Not interested in the An-140 at present according to advisor

Published: 3/31/2000

According to an interview with Stepan Popov, a senior advisor to the Government of Yakutiya Republic in regional newspaper Yakutia, the region is unlikely to see any new aircraft until 2002 after the completion of an aviation plan announced in December 1999. Popov stated that the region was interested in smaller aircraft and currently had no requirement for the An-140 or the Tu-214 that recently underwent low temperature testing in the region in North Eastern Russia. The lack of interest may come as a surprise to the Kharkov Aviation Plant, that intimated at the time of the tests in January , that regional carrier Sakhaavia may be one of its first customers. According to Popov, the region"s Department of Air Transport were primarily interested in a replacement for the An-2. The need to replace the regions dwindling fleet of An-2, with only 30% of them flying, is becoming pressing particularly as the supply of fuel the aircraft require is falling as production of B-91 gasoline is cut. Aircraft like the Avia Accord-201 six seat twin engine multipurpose aircraft, which was capable of “flying for more than ten hours consuming 45 litres of fuel an hour" are being considered after plant visits. The aircraft, due to get Russian certification this autumn, according to Avia"s General Director Alexander Loshkarev, already has an order from a Yakutiya carrier. The Technovia SM-92 Finist was also well regarded by the Department, particularly the price of $170,000 which compared very favourably with the Accord"s $270,000, although the Accord has previously been reported in basic configuration at a price of $160,000. The Myasishchev M-101T Gzhel was considered as a good option, but too expensive at $1.3 m or at the reported lease price of $250 an hour. It is also interesting to note the Aeroprogress T-101 Gratch/T-201 Strerh, designed specifically to replace the An-2, was not considered as a possibility, although it is behind the other in certification timetable. To replace the region"s helicopters Popov was of the view that the twin turbine light multipurpose Ansat produced by Kazan, could potentially provide a replacement of the increasingly uneconomical Mi-8. The prime motivation of the government in buying the aircraft is that they are considerably more economical than their predecessors in terms fuel and maintenance. The government however, still has to raise money from the 2001 budget. In the last two years 102.6m have been invested in the restructuring of Sahkaavia, the regional carrier,and has around 50m rubles allocated this year to the overhaul of runways in Yakutsk, Chokurdakh and Ust-Nera. The government has also given considerable tax concessions to the sector. Problems for Sakhaavia, currently in administration after being made bankrupt in early 1999, continue with large wage arrears and an inability to raise funds through the sale of assets. Demonstrated by the auction sale of 10 aircraft last year, which was cancelled due to lack of interest at the first round. At the second round and with 30% lower prices, two aircraft were sold raising $1.7m reducing some of the airline"s outstanding wage arrears and other debts. The airline is now operating effectively under state control and signed an agreement with Yakutsky Airlines in January, which effectively combines both companies in to one. The other airlines in the region including Savial and Yakutsky Airlines, the latter recently formed by the state owned Yakutsk Airport has been successful using a small fleet of An-24s. Savial however, has sought a merger with Yakutsk, as it is likely to lose its license under the new tougher licensing regime being enforced by the FSVT. Associated articles www.concise.org 18th January 2000: State retakes control 13th December 1999: Regional government intervenes on fuel prices 19th November 1999: Problems selling carriers aircraft 24th June 1999: Airport looks for new revenue sources

Article ID: 1639