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N3 2009
Our strategy is to increase our presence in the markets of Asia
Ilyushin Finance Company, the biggest aircraft leasing company in Russia, has plans for Asian markets, and China specifically. We interviewed Aleksandr Roubtsov, general director of the company, who is enthusiastic about its future.
BRICKS OF COOPERATION
There is a consensus of opinion between experts of world economic
development that the countries that will boost global economy in the
21st century are Brazil, Russia, India and China. The LAAD-2009 (Latin
America Aero & Defence) exhibition of aviation and defense systems
in Rio-de-Janeiro acquires ever-increasing importance for the Russian
industrial production sector.
$12-BILLION PRIZE
All leading world aircraft makers producing advanced combat planes consider the tender for delivering 126 fighters to the Indian Air Force under the MMRCA (Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft) programme the most important and the largest of all present-day tenders. The contract is estimated at $11-12 billion. The Russian MiG-35, US Lockheed-Martin F-16 and Boeing F/A-18, French Dassault Rafale, European Eurofighter Typhoon and Swedish SAAB Gripen are going to compete for this prize. In April, some mass media reported that Rafale refused to participate, but then it was denied and now the French fighter seems to take part in the tender.
MOTOR SICH AT LE BOURGET
Zaporozhye based Motor Sich JSC, which in 2007 celebrated its centenary, is one of the largest manufacturing outfits that perform the whole cycle of the advanced aero engine development from marketing studies, design, and manufacture to in-service support and overhaul. The company has gained respect and prestige among its customers over the 100 years of its activity and now it collaborates successfully with leading companies from both CIS countries and countries world over.
GAS-FUELED AIRCRAFT A NEW PRIORITY?
World powers are constantly seeking alternative fuels, as aviation
kerosene and air transportation prices highly depend on free market oil
price fluctuations. Last year, oil sold at $147 a barrel, making
scientists step up their search for an alternative to
aviation kerosene.
RUSSIA’S HELICOPTER INDUSTRY ON THE RISE
For the last 20 years, the fleet of Soviet- and Russian-made helicopters has decreased several times. In 1992, Russia manufactured 337 helicopters and in 1998 – only 26, according to the Alliance of Aircraft Engine-Building Association (ASSAD). At present, experts say helicopter production has stabilized in Russia again. According to ASSAD, Russia manufactured 121 helicopters in 2008. At the same time, Oboronprom United Industrial Corporation General Director Andrei Reus says 169 helicopters were produced a year before.
LACK OF COMPETITION – WAY TO NOWHERE
The consolidation of Russia’s helicopterbuilding industry has reached its final stage. Much has been done, but much is still to be completed. On the eve of the HeliRussia 2009 show, we met with Russian Helicopters General Director Andrei Borisovich Shibitov to ask him a few questions.
ART TO DEVELOP IN CRISIS
Kaliningrad expands horizons
In the first quarter of the year Russia's air traffic dropped by more than 20% compared to the same period a year earlier. According to Rosaviation data of March, Russian air carriers faced 22,3% decline in passenger traffic this March compared to the same month a year before. Whereas cargo traffic fell by 22%.
SAVING REGIONAL AVIATION
Transportation not obtainable Year by year, the regional air transportation is getting more and more unpopular with the Russia’s population. From any Russian city, one can find a way much faster, simpler, if not even cheaper, to reach the capital than the neighbor Nburg at a distance of 500 to 700 km. And the reason is that almost all the federal districts of the country have suffered the loss of air links in local and regional lines. And when people of Russia’s central regions may use some other ways of transportation, as they can choose the railway or bus for their trip, the regional aviation in the hard-to-reach areas of the European North, considerable part of Siberia and Far East, is not a luxury at all, but the only means of transportation. ...
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT FOR TU-214
The Kremlin selects Tu-214 as platform for special mission aircraft
June 1, 2009, the first day of this summer, seems to be the turning point for the program of the Tupolev Tu-214 narrow body airliner. That day the Kazan Aviation Production Association named after Sergei Gorbunov (KAPO) delivered two Tupolev Tu-214SR aircraft, registration RA-64515 and RA-64516, to the Special Air Detachment under the Administration of the President of Russian Federation (the operator is also referred to as the Moscow branch of GTK “Rossiya”, GTK stands for “State Transport Company”). On the same day, both aircraft were ferried to Moscow Vnukovo airport, their main station, and were inspected on arrival by Russian prime-minister Vladimir Putin. Reportedly, he made some remarks about high performance and high manufacturing quality of GTK Rossiya’s new assets, and issued command to continue with the plan on more Tu-214s for governmental structures.
ALL FOOLS DAY SHOW OF SUKHOI
On April 1, when the smart people of the world had much fun celebrating
the All Fools Day, a certain group of Sukhoi employees, with the
company’s general director Mikhail Pogosyan among them, were working
hard. They were serving and pleasing media members at the long-expected
ceremony of meeting Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100)
operable prototypes in Zhukovsky.
AN-148 FIRST REVENUE FLIGHT
With support from Antonov, Ukraine’s largest carrier Aeroswit opened, on 2 June, a regular passenger service between Kiev and Kharkov using Antonov An-148-100B regional jet. The service calls for daily flights, with the airplane departing Kiev/Borispol at 13:30 and landing in Kharkov after 40 minutes in the air. Return flight departs at 17:50 and lands at 19:10. The An-148-100B replaces An-24s and Yak-42s that previously flew that route. AeroSwit plans opening An-148 services from Kiev to other destinations in the Ukraine, and, later, abroad.
RECESSION ADJUSTS UAC PLANS
The corporation cuts productions but forecasts resurgence.
The sharp drop in passenger traffic as well as in orders placed for the new passenger and cargo aircraft caused by the continuing economic downturn has hit the UAC's production program for 2009-2012.
