Paul Duffy/MOSCOW
Beriev is hoping to receive a boost in government funding for the Be-200 programme next year to allow it to certificate the twin jet amphibian in mid-2001 and start deliveries to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations from late next year.
"We require $20 million for the certification programme, and the state has allocated just 80 million roubles [about $2.9m] in the annual budget for it, although this may be increased to 100 million roubles next year," says Beriev's deputy general director Alexander Yavkin. The Be-200 flew earlier this month at the Hydroaviasalon 2000 show, in Gelenzhik, on the Russian coast of the Azov Sea.
Despite the funding issues, Yavkin says that Beriev has made "fair progress" with the programme. Certification next year will be to Russia's new AP25 standard, equivalent to the western FAR/JAR 25. "We are also looking at the possibility of foreign approvals," he says. Beriev will offer the Be-200, which is based on the manufacturer's A-40 twin turbofan marine patrol amphibian, in 64-passenger, freighter, maritime patrol and fire fighter versions.
Beriev has a $140m contract with the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for seven aircraft in the fire fighting version, with the first to be delivered late next year and the rest over the following two years.
Beta Air, the marketing partnership formed by the design bureau and the manufacturer, forecast an international market of 300-350 for the $23.5-$25 million aircraft, depending on specifications. "Domestically we see a market for 100, which will sell at $18 million with Russian/CIS engines and avionics," says Yavkin.
"We are in negotiations with South Korea and China: both have a serious interest in the patrol version to cover their territorial waters. The French ministry of the interior has asked us to demonstrate the fire fighter version, and we have agreed to bring it to France in November, to demonstrate it for comparison with their [Canadair] CL215s," he adds.
The Irkutsk factory will produce four Be-200s per year, with the capacity to produce up to 22.
Source: Flight International
