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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.
Flights will be made by joint team of Antonov and Aeroswit, using two operable An-148-100B prototypes, side UR-NTA and UR-NTB. The first aircraft was handed over to Ukraine’s state-run leasing company LizingTechTrans at Aviasvit-XXI airshow in September 2008. The UR-NTB remains an asset of Antonov design bureau. Both prototypes were reworked in 2008-2009 to reflect recent changes and in preparation to revenue services. Previously, this pair was employed on certification campaign that was complete in February 2007, when the An-148 won AP-25 type certificate from ARMAK (Air Register of Interstate Aviation Committee, an aviation authority of the
Commonwealth of Independent States).
Among honorable passengers on the Aeroswit An-148 first revenue flight there were head of State Aviation Administration of Ukraine Aleksandr Davydov and general director of Aeroswit airline Kostadin Botev. The return flight landing at Borispol airport of Kiev was greeted by Ukraine’s minister for transportation and communications Josif Vinsky and minister for industrial policy Vladimir Novitsky.
During the ceremony in Borispol, Josif Vinsky said: “Today’s event carries very special importance for the Ukrainian civil aviation. The An-148 has demonstrated superb performance on its first revenue flight. I am absolutely convinced in the reliability of the new type and its ability to stay in service for long time. We have managed not just to create such a superb aircraft, but also overcome the conditions of the worldwide economic crisis and launch regular services on this new regional jet type. Now we have a new challenge, that of building a worthwhile series of not less than 80 An-148 aircraft that would serve our network of domestic routes”. His colleague minister Novitsky added: “This airplane is gamechanger for many people. It changes lifestyle of the many through the ease of transport services for both passengers and airlines”.
In his turn, Antonov general designer Dmitry Kiva called the An-148 “the flying computer”, taking account of its cutting-edge design and high degree of automation. He said the aircraft is a joint product of 12 nations whose components are used on this aircraft. “We continue working on new aircraft. Work has started on assembly of the
An-158, the stretch version”.
The An-158, previously referred to as the An-148-200, will seat up to 99 passengers in a stretched fuselage, compared to the maximum of 85 for the baseline An-148-100. Antonov estimates the solvent demand in the An-148 and its derivatives at 200 units by 2015. The derivatives include the An-168 business jet, previously referred to as the Sky cruiser or ABJ. The business jet version seats from 8 to 41 passenger depending on cabin layout, and has the maximum range of 7,000km.
AeroSwit general director Kostadin Botev said: “The baseline An-148 and its stretch version can work successfully on the carrier’s network of routes. These says, when the Ukrainian airline industry suffers heavily from the crisis, Aeroswit finds its necessary to take part in further development of the national aviation infrastructure and fulfillment of state-run projects in this area”. He said the An-148 will fly Kiev-Kharkov, and, starting in July, from Kiev to Simferopol, Lvov and Donetsk. Established in 1994, Aeroswit is the largest Ukrainian carrier operating 60 international routes, including transcontinental to New York, Toronto, Beijing, New Delhi and Bangkok.
Following successful completion of the first An-148 revenue flight, Aeroswit and Antonov signed Memorandum of Cooperation calling for deliveries of 10 An-148 and An-158 aircraft during 2010-2012. Besides, the two companies addressed the Ukrainian government with a joint petition, asking for state support of their move. Kostadin Botev said: “We, as a carrier, need modern regional airplanes that would provide cost-effective transportation of passengers on Ukrainian inner routes. We find the An-148 and An-158 good candidates to meet this requirement of our airline”.
Aeroswit is supportive of Antonov’s offer to the government on support of the An-148 production effort. The respective business plan says that 214 firms from 14 countries (of which 34 are based in the Ukraine) take part in the An-148 project. Firm orders for the type exceed 50 units, and options for 80 more. These firm orders are placed by prominent carriers of Russia (launch customers GTK Rossiya and Polet), Ukraine (Aeroswit) and Kazakhstan (Skat, Berkut). Two final assembly lines are set, in Voronezh at VASO plant, Russia and in Kiev at KiGAZ Aviant, Ukraine. VASO is processing parts for the initial series of 34 An-148s, with the first aircraft being prepared for rollout later this month. Meantime, the first Ukrainian series An-148 is “almost ready” at KiGAZ Aviant, according to Dmitry Kiva.
The An-148 program promises 16,000 additional jobs and more than Grivna 24 billion of revenues for Ukrainian enterprises. More than Grivna 8 billion would go into state treasury. These promises are written in Antonov-prepared An-148 business plan submitted to the Ukrainian government.
Meantime, successful completion of the first An-148 revenue flight and high degree of readiness of deliverable examples at VASO prompted Atlant-Soyuz, the official airline of the Moscow City government, to consider a large order for the type. Newly appointed general director Eugeny Bachurin, who previously served commercial director at Aeroflot and then head of Russian civil aviation authorities, visited VASO in the first days of June. He said that the An-148 meets modern requirements to regional jets. “Most modern avionics, highest ecology standards and passenger comfort are the main requirements of the day. We find that the An-148 meets all of those requirements”. The Moscow city government is in the process of issuing approval for Atlant-Soyuz package deal with the United Aircraft Corporation, VASO and Ilyushin Finance leasing company involving firm orders for the An-148 and Tu- 204SM aircraft. Bachurin said the package deal is prepared for signing during An-148 rollout ceremony later this month.
Vladimir Karnozov
