Russian flag carrier Aeroflot is poised to become the launch customer for Sukhoi's 95-seat Russian Regional Jet (RRJ), but the order is still several weeks away, Victor Soubbotin, RRJ programme director, said at the show yesterday.
There had been suggestions that the announcement could be made here at Paris, but a more likely venue is at Russia's premier airshow MAKS in mid-August at Zhukovsky airfield near Moscow.
There are ongoing "very intensive conversations" about all aspects of the aircraft with Aeroflot, says Soubbotin.
In particular the past three months have concentrated on finalising the purchase contract for 15 firm RRJ orders, plus around 10 options, he says. "We are close to finishing this one," he adds.
Potential
According to Mikhail Pogosyan, CEO of Sukhoi Holding, Sukhoi is also finalizing a potential order for the RRJ with S7, which was formerly called Sibir Airlines. "We're talking to all the leading Russian airlines", he says. "We're 100% sure they will favour this aircraft as the spirit of negotiations has been very good".
Both carriers are working with Sukhoi on the RRJ's design, particularly when it comes to the flightdeck, says Alexander Yablontsev, RRJ chief test pilot.
The manufacturer will conduct a critical design review, after which it hopes to freeze the design of the aircraft, in mid-July, says Soubbotin. "Contracts we are negotiating with the airlines are for 95-seaters", says Pogosyan. "We'll start trials of a 75-seater in 2008 and begin production and delivery in 2009".
Meanwhile, Thales and Sukhoi signed a $120 million contract at the show yesterday providing for the supply and integration of avionics for the RRJ, which will lead to the first Thales installation aboard a Russian civil airliner.
The deal follows a protocol agreed in December 2004 and covers risk-sharing development of the digital avionics suite including the cockpit display and communications, navigation and surveillance systems.
All of the main system suppliers for the RRJ have now been selected. They include the Snecma-NPO Saturn joint venture for the engine, Thales for the avionics and Liebherr Aerospace for the flight control and air management systems.
The manufacturer has already begun to produce long-lead items for the aircraft, says Pogosyan. The intention is to roll the prototype out in January 2007 for a first flight in March. The company fixed a new schedule for the programme a month ago and according to Pogosyan the RRJ will complete flight testing by the end of 2007 with first delivery in 2008.
Estimate
He says there is an estimated market for 5,000 RRJ-sized aircraft between 2002-2020, "and we expect to account for 800 of those".
Russian and EASA certification will taking place in parallel and lead to certification around a year later and first deliveries to customers a month after that, says Soubbotin.
According to Pogosyan the RRJ is "100% fully financed, based on current estimates from long-lead sources and partners".
He adds that the Russian government has pledged to support RRJ development between 2005-2008, and "leading Russian banks have also extended credit lines for the programme".
Source: Flight Daily News
