SuperJet International is gearing up for worldwide sales and support of the Sukhoi SuperJet 100 regional jet. CEO unveils the start-up and operational strategy for the joint-venture company.
SuperJet International, the joint-venture between Alenia Aeronautica of Italy and Russian airframer Sukhoi Holding, is gearing up to support the first aircraft deliveries of the Sukhoi SuperJet 100. The first Russian customers for the regional jetliner will receive their aircraft in mid-2009, with the first Western customer deliveries following in the first half of 2010.
SuperJet International is an Alenia-led 51:49 JV which handles marketing, sales, customisation and delivery of the regional jet in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania and Japan, as well as worldwide post-sale support.
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Currently housed at temporary facilities at Marcon, in the Venice area, the company will move into purpose-built headquarters at Venice-Tessera airport within two years, at an investment of around €25 million, says Alessandro Franzoni, SuperJet International’s chief executive officer.
In addition to the company’s headquarters, sales office and main aircraft support centre, the facilities will include two existing Alenia Aeronavali hangars for the customisation and technical support of up to three SSJ100s per month, a training centre for crews and maintenance operators with up to three full-motion flight simulators, and a delivery centre office, capable of accommodating customer teams for aircraft acceptance.
“The current headquarters and support team of around 90 people, mainly recruited from airlines, aircraft and engine support areas, will expand to 450, mostly coming from Alenia Aeronavali’s conversion, overhaul and maintenance company,” Franzoni says.
“Once the ‘green’ aircraft arrive at our facilities from Sukhoi production plant, we will execute the interiors customisation, aircraft painting, installation of additional or optional avionics and carry out flight testing in addition to crew and maintenance operator training,” he adds.
The first aircraft is expected to arrive at Venice at the end of 2009, with first deliveries to ItAli Airlines, the Western launch customer, planned within first half 2010. “More western customers are expected to be announced here at the Farnborough show,” Franzoni says. SuperJet International is also responsible for the development of VIP/Corporate and cargo versions as well as worldwide aftersales support. A feasibility study on the VIP/Corporate version is to be finalised before the end of 2008.
“In addition to Venice facilities, the SuperJet International is establishing a training and spares distribution centre in Russia, as well as a worldwide network of authorized aircraft MRO service centres and a western spares distribution centre, to be located in Europe. In parallel to customer care, SuperJet International has established a branch office in Moscow, together with sales office in Toulouse and Washington, DC, with more offices to come in major markets”.
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SuperJet International is also working to further ‘westernising’ the SSJ100, improving passenger comfort thanks to a recently unveiled new interior concept, to be offered in alternative to the standard one. Designed by Pininfarina Extra, part of the Italian automotive group Pininfarina, the interiors are scheduled for production launch in September 2008, pending final agreement between Sukhoi and Alenia Aeronautica.
“The new cabin has been conceived and carefully designed taking care not only with biomechanical and biometric comfort, but also with visual comfort in mind,” Franzoni adds. This has been implemented introducing an exclusive Italian design with elegantly shaped stowage bins and side panels, together with comfortable seats and a brand new toilet design, in addition to fresh ‘Mediterranean’ colours, materials and finishes. A variable colour LED light system gives a dynamic cabin atmosphere adjustable to optimise passenger comfort throughout the flight, while a very welcoming entrance featuring a curved and indirectly-lit ceiling has been introduced.
The Pininfarina interiors are claimed to be approximately 300kg lighter as well as cheaper and easier to maintain than the standard offering. The mock-up unveiled recently in Venice replicated a SSJ 100 front section, with a configuration of eight business-class seats, 78 economy seats, a double galley and one toilet in the forward entrance area and a galley and two toilets in the rear, plus to three attendant seats.
An all-economy version seating 98, with two galleys, two toilets and two attendant seats, is also being developed. Cabin height will clock in at 2,120mm and the aisle width at 510mm. The seat pitches for business and economy, at 36in and 32in respectively, are claimed to be among the largest ever on a regional or narrow-body aircraft.
Source: Flight Daily News
