT & Robotics case studies & knowledge sharing Content plans: Focus on the future of baggage handling Proof of Concepts updates & knowledge sharing Content plans: A worldwide summit uniting inventive minds to tackle aviation’s biggest challenges and uncover the city’s vibrant tech and innovation landscape Content plans: Strategies for revenue growth through collaborative retailing; discussions around progressive new business models & knowledge sharing Content plans: A gathering of air transport’s digital and innovation leaders who will inspire one another and reimagine travel together Content plans: Known as the ‘CES of Aviation’ FTE Global is THE DEFINITIVE EVENT FOR INNOVATORS Content plans: Asia’s biggest free to attend passenger experience & business performance expo A worldwide summit uniting inventive minds to tackle aviation’s biggest challenges Empowering the airline sector to profit from collaborative digital retailing opportunities at every step of the journey A gathering of air transport’s digital and innovation leaders creative designers and progressive minds who will inspire one another and reimagine travel together Where the world's most progressive travel facilitators define tomorrow’s end-to-end passenger experience Connecting vendors with airline and airport executives to transform tomorrow’s end-to-end passenger journey across Asia-Pacific The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students 2022 will be full of festive events as the Finnish city will mark its 100th birthday Pirkkala will celebrate its 100th birthday with a rich and varied programme which will highlight the Finnish city’s history residents will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of festivities from music and arts events to sports and baking the Finnish city has announced that residents can not only participate in the events but also join the programme and individuals working in Pirkkala are welcome to apply to join the anniversary programme and organise their own events Those interested in doing so must submit their applications before the end of October 2021 the theme of the anniversary year will be Yhteinen Pirkkalamme (Our Common Pirkkala) the municipality has designed a logo featuring the theme and the number 100 This logo will be used to make festive communication stand out from the rest of the municipality’s work Our Common Pirkkala logoSource: Pirkkala Municipality The anniversary programme will divide the history of Pirkkala into decades the months of 2022 will have different themes January 2022 will feature events and activities in the spirit of the 1920s each month (except June and July) will explore a different decade until December 2022 when the theme will be both 2010s and 2020s Pirkkala’s citizens will learn something new each month and get a better understanding of their city’s history the anniversary programme will include events tailored to the interests and ages of all residents those who enjoy handicrafts can participate in weaving “Pirkkala 100” wool socks and knitwear The municipality further revealed that it will also design a Pirrkala-themed board game which will be available for purchase this Christmas The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital “Patria has become a sought-after pilot training provider in the international arena Our new flight school that opened next to Tampere-Pirkkala Airport a couple of years ago has got off to a flying start” “Large airlines are showing a huge amount of interest in our pilot training services Patria already provides basic flight training for new commercial pilots of Nordic Regional Airlines “We currently run one course every year for Nordic Regional Airlines Since its launch in 1998, Patria Pilot Training Oy has become one of the leading pilot training centres in Northern Europe and it now employs 30 permanent staff in Pirkkala “We have trained more than 1,000 pilots in just over 20 years” the flight school’s students will see a lot more sun out of their cockpit windows Patria announced in April of 2019 that it will relocate its basic flight training operations which rely on the single-engine DA40 fleet “This means moving six of our single-engine DA40 trainers to Córdoba Our theory and simulator training modules for commercial pilots will still be run in Pirkkala as will our multi-engine and instrument-based flight training in the DA42.” There are currently four DA42 trainers in Pirkkala One of the biggest motivations for the change was the weather in Spain which enables Patria to run basic flight training courses effectively throughout the year The plan is to begin flying in Córdoba in the summer of 2019 The move to Spain also increases Patria’s training capacity without having to expand the existing fleet of trainers it prepares Patria for the growing numbers of international airlines looking to use its services “We want to boost our civil aviation business and the move to Córdoba makes that possible Our basic flight training students will complete approximately half of their flight hours in Spain after which the course continues in Pirkkala” Pirkkala is still the number-one priority in plans relating to Patria’s pilot training operations the pilot training centre had seven courses in progress and 110 students “We are hoping to bring the number up to more than 200 students in the future” The two-year basic training course for professional pilots includes an extensive theoretical component of approximately one thousand hours This means between approximately 200 and 250 flight hours One of the courses is tailored specifically to Kazakh pilots A second Kazakh course is due to run in the summer The fact that more and more flight instructor training courses are now also needed is evidence of the growing popularity of flying International air travel is creating more demand for pilots thanks to the increasing appeal of Asian routes “Natural staff turnover in the industry is also relatively high at the moment The success of Patria’s pilot training operations stems in part from important decisions made in the past One of these was the launch of a new Multi-Crew Pilot License (MPL) training course a few years ago “Our MPL training course combines basic pilot training with aircraft-specific training in the Airbus A320 MPL training relies on both real aircraft and more and more on modern flight simulators We have our own Airbus A320 simulator in Pirkkala as well as two DA42-VI simulators” Patria’s flight training curriculum has evolved massively in recent years The flight school’s move from Helsinki to Pirkkala in 2016/2017 has only accelerated progress we first began to plan the MPL training course six years ago and it has really started to bear fruit in the last couple of years MPL training is clearly the way forward and what appeals to large international airlines.” Patria’s spick-and-span trainer fleet is a huge asset “We have made a lot of changes to our fleet recently The next aircraft to be decommissioned is the Tecnam P2002 JF” The best indicators of a flight school’s success are – naturally – employment figures among former students and positive feedback from airlines Patria’s pilot training courses have a great reputation and pilots who have graduated from Patria’s school are in high demand in the job market “Practically all the pilots whom we have trained have found work in the industry.” [email protected] The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command has announced that it has received final quotations for the HX Programme from the five contenders ahead of the 30 April deadline for the submission of final and best offers The quotations will now be evaluated based on the invitation for tenders and evaluations of aircraft performance with this evaluation expected to be complete by this autumn The evaluation results will guide the Finnish government’s final procurement decision Airbus’ Eurofighter and Saab’s Gripen E are the five contenders in the running to replace the Finnish Air Force’s fleet of F/A-18C and D Hornets sensors and other required type-specific support functions required for aircraft operations The four main considerations for the evaluation of the bids are military capability, security of supply, industrial cooperation and costs with security and defence policy implications to be separately assessed The Logistics Command notes that the results will “define the Finnish Air Force’s combat capability into the 2060s” making the selection of the system with the best possible capabilities including supporting elements and development capacity over the entire life cycle Lockheed Martin emphasized security of supply and industrial cooperation in its press release saying that its package included a “sustainment solution tailored to meet Finnish security of supply requirements to support all operational needs if in a closed border scenario” in addition to the aircraft “many first-of-a-kind opportunities” are being offered to Finnish industry to directly work on F-35 production and sustainment No details were provided on how many F-35s were being offered in the package The Eurofighter team again did not disclose how many aircraft were offered Managing Director – Europe & International said that the Eurofighter offer exceeded direct and indirect industry participation demands with 80 work packages including technology transfer on mission data generation and electronic warfare Saab was the only contender to disclose the amount of aircraft on offer in its press release with 64 Gripen Es (dropping the offer of the twin-seat Gripen F) and their munitions alongside two GlobalEye aerial early warning and command aircraft they will establish a Gripen & GlobalEye System Centre in Finland to support operations sustainment and capability growth of both types over the program lifecycle in addition to direct and indirect industrial participation for Finnish industry throughout the country Dassault did not issue any statements about its final and best offer for the program HX program director Lauri Puranen has said to Yle that the Finnish military will not trust manufacturer claims what is more interesting is how the packages have been tailored to their price ceilings the propositions and their perceived value for money will likely be of great interest to other countries choosing between the types especially if more details are released following the final decision Welcome to Websitename.com. 