Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 7, 1997

We went from home to Tehran [Mehrabad] airport to inaugurate dozens of construction projects and airport radar services. We went to the new nine-story tower and saw aircraft control radar equipment on several floors. I got acquainted with the tower control, approach center, with the explanations of the operators. Until now, it was through radio and eyes, and with the launch of radars, it is with the help of radar. Then we saw the new radar station we bought from Canada. The primary radar covers 80 miles and the secondary covers about 450 kilometers. Then we participated in the ceremony; Mr. [Akbar] Turkan, [Minister of Roads and Transport] and [Ali] Shahcheraghi, [Chairman of the Civil Aviation Organization] gave explanations. With fifty million dollars and one billion tomans, the plan has been made.

The ceremony of starting the executive work of "Haft Bagh and Haft Asman" which connects Kerman city to Mahan city with a highway on both sides of which there are Moshjar Gardens, was held at the same time. It was a social event in Kerman and it was broadcasted directly from Kerman TV and there was also a televised connection with our event. [Mr. Morteza Bank], Governor of Kerman and Mr. [Mohammed] Sam, [CEO of Omran Alavi Mahan Company], project manager, gave a report and answered my questions. Due to the opposition of some officials in Kerman, they have asked to strengthen the plan with this ceremony. The cost of the project is provided through the pre-sale of the gardens.

Then I talked about both issues and the importance of air transportation and the abundant revenues of the right of transit of airplanes through Iran's airspace - which is increasing - and now that 240 airplanes pass daily, we have an income of 500 thousand dollars a day and the Ministry of Roads carries out major construction works with these resources. I went to my office and did the work till night and came home.