Russian aircraft builder KAPO has signed commitments from two operators for seven TupolevTu-214s which it produces at its plant in Kazan.
Russia's government airline GTK Rossiya has confirmed long-standing plans to purchase two aircraft which it wants delivered "within a year", while Atlant-Soyuz and leasing company FLC have signed a letter of intent for three passenger models and two freighters. KAPO hopes to convert the contract to a firm order by the end of this month.
The KAPO-built Tu-214, which is a longer-range, increased weight version of the Aviastar-builtTu-204, was certificated in December 2000, and the first was handed over in May last year. The current production version is powered by Russian-built Aviadvigatel PS-90 engines.
Meanwhile, production of the baseline Tu-204-100 at Aviastar has run into problems, with KrasAir reporting "continuing delays" with the completion of its third example. The aircraft was due to be delivered last year, but the airline is uncertain whether it will be ready for this year's summer season.
With the implementation this month of Chapter 3 noise legislation in Europe, KrasAir can currently only operate its two existing Tu-204s into the region. The Krasnoyarsk, central Siberia-based airline, which is the country's third largest carrier, aims to have four Tupolev Tu-154Ms hushkitted this year and 10 by the 2003 summer season.
The airline's general director Boris Abramovich says that the need for a Chapter 3 compliant aircraft has made KrasAir evaluate the Boeing 737.
"We could take foreign aircraft as early as this year," he says, "but it will depend on the process of Russia joining the WTO [World Trade Organisation] and subsequent softening of the heavy import tax [on foreign aircraft]."
Although KrasAir remains committed to the Tu-204, it acknowledges difficulties with in-service support of the new type, which is limiting monthly utilisation to less than 200 flight hours, against the target of 300-350h.
Source: Flight International