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Read our policy By 2019-10-29T09:13:12+00:00 DHL Express Finland has opened a new €15m gateway terminal and office facility in Pirkkala/Tampere with a handling capacity of 5,000 shipments per hour The 4,000 sq m terminal serves the express pick-up and delivery operations in Pirkanmaa area and handles both export and import shipments for the whole of northern Finland Additional space and capacity were required to serve both the business to business and rapidly growing private customer e-commerce sectors DHL Express Europe chief executive Alberto Nobis said: “Given the sustained growth of international e-commerce DHL is committed to strengthening our global network and services we've invested significantly in our infrastructure all across Europe to increase efficiencies and to improve delivery capabilities Our hubs and gateways are the backbone of our global network which connects businesses from all industry verticals and private customers alike and enables them to benefit from the ongoing e-commerce boom.” Daily flights between European Hub Leipzig and Helsinki Gateway connect DHL Express Finland to the global network The other two Finnish Express terminals are located in Tampere/Pirkkala and Turku Site powered by Webvision Cloud the available street plan proposals include the section on Hatanpään valtatie and the plans for Lääkärinkatu Mäentakusenkatu and Aitolahdentie on the Linnainmaa branch The town plan draft for the west side of Lake Alasjärvi and the related Kaupinlaakso boulevard street plan draft will also become available at the same time until the 26 April Head of Planning of Municipal Engineering for the City of Tampere You can leave feedback in the registry office of the City of Tampere where feedback related to town plans and street plan drafts is also given On the website of Tampere Tram’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa Alliance and public events it has already been possible to comment on the street plan proposal drafts that will now become available The Alliance has also had multiple negotiations with properties services and other parties that work along the new tram route and many changes have been made based on their feedback - We have received feedback from the public about the number and locations of stops access to the stops and about the green areas on the streets We tend to get a lot of detailed feedback on the bicycle path arrangements Also the arrangements for different junction areas have come up Development Director of Tampere Tramway Ltd There have not been any significant changes concerning the stops and there are no plans to change them anymore The number and locations of the stops are based on current and future land use workplaces and services in the stop’s area of influence as well as an estimation of their development in the future pedestrian and bicycle paths and signs has been improved Modifications have also been done in the junction areas to improve smooth traffic flow and security and the length of the lanes for turning has been examined and there has been an aim to clarify the lane arrangements From the point of view of winter maintenance the solutions have been thoroughly improved The driving factors for planning the junction areas are safety and smooth traffic flow at the junction - Questions have arisen on the flow of traffic at the Tampereen valtatie and Hatanpään valtatie junction Tampere City Board already defined earlier that the tram traffic will be done on its own lane on the same level with other traffic but that the tram traffic benefit for traffic lights will be cut down during the busiest hours The tramway rail on Hatanpään valtatie is planned to be continued from the current rail by the bus station The tramway runs in the middle of the current street in its own lane The plan for Hatanpään valtatie is to mainly have one car lane in both directions and additional turning lanes in conjunctions The street levelling will mainly follow the current height level There will be green lanes with tree plantings on the sides of the tramway area The regional main bicycle route will be on the west side of Hatanpään valtatie There will be three tram stops on Hatanpään valtatie: On the south side of Viinikanoja bridge on the north side of Hatanpäänkatu junction and on the south side of Siirtolapuutarhankatu There is also bus traffic on Hatanpään valtatie and the bus stops will be carried out as extensions the connections to Hatanpään sairaala have been taken into account A tramway turning point is being planned for on Hatanpään valtatie on the north side of the Tampereen valtatie junction The tramway will be on the same level with other traffic on the Tampereen valtatie and Hatanpään valtatie junction but during rush hours the traffic light benefit of the tramway will be adapted to the queueing sensitivity of the junction to smooth all traffic changes have been planned for many junction arrangements junctions for facilities will be changed into one-way junctions where it is only possible to turn right and not to cross the tramway rail Junctions that cross the tramway will be equipped with traffic lights and they will have a zebra crossing The plan for Hatanpään valtatie has been specified based on the received feedback by keeping the pedestrian bridge crossing Viinikanoja which was originally proposed to be removed The tramway that is planned to be continued from the current final stop in Kauppi campus is located on the south side of Lääkärintie On the east side of the Arvo Ylpön katu junction on Lääkärinkatu the tramway will run in the middle of the street in its own lane there will be green lanes of varying widths with planted trees the single car lanes will have separate lanes for the left turn The roundabout of Arvo Ylpön katu and Lääkärinkatu will become a four-way junction guided by traffic lights A tramway stop is planned at the east end of Lääkärinkatu there will be a power station for the tramway and a turning point for buses The tramway rail section between Arvo Ylpön katu and Toimelankatu will be covered with crushed stone The regional main bicycle route and the pedestrian path will be on the north side of Lääkärinkatu The current bus stop at Teiskontie on the west side of Heikkilänkatu junction will stay and have a new connection from the direction of Heikkilänkatu The Heikkilänkatu and Luhtaankatu junction has been planned to have traffic lights A tramway stop is also planned on Heikkilänkatu before the new tramway bridge that crosses the eastern bypass (Valtatie 9) and which will be on the north side of the current bridge there will be a new pedestrian and bicycle lane leading to Linnainmaa and which is part of the regional main bicycle route Aitolahti and Mäentakusenkatu junction is planned as a roundabout with the tramway going through it the bicycle traffic and pedestrians crossing the rail will be stopped with traffic lights when a tramway passes it A significant connection stop has been planned on Mäentakusenkatu where northern southern and eastern bus lines meet the tramway The new street connection planned on the north side of Citymarket and that would pass the connection stop area will be presented together with the town plan Access to the junction to the property next to the stop is planned to be on the side of Lahtomäenkatu and Länkinotkonraitti The Lahtomäenkatu junction has been planned to have traffic lights A turning point for the trams has been planned after the connection stop which works as a final stop on the north side of Mäentakusenkatu Based on the feedback on the Linnainmaa rail branch there has been an attempt to clarify the turning lane lengths and lane arrangements in Mäentakusenkatu The street plan draft for the west side of Lake Alasjärvi will become available together with the area’s town plan has been planned to run through the Ruotula golf course which will be removed and the tramway road would be located approximately a hundred metres north of the current Teiskontie (Valtatie 12) The tramway route is located in the middle of the new street Both sides of the road have lines of trees between the lane and bicycle path as well as separate pedestrian and bicycle paths A tramway stop has been planned in the middle of the new residential area in the town plan on the west side of Lake Alasjärvi The area’s street junctions are guided by traffic lights