IRAN-140 due to fly next year (220 words)

Published: 9/28/2000

The Iranian authorities have reported that the first IRAN-140, the An-140 built under licence by the Iranians, has been completed. The rollout of the aircraft at Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Company in Esfahan , was the result of an agreement originally signed by the Iranians in 1996 to produce the aircraft initially from kits and move onto local manufacture . The contract for the initial 80 aircraft for military and civil use was signed in 1998. The first customers for the aircraft are likely to be Iran Air, Iran Asseman Airlines and the Iranian Navy and Air Force. The Iranian aircraft was previously reported to have been powered by an up rated TV3-117MA-SBMI for hot high operation. According to Minister of Transport Ali Hojjati, the aircraft will fly at the end of March 2001 and has been produced not only to meet Russian standards, but also FAR and JAA. The second aircraft is due to be completed by the end of the year and earlier reports have suggested that the Iranian's will produce 12 aircraft a year under the licence. There are however, conflicting reports from the Iranian Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani, suggesting that the aircraft could be in-service as early as February of 2001. The sales of the aircraft in the Ukriane are reported to have recently recieved a boost from reports of an agreement for Antonov to provide up to five aircraft under a wet lease for Ukrianian carrier Aerosvit to provide feeder services . According to Antonov, the reportedly hourly deal, will allow better evaluation of the aircraft in service.

Article ID: 2096