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 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070025-1

''A. Long-range Il-62 transport. Polish aviation officials hope to use this aircraft for extension of international services to Africa and North America.''

B. Soviet-built AN-24 aircraft, workhorse of Polish air fleet on internal routes.

''FIGURE 10. LOT aircraft (U/OU)''

system of about 37 regional aeroclubs. This organization has close liaison with the military establishment, and many of its top positions are held by military officers. Although training activities are conducted primarily in the interests of military aviation, civil aviation training needs are also fulfilled. LOT officials have sponsored two schools located in Warsaw to train qualified students for future positions with the airline. The first school, known as Economic School Number 1, is designed to produce skilled and administrative personnel such as fare calculators, ticket agents, hostesses, and publicity agents. The school accepts high school graduates of both sexes for a 2-year study course. The second school, the Basic Vocational School of the Polish Railroads, admits only males who have a primary-school certificate and trains them over a period of 3 years to be airplane mechanics. It is claimed that these mechanics are in great demand, and the best graduates of the school can continue their study at Wroclaw Aircraft Engine Design Technical College. Personnel working for the Aeroclub's Utility Service Air Group (LZUG) are trained to perform agricultural and forestry aerial spraying and dusting operations and various other services including firefighting, aerial mapping, and air/sea patrol and rescue. The Central Air Ambulance Group (CZLS), under the direction of the Ministry of Health, operates air-ambulance services in 15 cities throughout the country. Its flight personnel are recruited from the aeroclubs and air force reserve. A majority of the LOT flight personnel have received training in the Polish Air Force and remain in reserve status. LOT has some capability to provide advanced instruction for flight crews in its own training program. Polish pilots are sent to the USSR for advanced aviation and transition courses offered in schools that are jointly run by Aeroflot and the Soviet Air Force. Proficiency continues to be relatively high, and LOT has a fair safety record.

Maintenance facilities for LOT aircraft are located at the Warsaw/Okecie airfield. This facility is permitted to perform aircraft maintenance up to minor overhaul service on both the Il-18 and Tu-134, while major aircraft maintenance is performed in the USSR. The facility in Warsaw performs all maintenance, including major overhauls, on the Il-14 and other smaller aircraft. A sufficient supply of parts is always on hand, but they do not meet quality control standards in all cases. LOT does not have the capability to perform major maintenance and overhaul on the Il-62, which must be returned to the Soviet Union for that purpose.

In addition to air transport services, there are general aviation and sports aviation, but private

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070025-1