Fortis Aviation is finalising a deal with the Tashkent Aircraft Production Organisation (TAPO), which will see the UK-based broker marketing the Ilyushin Il-76s built at the plant.
With sales of the cargo aircraft having historically relied heavily on the Russian military, there are now 45 unsold, "white-tail", Il-76s which have been completed or are nearing completion. They will be offered for sale at around $20 million each. According to TAPO commercial director, Shuhrat Rakhimov, the organisation is setting up a leasing company, to be operational by August, although this will primarily focus on leasing the Il-114 turboprop.
Fortis managing director Jack Cunningham says that his company is now negotiating an agreement to market the backlog of standard Il-76s to "traditional homes", such as China, and hopes that it will be in "full swing" by later this year.
Cunningham adds that his organisation is "interested" in helping TAPO with the new stretched, re-engined Il-76MF model which is undergoing testing.
Source: Flight International