and the tramway road connects to Teiskontie through the current Jaakonmäenkatu and Irjalankatu junctions The tramway road traffic will be calmed down by heightening the stop area A drive connection on the northside of Teiskontie to the shore of Lake Alasjärvi and the frisbee golf course will run from Teiskontie through the new Viheriönkatu it will be made possible to turn from the direction of west to north on Teiskontie Tenniskatu will also stay as a connection to Teiskontie Trees that are removed because of the new building will be replaced by new trees to landscape the new passages and to enable access to the Siberian Flying Squirrel It is possible to give feedback on the Kaupinlaakso boulevard street plan draft together with the town plan draft into the city registry office The material produced by Tampere Tram’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa Alliance for the decision-making of Tampere and Pirkkala Councils is going to be ready in September By then the tramway plans will be finalised as well as the related street stop and traffic arrangements from the Sorin aukio stop in Hatanpään valtatie until Suuppa municipality centre in Pirkkala and from Kauppi campus tramway stop in Tays area until Linnainmaa The goal is that in October 2024 the Alliance’s plans and reports will be ready for the Councils of Tampere and Pirkkala to use when deciding on beginning the building of the tramway the scope of the building and the possible phases of building the rail the final street plan proposals will be presented in public and stakeholder events organised by Tampere Tram’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa Alliance and the City of Tampere.  -    On Wednesday 17 April at 17–19 presentation of the plans the west side of Lake Alasjärvi and Linnainmaa depot as well as the street plan draft for Kaupinlaakso boulevard Information on the planning of the tramway between Pirkkala and Linnainmaa can be found in many channels In addition to Tampere Tram’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa Alliance website provide information on the progress of the projects and plans as well as the coming public events.  E-mail[email protected] The international route offering of Tampere-Pirkkala Airport will further improve for the winter The Latvian airline Air Baltic will launch a new route from Tampere to Las Palmas The route will be flown once a week on Tuesdays with Airbus A220-300 aircraft Las Palmas is the second winter destination in the Canary Islands to which Air Baltic flies from Tampere-Pirkkala Airport Las Palmas is the largest city in the Canary Islands “We are very pleased with the development of Tampere-Pirkkala Airport’s route offering The residents of the region can now enjoy even smoother connections from their home airport to destinations around the world,” says Petri Vuori Finavia’s Senior Vice President responsible for route development In addition to destinations in the Canary Islands Air Baltic will also launch flights from Tampere-Pirkkala Airport to Kittilä as well as a daily connection to Tallinn in the winter The airline operates year-round routes to Riga and Amsterdam This summer, Air Baltic operates direct flights from Tampere-Pirkkala Airport to a total of eight European destinations You can book your flights through the Air Baltic website Tickets for the flights to Las Palmas will go on sale on 21 June In winter, Air Baltic will fly directly from Tampere-Pirkkala Airport to Tenerife and Kittilä Tampere-Pirkkala Airport now offers direct scheduled flights to Nice and Milan Tampere-Pirkkala Airport departures and arrivals .acfil0{fill:#27afb7;fill-rule:nonzero}.aqfil0{fill:#27afb7;fill-rule:nonzero}.aufil0{fill:#27afb7;fill-rule:nonzero}.bafil0{fill:#27afb7;fill-rule:nonzero}.befil0{fill:#27afb7;fill-rule:nonzero}.bjst0{fill:none}.bkfil0{fill:#27afb7;fill-rule:nonzero}.bzfil0{fill:#27afb7;fill-rule:nonzero}.ccfil0{fill:#27afb7;fill-rule:nonzero} +1 (332) 223 4004 a CO2 (R744) rack with two-stage heat recovery has helped to reduce the electricity demand at an ice rink in Pirkkala by 34% compared to its previous R404-based refrigeration system During the eight months of the 2022 ice-skating season – which runs from August to March – the ice rink used only 330MWh of electricity Before the CO2 refrigeration system was installed in 2020 the facility required around 500MWh per season Operating on less than 1.4MWh of electricity per day the Pirkkala ice rink is now one of the most efficient ice rinks in the world the average Finnish ice rink uses more than 3MWh of electricity per day Along with providing cooling for the ice rink the CO2 system also meets all of the arena’s space heating and hot water demand via heat recovery in an effort to minimize energy consumption creating an uncomfortable environment for users “This success story can encourage other ice rink owners to follow Pirkkala’s model to achieve similar results,” said EKA “Sustainable energy solutions bring both economic and environmental benefits and make ice rinks more pleasant for their users Efficient and environmentally friendly solutions are the direction of the future and offer significant benefits to both private and public operators.” Previous data suggested that the CO2 rack reduced energy consumption by 30% Additional energy savings were achieved through the optimization of the ice rink’s operation prior to the 2022 season More than 3MWh of electricity has been saved each month by reducing the load on the cooling system at night when the arena is not in use This has been achieved by raising the temperature of the ice surface and lowering the air temperature in the arena space Different set values have also been applied for practices and matches Additional savings could be achieved with the installation of solar panels and the better utilization of surplus heat According to the company’s Quick Ice Arena Energy Savings guide which it produced for the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) saw its electricity consumption reduced by 58% with the installation of a CO2-based system Similar results were also achieved at an ice rink in Gimo The percentage is much lower in North America Other examples of using natural refrigerants in ice rink refrigeration systems can be found in the North American Guide to Natural Refrigerants in Ice Arenas There has been a critical error on this website Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress. The decisive factor behind the change was the Spanish weather which enables efficient training throughout the year and significantly increases utilisation of Patria´s fleet of training aircraft.  Cordoba was chosen from a number of promising candidates as it was deemed the most functional overall the wheels were quickly set in motion and Patria’s Michael Hirvonen moved to Spain in April to prepare the new training centre The plan calls for the launch training in September 2019 Planning of ferry flights from Pirkkala to Cordoba was also initiated This meant several work-filled weeks and acceptance of two new DA40 planes from Diamond Aircraft´s Wiener Neustad factory in Austria before the actual ferry flights carried out by Harri Pottonen Here is Teppo Alijoki’s notes of the four flight days On Monday the 12th of August three aircraft and six enthusiastic flight instructors were ready for the unprecedented ferry flights from Tampere-Pirkkala to Córdoba in Spain The flights were scheduled to take a total of four days and covering a total of more than 2,400 miles They would rack up a total of just over twenty hours of flight time including one reserve day in case of technical faults or bad weather the first leg from Pirkkala to Linköping in Sweden (ESSL) we decided to greet to the staff and students in Pirkkala with a three-plane flyover of Patria’s training centre And we did indeed find the best-looking hangars in Pirkanmaa The first leg went according to the plan without any need to make major changes to the planned route Weather conditions were cloudy for part of the leg and at our flight level (FL100 = 10.000 feet approximately 3 km) we were flying against strong winds of 35 knots the flight lasted just over three hours (plus delays on the ground) We landed safely in Linköping at 10:15 UTC before thunderclouds started gathering over the airfield Harri Pottonen paid our landing fees during the heaviest downpour and the crews supervised the refuelling of the aircraft we were able to take off for the next destination as we knew that the Kolding-Vamdrup (EKVD) airport in Denmark would close at 15:00 UTC The planes were in the air again with the same crews after only an hour on the ground Both radio traffic and our flight went without a hitch with flexible routing and Swedish precision Our route managed to avoid the worst thunderstorms and we flew over the sea with full confidence in both our aircraft and engines and our own professional skill We landed on Kolding-Vamdrup’s short runway (1,006 metres) just after 14:00 hrs in a strong crosswind We had plenty of time to pay our landing and parking fees and to refuel our aircraft before the airport closed The aircraft were covered up and left at the airport at the mercy of a twenty-knot wind while the crews went to their hotels in the town and enjoyed a well-deserved dinner Then we had an early night to gather our strength for the next day After a quick morning briefing and some preparations