Russian manufacturer opens talks with airlines in effort to ensure regional aircraft design is up to required standard
Sukhoi has opened technical discussions with Air France and the SkyTeam alliance in a bid to ensure the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) will meet the needs of Western airlines. "We will analyse their requirements and take them into account in design," says general director Mikhail Pogosyan.
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, which is leading design of the RRJ, is establishing an advisory board made up of airlines from Asia, Europe and Latin America, as well as Russia and the CIS. The move to incorporate operator input early in design is an effort to bolster the market for the aircraft, which Pogosyan puts at a "conservative" 800 aircraft, 40% overseas. He expects the RRJ to be 15-20% cheaper than existing large regional jets.
The six-version RRJ family is being developed jointly by Sukhoi, Ilyushin, Yakovlev and Boeing. The development cost of "more than $600 million" will be funded from several sources, with 10% coming from the state, and the rest from risk-sharing partners, financial institutions and borrowing by the manufacturer, says Pogosyan. Boeing and Snecma, which will develop the RRJs jointly with NPO Saturn, will "facilitate obtaining adequate financing from international sources", says Sukhoi.
Boeing is making no direct investment in the programme, instead providing assistance with definition of the aircraft, certification, marketing and sales, and aftermarket support. European and US, as well as Russian, certification is planned, and aftermarket support "will be in line with Western expectations", the US manufacturer says. Sukhoi is to use the same Dassault/ IBM Catia design system as Boeing, the company says.
The RRJ will be built in two factories in 60-, 75- and 95-seat versions based on a common wing.
Source: Flight International
