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Conference "Operation of An-140 Airplanes at OAO Yakutia Airlines. Improvement of After-sale Services, Modernization and Development of Government Support Measures Applicable to Production and Operation”

Technical conference dedicated to operation of regional airplanes An-140 by Yakutia Airlines took place on March 14, 2013 in Yakutsk. The conference was organized by OAO Yakutia Airlines, ОАО Aviakor-Aircraft Factory and the Ministry of Transport and Public Road System of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

The conference in Yakutsk drew CEOs of all concerned factories comprising the aircraft industry, representatives of Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya), Administration of Samara Region and Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). State Concern GK Aviasistemy (Aviation Systems) was represented by Mr. D.G. Khoruzhik, Managing Director of ZAO Aviasistemy.

Mr. Anatoly Skrybykin, Vice Prime-Minister of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) opened the session Operation of An-140 Airplanes at OAO Yakutia Airlines. Addressing the topic of the government support of An-140 manufacture, he pointed out that the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is interested in promoting the An-140 project for the purpose of development of regional transportation within Yakutia.

Mr. Ivan Prostit, Managing Director of Yakutia Airlines, addressed the aircraft manufacturers, saying that to promote the flights on An-140 one shall promote brand new – and effective solutions concerning the operation of the airplane, after-sale servicing and improvement of service reliability of the aircraft. He pointed out that this is the third conference convened by Yakutia Airlines to address the topic of An-140.

The conference listened to presentations by CEOs of Yakutia Airlines, Aviakor-Aircraft Factory, SE Antonov, FAVT, representatives of the Administration of Samara, OAK – ANTONOV, GosNIIGA, Motor Sich, SE Ivchenko-Progress, OAO Star, etc.

The participants were to decide the fate of the project involving the regional airplane An-140. And the decision was positive.

Being guided by mutual interest in development of the regional transportation based on the enhanced efficiency of An-140 operation, the participants decided to continue the operation of An-140 within framework of the Government Program Development of the Transportation Industry in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in 2012-2016 and signed the Conference Resolution, outlining the measures to be taken to promote further manufacture and maintenance of the operated An-140 airplanes, including:

- establishment of an engineering center for repair of TVZ-117VMA-SBM1 and VSY AI9-ZB and PKI engines within the Russian Federation;

- establishment of engineering centers for repair and maintenance of components within the Russian Federation, ОАО Aviakor-Aircraft Factory;

- making a simulator for the aircraft crews within the Russian Federation at the training centers of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation; and

- making a pool of spare parts for An-140 airplanes, with participation of manufacturers, operators and ZAO Aviasistemy.

The conference did not focus solely on operation of An-140. Quite a number of presentations were dedicated to manufacture and acquisition of the new aircraft of this type. The regional administration is to solve the problem of modernization of the regional aircraft fleet.

The problem of An-140 manufacture and modernization was addressed by Mr. Alexander Kiva (SE Antonov Vice President, Deputy Chief Designer) and Mr. Sergey Likharyov (OAO Aviakor-Aircraft Factory, Chairman of the Board of Directors).

The participants resolved to recommend that the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation should support further manufacture of An-140 airplanes at Aviakor in the amount of at least 10 units a year so as to satisfy the need for regional transportation within the Far East Federal District in 2013-2018.

The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) needs 30 aircraft of this type in the nearest 5 years. According to the Aviakor estimates, the Russian market needs about 102 aircraft of this type in the period ending in 2020.

We strongly hope that the problems addressed at the conference and a series of measures envisaged by the final resolution will have positive effect on further development of An-140 production and on proper maintenance of the same aircraft already operated by the Air Force.

Assistant General Manager

Y.N. Kiryushina