we asked for route clearance for the next leg of our journey from Kolding-Vamdrup to Siegerland in Germany (EDGS) We were given clearance for our traditional flight level of FL100 The weather was cloudier than on the previous day It was a few degrees below zero at our flight level so two crews requested an altitude change to a lower flight level of FL070 We landed in Siegerland by 10:00 hours UTC This airport is located at a reasonably high altitude above sea level with a RNP (Required Navigation Performance) minimum of 2,260 feet compared to Pirkkala’s ILS (Instrument Landing System) minimum of 570 feet The airport personnel handled refuelling with German efficiency This meant that the crews were able to visit the airport’s canteen where we enjoyed lunch in our flight overalls – at tables not only covered with white tablecloths but also decorated with candles and roses These surroundings gave an extra special flavour to our meal We took off individually with 20–30 minute intervals,  without a hitch Our next destination would be Bern Belp in Switzerland (LSZB) guided by the crew comprising of Kim Kuikka and Teppo Alijoki This pair were the only ones who got to do a City Circling to the opposite end of the airport after their ILS approach Others had to settle with a direct ILS approach The scenery around the airport was breathtaking – a completely new experience for us all Compared to what we had encountered previously there was a number of small planes using this airport Our aircraft were refuelled and covered up so they would be ready and waiting for us in the morning as we had to sort out some tax issues relating to refuelling The Point of Contact in Finland was our new CFI (Chief Flight Instructor) Janne Pöykiö and thanks to Finnish perseverance and limitless language skill even this issue was resolved admirably and the crews got to eat and rest On Wednesday the 14th of August, we woke up to the sun shining in clear skies. A taxi drove the crews to the airport where the aircraft were awaiting their pilots amid beautiful scenery Our destination for this leg was Montpellier in France (LFMT) Here we encountered the local air traffic control in French and the controllers did their best to explain things to us in English we were able to land in Montpellier on time We had not planned to refuel or have lunch at the airport so we made only a quick stop – just long enough to pay our landing fees and visit the bathroom We were finally encountering some pleasant temperatures: +27°C on the ground and 6–7°C at our flight level of FL100 freezing was no longer a factor and we were able to to focus on breaking the language barrier Our takeoff from Montpellier did not go quite as smoothly as we'd hoped for The crew comprising Eetu Rauhala and Teppo Alijoki did not make it into the air on their first attempt due to an indicated instrument fault  while going through the check lists With the aid of the French air traffic controllers and a phone call home to CAMO in Finland we were able to resolve the fault and the last crew was able to join us at flight level FL100 for the next leg to Reus in Spain (LERS) The thermometer was showing 32°C when we landed in Reus and the first two crews got to show their passports and ‘Paper of Fly’ (pilot licenses) to the local police we taxied to Diamond Aircraft´s local Service Center´s  hangar The maintenance personnel gave us a lift to our hotel and we managed to have dinner before 16:30 UTC even though the majority of the local restaurants had not even opened yet The locals only arrived when we were leaving to go to bed Thursday the 15th of August may have been our last day After we left the hotel,  we went through the airport security inspection under the warm Spanish sun Although it was a national holiday in Spain Clearance was given to flight level FL080 only even though several crews would have wanted to fly higher But luckily visibility allowed a lower flight level we encountered unbelievable sceneries on our route from Reus to Madrid’s Cuento Vientas airport (LECU) We purposefully remained under Madrid’s control for as long as possible even though we received clearances to descend several thousand feet at a time we all had to decent to VFR cruising altitudes and reach our destination using the Spanish VFR chart Kim Kuikka and Harri Pottonen boldly volunteered to go first and warned the rest of us about enormous eagles and other large birds that they had to avoid We found the correct airport but didn’t manage to land without go-arounds.. There were training flights run by several schools at regular intervals and we couldn't seem to find any parking spaces for our planes on the apron We only had forty-five minutes left until our scheduled takeoff time and we still had to deal with the local authorities We knew that air traffic control at our final destination and we had planned a flyover over the city in formation before landing we were mainly within visual range of each other we cancelled our IFR clearance and switched to VFR in order get into a three-plane formation flew further over the airport and broke the formation up in order to land individually the airport’s fire and rescue vehicles gave us a ‘welcome shower’ of water with their water cannons Waiting for us were both the airport manager and Our aircraft had arrived safely in Cordoba as planned [email protected] Finavia and Air Baltic celebrated the opening of four new routes from Tampere-Pirkkala Airport on 5 December 2023 The new destinations include Gran Canaria and Tenerife in the Canary Islands Air Baltic flies a daily triangle route to Tallinn and Amsterdam and Kittilä is the airline’s first domestic destination within Finland we are actively developing our airports’ connections to the rest of the world in order to ensure Finland’s accessibility Accessibility from Pirkanmaa to the rest of Europe and from the rest of Europe to Pirkanmaa is very good at the moment and the wide range of routes serves both business and tourism Of particular interest among the new routes is the route to Kittilä which provides the region with an excellent connection to Lapland,” says Petri Vuori Air Baltic currently also flies from Tampere to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Málaga and Riga. The airline has also announced that it will open a route to Mallorca in May 2024. All flights can now be booked through the Air Baltic website Air Baltic has made Tampere-Pirkkala Airport one of its bases and permanently relocated one of its aircraft to the airport This makes it possible for the airline to offer a very comprehensive selection of routes from Tampere to the rest of the world Flight list: These destinations will be served by direct scheduled flights from Finavia airports during the 2023–2024 winter season Commentary: Tampere-Pirkkala Airport is being developed through four key pillars HELSINKI FINLAND JUser: :_load: Unable to load user with ID: 80 A Boeing F/A 18-E Super Hornet arrives at Pirkkala air base near Tampere today (Image: Lehtikuva) US AEROSPACE GIANT BOEING has sent three F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets to Pirkkala Air Base near Tampere today in order to participate in simulated war games to compete for a €10 billion contract from the Finnish Ministry of Defence This is the last of a series of bids from global defence companies for the contract The Boeing jets cost around €65 million per unit putting them firmly in the middle of the price ranges being considered by the Defence Ministry at the moment The €10 billion contract was announced last year as Finland moves to replace its aging fleet of American-made Hornet jet The Boeing F/A-18's are essentially an updated version of those jets It is likely that Finland will choose a contractor later in the year You can see more photos from today's showcase by scrolling through the gallery Advertisement inquiries and other after-sales issues: info@helsinkitimes.fi Helsinki Times is the first and only English language newspaper providing news about Finland in English A weekly print edition of Helsinki Times was published from March 2007 up until Feb Helsinki Times is an online-only publication and other groups and individuals interested in Finland from all around the world © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy The airport company Finavia and airline Air Baltic celebrated the opening of two new direct flight connections from Tampere-Pirkkala Airport to Nice in France and Milan in Italy The opening of the routes and the one-year anniversary of Air Baltic’s home airport were simultaneously celebrated on 2 May 2023 “We are happy that the international flight connections of the Tampere region are improving Air Baltic’s new scheduled flights provide a direct route to attractive European cities and further strengthen the airport’s international traffic offering We hope that as many of the residents of the region as possible will take advantage of the direct connections from their home airport to Europe,” says Petri Vuori Both new routes will operate twice a week from Tampere-Pirkkala Airport There are flights to Nice on Tuesdays and Saturdays and to Milan on Mondays and Thursdays Air Baltic operates direct flights from Tampere to eight European destinations we reached a significant milestone in the history of the airline opening its first base outside the Baltics at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport