ALL RUSSIA MAIN AIRPORTS READY TO RECEIVE SUPERJET-100-IVANOV
ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
September 26, 2007 Wednesday
Russian First Vice Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov told journalists after
a presentation of the new plane Sukhoi Superjet-100 here on Wednesday
that all main Russian airports are ready to receive the plane.
"All main airports of Russia are ready to receive such a plane
even now," the first vice prime minister said. He added that the
national transport strategy envisages reconstruction of certain
regional runways.
"Indeed, it is necessary to reconstruct some runways. Funds for this
have been allocated and such work is underway," Ivanov indicated.
The Sukhoi Superjet-100 plane is to replace the outdated Tu-134 and
Tu-154 planes on Russian short and medium-range routes and enter the
world market.
Ivanov held a meeting devoted to the progress and prospect for the
Sukhoi Superjet-100 project implementation. The airliner was wheeled
out of the shops of the plant where the jet will be assembled. It
was a presentation of the first readymade aircraft before flight tests.
The first vice prime minister said earlier the tests will be carried
out in two-three weeks.
There are already 73 confirmed orders for this plane – Russian
companies have placed 61 orders and foreign – 12. Aeroflot – Russian
Airlines was the first company to order the new plane – in 2005 it
concluded a contract for 30 planes. The financial leasing company
ordered 10 liners, AirUnion Alliance – 15, Dalavia – six, ItAli
(Italy) – 10 and Armenia’s Armavia ordered two planes.
Ivanov said earlier that the "Sukhoi Superjet-100 project is a
matter practically of state importance, because with the creation of
such planes the country will be able to a large extent liquidate its
transport inequality." According to him, first of all it will be done
in the Far East region.
The beginning of the plane supply to customers is expected in late
2008. A total of nine planes will be assembled next year, in 2009 –
30 and in 2010 – 60 planes, after which the annual output will reach
70 aircraft.
Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin assesses the cost of the new
plane at 25 million dollars, which is by 15 percent lower the cost of
the main competitor of Sukhoi Corporation on the market of regional
planes – Embraer.
Among plane’s unique characteristics for civil planes is its service
life of 70,000 hours with the average world indicator of 30,000
hours. The project is being implemented in cooperation with Italian
companies and with Boeing Corporation.