Logistics and transport in Hungary Hungary is at the heart of Central and South-Eastern Europe, a region characterised by dynamic economic growth driven by high industrial output, excellent export potential and increasing domestic demand. (Due do trends in world economy it is in a down turn now.) Advantages Proximity and good access to growing CIS market An outstanding business environment Expanding transport network and intermodal logistics infrastructure Cost-efficient and highly qualified workforce High standard of logistical services Modern warehousing and industrial facilities World-class quality of life

Multinational companies Several multinational manufacturing companies have established or expanded production facilities and activities in Hungary – due to the country's logistical advantages. Audi Suzuki General Electrics General Motors Velder AG Philips Panasonic

Meeting point of European transport corridors

Dense motorway and highway network

Railway system under quality restruction Over 20% of freight is transported by rail in Hungary, Záhony and its region is the junction and reloading centre for European standard-gauge railways and the wide-gauge system of the CIS states and Asia

European inland waterways Significant investment is expected to ensure more cost-effective use of the River Danube for 300 days a year

Air transport Budapest Airport has the highest air-freight traffic and best connections with South-East Asia of any city in the CEE region Major Hungarian cities have also reopened and are continuing to modernise their airports

Strategic Airlift Capacity SAC at Pápa Airbase Ten NATO nations (Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and the United States) and two Partnership for Peace nations (Finland and Sweden) have signed the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) Memorandum of Understanding which entered into effect on 23 September 2008, allowing activation of the NATO Airlift Management Organization (NAMO) and initiation of the SAC Program at Pápa Air Base.

The role of the Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) The HAW is the SAC Program operational unit and will be composed of 130-155 personnel from the SAC nations. The HAW Commander (United States) and Vice Commander (Sweden) and other key wing personnel have been selected. The HAW Advance Echelon (ADVON) team of approximately 14 personnel plans was deployed to Pápa Airbase on 06 October 2008 to begin setting up the wing. The remaining HAW personnel will deploy to Pápa Airbase over subsequent months so that wing flying operations could begin as soon as the summer of 2009.

The role of Hungary Hungary is the host nation and in addition to providing Pápa Airbase as the main operating base for SAC operations, will serve as the flag nation and register the SAC aircraft. Hungary is making significant national investments at Pápa Airbase to prepare for hosting the HAW.

Boeing C-17 Aircraft The C-17 is capable of carrying outsized cargo over strategic distances, and can deliver that cargo to short, austere airfields under combat conditions. The cargo compartment is easily reconfigured to handle many different types of cargo totaling over 77 metric tons. In addition to carrying passengers and palletized cargo on floor rollers, the C-17 can handle outsized cargo including many combinations of wheeled and tracked vehicles, helicopters, and standard shipping containers. In-flight air refueling capability reduces the need for ground refueling stops and extends the effective range. Short field landing capability allows access to 45% of the world’s airfields, seven times more than conventional strategic cargo aircraft like the C-5 or B-747. Short field landing distances are comparable to the C-130, even with much heavier cargo loads.

Sources www.nama.nato.int www.schillerinstitute.org www.wikipedia.org www.airlineroutemaps.com www.itd.hu