We are glad to celebrate already one year of the base and the start of the summer 2023 season in Tampere together with our passengers and partners and further improving connectivity to and from the region” The opening of the routes was celebrated at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport in connection with the first flight to Nice on 2 May The first anniversary of Air Baltic’s home airport was celebrated at the same time it was exactly one year since the airline permanently allocated one of its aircraft to Tampere-Pirkkala Airport The first flight was greeted by Finavia’s Regional Director for Central and Eastern Finland and Tampere-Pirkkala Airport Manager Mari Nurminen Air Baltic’s Nordic Head of Sales Jan Nyholm and Business Tampere’s Director Investments and global operations Harri Ojala © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy we want to give Tampere-Pirkkala Airport the Airport of the Year award for its close cooperation with stakeholders and customer-oriented operating culture,” says Jani Jolkkonen the transport structure of Tampere-Pirkkala Airport has changed dramatically in the considerable financial investment by Air Baltic and the increase in routes In the customer satisfaction measurements of Finavia’s airport network Tampere-Pirkkala Airport has performed very well its security control and parking arrangements “I am very pleased with the recognition given to Tampere-Pirkkala Airport We have worked hard to promote the growth of air traffic and a smooth passenger experience this year and last year we have been able to celebrate the opening of several routes,” says Mari Nurminen Tampere-Pirkkala Airport is used for both civil and military aviation The airport also hosts plenty of flight training activities a total of 168,328 passengers travelled via the airport 95% of whom were passengers on international flights Tampere-Pirkkala Airport had 23,454 take-offs and landings last year A French Dassault Rafale fighter jet takes off from Pirkkala earlier today (Image: Lehtikuva) TWO €74 MILLION FRENCH FIGHTER JETS arrived at Pirkkala Air Force Base today to conduct simulated war games above the Finnis skies in an attempt by the French to secure a €10 billion contract from the Finnish Defence Ministry As the Finnish state looks to replace its aging fleet of American-made Hornet Fighter Jets a number of defence manufacturers are flying to Finland to show off their hardware and attempt to secure the contract Earlier this month, a fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon Jets arrived with members of the UK Ministry of Defense and the weapons manufacturer BAE Systems in a separate attempt to convince Finland to award the contract Brigadier General Gael Diaz de Tuesta of the French Defence Forces Procurement Centre was also present at the demonstration where he emphasized to Finnish military representatives the previous effectiveness of the Rafale jets in conducting operations against ISIS The jets have previously been sold to customers in Egypt You can see more photos from the demonstration by scrolling through the gallery Finland has proposed to the North Atlantic Alliance the placement of a new military base on its territory Helsinki could become a base for large NATO reconnaissance drones The media says that the most likely location for the new base is Pirkkala though three alternative sites are also being considered but they have already been used in Finnish airspace to gather data on the eastern border Plans for the new base are at an early stage but the Alliance is actively looking for opportunities to expand the presence of drones in Northern Europe A final decision on the base's location is expected next year Finland's accession to NATO was a significant geopolitical event that occurred on April 4 made in the context of escalating international tensions and Russian aggression in Ukraine strengthened Finland's defense capabilities and significantly altered the balance of power in Northern Europe which shares a border with Russia spanning over a thousand kilometers had long maintained a policy of non-interference in military conflicts including Russia's annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine forced Finnish leadership to reconsider its foreign policy Joining NATO was seen as a response to the growing threat from Russia and a guarantee of security for the Finnish people Earlier, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen stated that Finland would host a new NATO land command unit. The renewed restaurant services at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport have been gradually opening since 8 January 2024 Now the new services are fully open both in the departures hall and the gate area after the security control passengers can enjoy local delicacies before their flight or grab easy-to-carry snacks to take with them on the plane The restaurant in the departures hall serves passengers as well as employees and students of nearby companies and we have been systematically developing the customer experience at the airport and many passengers have been especially asking for lunches that can be taken on board,” says Mari Nurminen Finavia has invested more than EUR 20 million in the development of Tampere-Pirkkala Airport Finavia has in recent years invested in improving the customer areas and services at the terminals Finavia selected Tampere-Pirkkala Airport as the recipient of the 2022 Airport of the Year award The recognition was based on the airport’s development of the customer experience and its consistently high passenger customer satisfaction scores In addition to developing the customer experience Finavia is actively working with operators in the area and one of the great results from this is the appearance of new flight connections Tampere-Pirkkala Airport’s air passenger numbers have grown steadily since the COVID-19 pandemic 213,700 passengers travelled through Tampere-Pirkkala Airport which is 27 per cent more than the previous year The number of direct international routes has also increased over the past few years the airport celebrated the opening of as many as six new routes Air Baltic has already announced that it will start direct flights to Mallorca in summer 2024 Latvian low-fare carrier airBaltic has opened its Tampere base in Finland – the airline’s first base outside the Baltic states said: “The opening of the new base provides new travel opportunities for both our current and future passengers We hope that the passenger demand will gradually grow therefore we may launch additional new destinations to various business hubs and leisure destinations over time.” Initially the airline will serve seven direct routes in addition to continued operations to Riga in Latvia The new links being served from Tampere include: Oslo while all other links are being served from May VP for Central and Eastern Finland Airports and Tampere-Pirkkala Airport Manager at Finavia commented: “We are delighted to celebrate airBaltic’s new base at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport This launch marks a great milestone in the long cooperation between Finavia and airBaltic Seven new routes bring a great variety of European cities close to both leisure and business travellers of Tampere which we can all be very happy about.” and website in this browser for the next time I comment “We are pleased about the resumption of international flights from Tampere Business travellers and holidaymakers from the Tampere region can now fly from their local airport directly to the heart of Europe,” says Mari Nurminen Central and Eastern Airports and the Director of Tampere-Pirkkala Airport at Finavia The Latvian airline Air Baltic has allocated one of its aircraft to Tampere Airport to launch flights to seven new destinations in May 2022: Oslo in Norway and the sunny destinations of Malaga in Spain and Rhodes in Greece Air Baltic will start direct flights to Amsterdam in the Netherlands The opening of Air Baltic’s new base was celebrated at Tampere Airport on 2 May 2022 “An international airline establishing a base at Tampere Airport creates tremendous opportunities for the region It also represents a significant milestone in the long cooperation between Finavia and Air Baltic,” Nurminen adds The increase in flight connections from Tampere Airport is the result of a long-term effort we increase international awareness of Finland and engage in discussions with airlines and regional operators Good connections from Finland to the world and vice versa are important and we work to ensure that Finns have access to the best flight connections in Europe,” says Petri Vuori Finnair and SAS are also opening new routes from Tampere-Pirkkala Airport Finnair started operating six weekly flights from Tampere-Pirkkala Airport to Helsinki Airport SAS will operate 11 direct flights between Tampere-Pirkkala Airport and Stockholm Arlanda in May and the airline has announced that flights on the same routes will continue in August 2022 Ryanair operates two weekly flights (Tuesdays and Saturdays) from Tampere-Pirkkala Airport to London Stansted “Tampere-Pirkkala Airport is ready to serve a growing number of flights Thanks to the investment programme we carried out a few years ago improved conditions for flight operations and reduced environmental impacts Tampere-Pirkkala Airport provides a pleasant and convenient starting point