Twin turboprop has no orders ahead of certification and still requires funding

Published: 4/6/2000

Recent media coverage in Russia regarding the prospects of the P&W powered Be-32K, a development of the Be-30, twin turboprop multipurpose light transport; appear to have been a little optimistic in their prediction of sales of the aircraft reaching 1400 aircraft between 2000 and 2006. According to sources within Beriev, they are a little alarmed at the predications of sales for the aircraft, which is currently a single prototype completing certification trial and requiring additional funding. It appears that the funding will come from ZAO Mercury formed in 1998 and jointly owned by Beriev (TANTK), Taganrog Aviation, the producer of the aircraft in the event of serial production, Interprofavia and the Commercial Russian Slavonika Bank, although to date TANTK is reported to be the only one investing small amounts to the programme. Certification is due to be completed at the end of the year. There are to date however, no orders, but some expressions of interest from the Sverdlovsk region for a remarkable 100-200 aircraft, the Russian Border Service for 70-80 aircraft, Gazprom 10 aircraft and Almazy Rossii Sakha for 2 aircraft. While the Sverdlovsk requirement is new to us, the other potential buyers have requirements, if not the funding and have expressed interest in similar types such as the An-38. The Be-32K major marketing proposition is that it is significantly cheaper than the An-38, costing only $2.-2.8m against the An-38"s $4.5m and offers considerably better customer comfort according to Beriev.

Article ID: 1621