The four-seat aircraft received Russian certiÌcation to AP-23 standards in February 1996, but to date just two aircraft have been delivered to customers, and these are still based at the MAPO factory in Lukhovitsky, around 130km (70nm) from Moscow, where production is undertaken.
The aircraft has been subjected to shadow certiÌcation by the US Federal Aviation Administration, but US FAR Pt 23 approval is being held up by various issues, primarily the resolution of quality-control issues at the factory and the full implementation of the new Russian air code.
"We see a short-term market in the CIS for 1,500 general-aviation aircraft in the Il-103's category," says Pupkov. There is a production capability of at least 100 aircraft a year available.
Much of the demand will come from the need to replace the Yakovlev Yak-18Ts and Yak-52s operating with the former "DOSAAF" ßying-club organisations, says Pupkov. Ilyushin also anticipates a signiÌcant market for an aircraft to undertake monitoring duties for Russia's national-park organisations.
Russian certiÌcation has been in place for more than a year, but Pupkov says that sales have been hit by the completion of various paperwork issues. "We are waiting for the Russian Federal Aviation Service to put in place technical operating manuals," he says.o
Source: Flight International