for a trip,” Nurminen concludes Image: Air Baltic base lauch at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport on 2 May 2022: Deputy Mayor at City of Tampere Pekka Salmi (left),VP Central and Eastern Finland Airports and Tampere-Pirkkala Airport Manager at Finavia Mari Nurminen (middle) and SVP Network Management at Air Baltic Wolfgang Reuss (right) By and Pirkkala air base2020-02-05T17:05:00+00:00 Finland has reached the mid-way point in its HX Challenge process: an in-country evaluation of the five types on offer to meet its future fighter requirement Candidate number three – Saab’s Gripen E – late last month arrived at the Finnish air force’s Pirkkala air base before Helsinki received updated request for proposal responses from the Swedish firm and its rivals on 31 January The deployment marked the first overseas commitment made using the new-generation model Test aircraft 39-10 visited Finland for HX Challenge Saab sent its newest Gripen E test aircraft to the Satakunta Air Command facility on 29 January with its dedicated two-seat sensor development platform 39-7 following two days later The pair were involved in evaluations to test the type’s suitability as a potential successor to Finland’s Boeing F/A-18C/Ds Prior to making its first evaluation flight Saab displayed aircraft 39-10 carrying MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range and Diehl Defence IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles plus its developmental electronic attack jammer pod Saab HX campaign director Magnus Skogberg describes the Gripen’s key attributes as including its low operating cost ease of maintenance and a proven ability to operate from austere landing strips and road bases – a particular requirement for Finland Saab will not disclose details of its latest response to Helsinki but in June 2019 proposed a package including 52 Gripen Es 12 two-seat Fs and a pair of GlobalEye surveillance aircraft Initial Saab offer included a pair of GlobalEye surveillance aircraft Saab is proposing that Finland have the opportunity to perform final assembly of some of its fighters and GE Aviation F414 engines – an activity which it believes will give the nation’s industry the expertise required to support the type until 2060 Saab also points to the increasingly close military cooperation between Helsinki and Stockholm and its long-term business presence in Finland The company today has roughly 120 employees in the nation: 36 with Saab Finland working on systems including electronic warfare equipment and the remainder with acquired cyber security company Combitech Finland previously flew the Saab Draken fighter and last September ordered the company’s combat mission system equipment for installation aboard its navy’s corvettes under the Squadron 2020 programme: business worth over €400 million ($472 million) with a large installed base,” says Saab’s head of surveillance business area Anders Carp noting that it has had a presence in the country since 1946 Saab’s proposal to Helsinki includes dedicated surveillance platforms to be adapted from Bombardier’s Global 6500 long-range business jet Finnish personnel flew aboard a Global 6000-based GlobalEye from Saab’s Linkoping site in Sweden in support of the recent evaluation The aircraft involved is among those nearing delivery to launch customer the United Arab Emirates Equipped with Saab’s Erieye ER airborne early warning radar electro-optical/infrared sensor and electronic warfare (EW) equipment the heavily modified is capable of simultaneously monitoring airborne Carp notes that GlobalEye’s long-range performance could provide Finland with an extra 20min warning of an attack while acting as a “flying C2 [command and control] centre” The aircraft would also enable it to use its Gripen Es in the most efficient manner when combat air patrol duties are required “We hope the Finnish air force will appreciate this force multiplier,” he adds does not consider the company’s multi-tiered proposal to be a potential risk to its competitive prospects We have been given quite large freedom to offer a suggested mix.” Hjelm tells Flight International that the Finnish opportunity represents “a key element supporting the programme for further development of the Gripen E” in conjunction with Sweden and launch export customer Brazil It also offers a good opportunity “to refill the order stock” as it pursues additional sales The HX contest’s evaluation phase kicked off in January with the deployment of two Eurofighter Typhoons to Pirkkala with BAE Systems leading the consortium’s campaign in the country Eurofighter evaluation involved Typhoons from the UK Royal Air Force After submitting its updated response to Helsinki on behalf of the Eurofighter consortium BAE says it is offering Finland “sovereign control of its defence capability and security of supply swing-role aircraft which will form the backbone of European defence for decades to come.” Dassault’s Rafale was the second type to undergo assessment with four of the type having departed Luke AFB in Arizona on 4 February The Lightning II has an evaluation window within the period 7-17 February The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet will be the last to visit with Washington having given its initial approval for Helsinki to also be offered the EA-18G Growler electronic attack variant The HX Challenge evaluations will wrap up with the Boeing type on 26 February The defence ministry has requested that contenders do not reveal the specifics of its technical evaluation but has previously outlined a need to assess “the performance of electro-optical systems but possibly other active and passive systems” under Finnish winter conditions Assessment activities are split across five areas: counter-air; -land; and –sea tasks; long-range strike; and ISTAR (intelligence target acquisition and reconnaissance) and C2 “The environment here is challenging – not only the weather,” says HX fighter programme director Colonel Juha-Pekka Keranen “We are testing how the candidates perform in our environmental scenarios and its connectivity to other systems and our C2 infrastructure,” Keranen says The air force also will be using mission planning and debriefing systems provided by the vendors Keranen welcomed the arrival of what he described as “good bad weather” in the form of fresh snowfall and reduced runway friction Conditions during the Typhoon and Rafale assessments had been unseasonably mild he says: “We will test what Saab has put in its response – for example whether the [Leonardo Raven ES-05] radar can detect a target at 100km [54nm].” Despite the earlier meteorological conditions failing to provide expected seasonal challenges for BAE and Dassault Satakunta Air Command commander Colonel Aki Heikkinen notes: “The first two [types] were tested successfully During a two-week wargaming exercise to be conducted later this year the air force will use the data gathered through the current evaluations to model the performance of each candidate contenders are required to deliver a package of direct or indirect industrial participation worth 30% of the total contract value tenderers have been asked to summarise the information they have provided in their initial offer and during the negotiations in a clear updated and improved package,” the defence ministry says Likely changes from the original responses have been informed by Helsinki establishing a fixed price cap for the acquisition “Our government has given us a €10 billion budget maximum and we have to fit everything within that,” Keranen says Helsinki has mandated that its future system should have comparable operating costs to its current F/A-18s with the air force to have the ability to make in-country updates to mission data high performance and compliant offers,” programme manager Lauri Pauranen writes in a blog post published following the latest bid submissions “The aim is that final bids will be requested in early autumn 2020 a procurement decision can be made in accordance with the government programme during 2021.” With initial operational capability scheduled for 2027 Keranen notes: “The first aircraft must arrive by 2025 for our air force to skill-up to operate a full fleet of HX.” Deliveries should be complete in 2030 Skogberg notes that the Gripen E will achieve full operational capability in 2023 following the completion of operational testing by Sweden and Brazil Noting that its 2019 outline “could give some hints” about the capability now on offer he notes: “we can supply a substantial number of fighters.” offering a subset of Gripen Fs means Saab has “a very sophisticated and powerful approach when it comes to EW in the HX programme.” And he adds: “If it weren’t for the cost-efficiency of the Gripen E Its pitch also includes initial in-service support until 2030 initial training and mission and ground equipment Mixed solution will act as force multiplier L3Harris has secured a $496 million engineering and manufacturing development contract for further work on the US Navy’s Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ-LB) project Saab has cut metal on the first two-seat Gripen F for the Brazilian air force The first part cut for the aircraft will form part of the jet’s air duct section Video: First Metal Cut Gripen F to Brazil .. Boeing has confirmed plans to conduct ski-jump take-off tests with the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet