First flown in 1994 Avia expects aircraft to certify in 6 months(400 words)

Published: 11/16/2000

According to Alexander Loshkarev, General Designer of Avia, the Accord-201 twin engined light multipurpose aircraft; certification will be completed in 6 months after considerable delays due to lack of funding with about 40% of the process to be completed. Loshkarev believes that Avia should be able to make the current timetable as financing for the process is in place and the Russian Aviation Register as a prototype has accepted the first aircraft and the other two aircraft required for certification are nearing completion. There are also three addition Accord airframes at Nizhny Novgorod based producer Sokol, waiting for prospective customers.

The source of the funding for the completion of the programme may be gas producer Gazprom, given that Sokol is reported to not be involved in the funding. According to Loshkarev , th a gas producer will fund demonstration flights in Russia's regions, which are due to start in May 2001 assuming the type certificate will have been granted by that point. Gazprom has emerged as a potential buyer of the aircraft along with Khanty Mansiysk Geophysica and an unnamed travel company from Novosibirsk, although the previous interest from diamond mining aviation support Almazy Avia for two aircraft appears to have disappeared. According to Loshkarev, the aircraft has considerable interest both in Russia and without . Adding that the expressions of interest to date are split 30/70 between Russia, primarily Siberia and abroad, coming from Africa, Middle Asia, and South America. He adds they receive periodic calls from such clients waiting for the aircraft's certification having expressed interest as long ago as 1996. Interestingly Loshkarev did not mention interest from Avialine, the state sponsored Gneral Aviation structure, which has recently begun operations and has in the past expressed interest in the aircraft once certified.

The price of the aircraft remains between $0.3-0.4m depending upon the configuration and avionics, but floats appear to be the favoured configuration.The aircraft also has relatively easy after sales support as all the parts of the aircraft are foreign produced, with the exception of the floats and wheels . The decision to use Russian floats and wheels largely due to meeting the requirements of Russian AP-23 certification. Early in November 2000, Avia concluded a distribution agreement outside of Russia with aviation export agency Aviaexport, to increase the aircraft's possible market and reduce marketing costs. This is however, a departure from plans outlined in July, which envisaged distribution through independent agents

Article ID: 2200