during the first quarter of 2020 vice-president global sales and marketing at Boeing Defense says the trials are being driven by an Indian navy fighter requirement India has conducted a maiden flight for a so-called “stratospheric airship platform” with the aim of collecting data to inform future sorties Unmanned air vehicle (UAV) producer Tekever is to invest over £400 million ($532 million) to boost its activities in the UK and add more than 1,000 employees to its workforce When Portugal signed for five Embraer C/KC-390 tactical transports in July 2019 it was taking something of a gamble by becoming the first export buyer for the Brazilian-built type – but its air force’s 506 Squadron is now flying high with the Brazilian-built airlifter FlightGlobal is the global aviation community’s primary source of news analytics and advisory services to connect the aviation community globally and help organisations shape their business strategies identify new opportunities and make better decisions faster member-first insights and commentary on the global aviation industry – We are continuously developing the customer experience at our airport Mobile payment facilitates both departures and returns customers have been able to pay for airport parking using the Parkman card payment is still available as a payment method Parking at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport is cheaper with the app than with traditional payment methods The discount varies depending on the time of day and the day of the week – Using the app provides flexibility for parking if your travel plans happen to change during a trip you can use the app to extend the parking time Tampere-Pirkkala Airport has three parking areas either using the app or at a parking payment machine Advance payment machines can be found in the parking areas and inside Terminal 1 The first 30 minutes of parking are free of charge in all parking areas You can make use of the free parking time when bringing passengers to the airport or picking them up As part of the global strategy of the logistics company DHL all new buildings must be climate-neutral by 2030 with the goal of achieving complete climate neutrality by 2050 The logistics company is relying heavily on photovoltaics to achieve this measures are being taken on existing properties to achieve the 2050 climate target with the integration of solar energy playing a central role.Due to the considerable roof areas of DHL's large warehouse buildings substantial solar installations can be installed there enabling DHL to maximize the use of solar energy on the properties Join our webinar February, 12: Mastering C&I rooftop design - from complex geometry to seamless installation “Everything we do is geared towards achieving zero emissions by 2050 We have a clear policy on solar energy – every location is screened for solar potential factors such as the size of the property and the length of the lease are taken into account when considering solar installations we install solar panels on all new sites,” says Jussi Jylhä Operations at DHL Supply Chain (Finland) Oy Currently, 56% of DHL's energy comes from renewable sources 94% of the electricity it uses is predominantly green With the goal of energy self-sufficiency and locally generated electricity DHL is installing solar panels on every property DHL owns a property of approximately 4,000 square meters where Solnet Group installed a solar energy system in 2019 DHL was involved in the tender for this project but an external contractor managed the construction of the building Solnet Group then worked with the construction company Also interesting: Virtual power plant for solar companies to participate in balancing markets “It is crucial for us to meet our emissions targets while also generating electricity right on site We have also noticed the marketing benefits of solar energy in building our brand we use pictures and videos of our Pirkkala site in our sales materials,” mentions Jussi Jylhä When selecting partners for the Pirkkala project security has become even more important and is clearly one of the most influential factors in decision-making with remote management and the ability to disconnect power to the panels were deciding factors.“The security features and credentials of the Solnet Group solution convinced us along with its price-performance ratio and suitable guarantees Solnet provides production data displayed on screens in our lobby which generates positive feedback and makes the solar installation visible the solar array is not visible from the roof so this way we can demonstrate its effect in reducing emissions and generating electricity,” Jylhä points out Also see: Best possible utilisation of a logistic property for PV As advice for those implementing solar arrays for the first time Jylhä recommends bringing in an experienced consultant A company that understands the variables that affect yields and system size “If you have a reliable partner and a solar plant has been built with high-quality equipment, it is relatively maintenance-free to operate. Solnet Group does maintenance once or twice a year. We monitor and report on the system's output ourselves, and Solnet Group handles maintenance and monitors operations at the panel level Integrating production overview has also been effortless,” Jylhä emphasizes With the subscription to this newsletter, I agree to be informed about interesting publishing and online offers of Alfons W. Gentner Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. I can revoke this agreement and unsubscribe at any time. Further information on the handling of data can also be found in our privacy policy Then read one of our other pv europe newsletters - special newsletter for investors (monthly) - special newsletter PV for farmers (monthly) Looking to stay on top of all relevant industry and business news? Click here to subscribe to our free twice-weekly pv Europe newsletter. A podcast for investors on the opportunities and risks of the solar market The pv Europe editorial team offers their own analysis and discusses current topics with experts Two Lockheed Martin F-35 Fighter Jets at Pirkkala Air Base today (Image: Lehtikuva) TWO F-35 FIGHTER JETS were flown by the American weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin to Pirkkala Air Force Base in Finland today as the company becomes the fourth major defense company to compete for a €10 billion contract from the Finnish Defense Forces Over the course of the past month BAE Systems, Airbus, and Saab have flown to Pirkkala to compete for a contract to replace Finland's aging fleet of American-made Hornet Fighter Jets Lockheed Martin's F-35 Fighter Jets cost between €68 million and €95 million apiece to buy The jets were originally meant to arrive a Pirkkala before today but strong winds from Storm Ciara meant that the jets were grounded in England after initially taking off from Arizona - The work has begun in April with the objective of ensuring fluent and safe air traffic and reducing environmental impacts The airport will be significantly improved for both current operators and future needs says airport director Mari Nurminen from Finavia improving the traffic area will make it possible to operate wide-body aircraft at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport when necessary The new taxiway connection and wide turnarounds for the planes will increase the utilisation rate of the runway and enable the use of larger planes Basic renovation work is being conducted in different parts of the airport’s traffic areas: aprons The total renovation area is 330,000 square metres which is equivalent to roughly the area of 50 football fields Other parts of the infrastructure will also be improved Finavia will acquire an instrument landing system (ILS) that increases safety in weather conditions with reduced visibility The environmental impacts of de-icing activities will be reduced by constructing new pump stations and implementing soil protection the airport’s lighting will be improved by replacing the lights along the taxiway with LED technology This is another method for reducing the airport’s environmental impacts The replacement of the lights is part of Finavia’s fast-track climate programme that aims to bring the emissions of Finavia’s airports down to zero Finavia has planned the work to disturb air traffic as little as possible The work at the airport will be begun in stages over April the construction work will be visible to passengers in places such as the aprons The runway paving work will take place during the least busy time for air traffic The airport will be closed from air traffic from 17 July to 12 August 2018 for the duration of the runway paving work Renewed Tampere-Pirkkala Airport will be opened on 13 August 2018 with planes ascending and descending on the brand new runway Finavia has invested more than EUR 21 million in the development of Tampere-Pirkkala Airport In addition to the current development work Finavia has invested in improving the passenger areas and services in both terminals and reducing the airport’s environmental impacts Finavia invests 15 millions into Tampere-Pirkkala Airport in 2018 Finavia's climate programme A Eurofighter Typhoon Jet prepares to take off from Pirkkala Airforce Base in Pirkanmaa which east cost over €90 million to manufacture were flown in the skies above Pirkkala Air Base yesterday in a display that was part of an attempt to secure a €10 billion contract from the Finnish Ministry of Defence the Chief of Operations for the Finnish Air Force were in attendance in order to decide whether to select the Eurofighter jets to replace Finland's aging fleet of Hornet jets The Eurofighter Typhoon is manufactured by a consortium of companies made up of BAE Systems and is the primary defense jet for both NATO and the British Royal Air Force Planes are being tested in Finland so that the Ministry fo Defence may assess whether or not they are suitable for Finnish winter conditions You can see more photos from the event by scrolling through the gallery LETTER FROM FINLAND about one of the Children's International Summer Villages' summer camps for children Children's International Summer Villages (C.I.S.V.) has hosted international summer camps based on the theory that international peace can be fostered by getting groups of children from different countries to converse & play games together which receives funding from the governments of some of its participating countries about 3,000 11-year-olds from different countries attend 50 C.I.S.V Describes a Turkish camp attendee named Gokberk Kutku had come to the Pirkkala camp to exchange ideas about how to resolve persistent global ills--war Most of the children at Pirkkala are from wealthy families (it costs $1500 to attend where children began the day discussing food allergies & dealing with issues of communal nudity the children sat down & discussed their feelings about it Describes one game--a complicated analogy to global poverty & epidemic disease--where children were divided by lottery into groups of decreasing sizes with the larger groups preying on the smaller ones and someone called "Death" preyed on them all cultural evenings at the camp where different delegations take the stage for a presentation of their cultural heritage; the Swedish & Finnish cultures are most alike Describes an afternoon when the children were divided into groups & asked to construct a model of their ideal city then each group was led to another group's city & told to destroy it; only one group refused A New Jersey kid named Max compared that game to the World Trade Center bombing Writer claims that dissent is frowned upon at the camp and that there is no room there for the idea of a just war Describes Max's views on America's Afghan policy & why he came to the camp--he's Jewish & he wanted to meet Germans the children were bused to an amusement park nearby Describes the long debate they had over whether or not to go on the scariest ride in the park View Article Petriina Anttila’s name went down in Finnish aviation history when she became the first woman in Finland to become a qualified flight examiner  “I have been doing practice examination flights with students for quite some time now It provides yet another interesting aspect to my work I have sought personal development and gained additional qualifications through experience.” Pilots regularly have their competence assessed and it is the flight examiner’s task to test their practical skills in the sky There are about 200 flight examiners in Finland and their qualifications are administrated by the Finnish Transport and Communication Agency Traficom Petriina Anttila trains pilots at Patria’s Pilot Training station at Tampere’s Pirkkala airport in Finland “A typical working day starts at eight a.m with a morning briefing in which we go through things such as the weather and any special activities at the airport that might have an impact on training.” Anttila also works as a co-pilot for Finnair for which she has to drive from Pirkkala to Vantaa I first receive my Finnair shifts and then decide how I want to make myself available as an instructor in my free time outside these hours.” There are clear synergies to be obtained from this flexible system we are also well prepared to teach the firm’s customs and procedures,” says Petriina Training bonus – Finnish weather conditions Only commercial pilots are trained in Pirkkala Pirkkala has been training pilots for other airlines in addition to Finnair “The employment rate for our pilot graduates is good and training in Finland’s weather conditions is a bonus The students get to experience a wide range of weather conditions from the outset which provides an advantage in the job market.” Twin-engine DA-42s are used for this training “A twin-engine aircraft can fly in much worse weather which is why our training is geared towards airlines in particular: procedures relating to things such as IFR flights situational awareness and handling workloads,” tells Petriina All the single-engine DA-40s except one have been flown to Cordoba where Patria launched primary flight training in 2019 “The single-engine aircraft are used to practice basic flying skills while the twin-engines are used to practice skillsets.” Pirkkala also has flight simulators: two DA-42s and one Airbus A320 The A320 simulator is used in the multi-crew cooperation course (MCC) and Multi-Crew Pilot License (MPL) programme This combines basic training with type training for the Airbus A320 Although Petriina recalls that her childhood dream was to become a vet the skies have also fascinated her from a young age My parents took me to airshows when I was a kid I studied aircraft technology for a couple of years but then transferred to an air traffic controller course I completed my private pilot’s license with Patria Pilot Training while I was working as an air traffic controller at Pirkkala airport I got my commercial pilot’s licence in 2006 but there was no work available at the time so I started working as a flight instructor in 2008.” becoming a permanent employee when the school moved from Malmi to Pirkkala in 2017 which offers instructors a broad variety of work and opportunities to develop in specific areas.” From individual skills to overall management Petriina has seen the industry develop a great deal during the course of her career “Pilot training used to focus on the mechanics of flying and mastering individual aircraft manoeuvres skills and attitudes that will help students in their future profession.” Both pilots and instructors encounter the problems associated with sedentary work which is why Petriina’s hobbies are physically active “I do all kinds of sports and outdoor exercise: hiking It’s an effective way of leaving the workday behind and keeping your body in good shape.” [email protected] cut 70 jobsThe company will close indoor playgrounds in Turku Open image viewerThe company announced in September that it would enter restructuring talks to address "unsustainable conditions" resulting from rising inflation and significant rent increases Image: Tiina Jutila / YleYle News24.10.2024 11:44Leos Hoplop has announced it is closing five of its parks and reducing its staff in Finland by 70 employees The branches closing include Leo's Turku with their final day of operation on 10 November the firm announced that it was initiating restructuring talks with employee representatives to address "unsustainable conditions" due to rising inflation and significant rent increases The company currently operates 22 Hoplop and Leo's Leikkimaa indoor play parks across Finland Leos Hoplop is a branch of the Sweden-based indoor playground chain Leo's Lekland Users with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here. Open image viewerImage: Jani Aarnio / YleYle News25.4.2023 11:27Municipal councils in Tampere and Pirkkala have decided to advance plans to add another 13 kilometres of rails to the city's tram network. The project plan — a technical document evaluating the impacts and costs of the extension — can now proceed before a final decision is made in 2024. Commuter town Pirkkala would be the main beneficiary of the plan, as it would extend line number 1 an extra 9.3 kilometres from Tampere city centre through the Härmälä, Hatanpää and Partola neighbourhoods to Suupa, in Pirkkala. There would be a total of eleven new stops on this section of track. In the north-east of the city, another 4.3km of track is intended to add four new stops after the Kauppi campus terminus. Tampere council added a note to their decision that stipulates the plan must ensure motorists are still able to use the Hatänpään valtatie thoroughfare as a route into the city centre. The project plan is estimated to cost some 13.5 million euros in total, with Pirkkala paying five million and Tampere 8.5 million. The project as a whole will come in at around 335 million euros. If approval is granted next year, construction would start in 2025 and trams could start using the route in 2029. The commission reached the verdict after an investigation prompted by a complaint from a competitor Open image viewerTampere-Pirkkala-lentoaseman terminaali 1 Image: Finavia25.7.2012 20:10•Updated 25.7.2012 20:40Ryanair and Finavia the state-oned company that operates the budget terminal at Tampere-Pirkkala through its subsidiary Airpro had come to an agreement to try and implement a ’low-cost strategy’ at the airport The commission found that the contract reflects market conditions and is one a privately-owned company would have accepted Ryanair is the only airline to use the budget terminal which was a cargo hangar until it was converted for passenger use in 2002 The story was first reported by the Tampere daily Aamulehti