VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW
The deal will kickstart sluggish production levels of the twinjet at Aviastar's factory
Sirocco Aerospace has confirmed its deal for 25 additional Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4B-powered Tupolev Tu-204-120s, adding to its five aircraft already in service with Air Cairo and TNT. The Tu-204 leasing specialist signed a firm contract with the design bureau, production plant Aviastar and Russian aerospace agency Rosaviakosmos worth $360 million to Russian suppliers, although that excludes the Western- supplied engines and avionics. The deal will revive production at Aviastar's Ulyanovsk factory.
The order, which was agreed last month, marks the confirmation of the remainder of its original deal for up to 30 RB211-powered Tu-204s signed in 1996 (Flight International, 26 November -2 December).
Aviastar will begin construction of the Tu-204-120s next year funded by $150 million from Sirocco. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will provide Sirocco with up to $50 million. The leasing company is arranging payment for the aircraft's Western components directly with suppliers.
The new funds will enable Aviastar to kickstart Tu-204 production, which has slipped due to a lack of business. "We saved the core team and technologies, and are beginning to increase our workforce," says Aviastar general director Vladimir Mikhailov. "Many ex-employees are ready to return if we can guarantee them a stable income," he says, adding: "We have a very tough schedule."
Tupolev is undertaking Joint Aviation Authorities certification of the RB211-powered version to enable Sirocco to place the aircraft with European airlines, but approval has slipped by around 12 months to late 2003.
Tupolev general designer Igor Shevchik says the programme is "two-thirds of the way through", but "a short flight-test/validation programme" is required and will begin early next year using the first aircraft equipped with an English- language cockpit. This will be Sirocco's sixth Tu-204-120, which is due in the first quarter of next year. The seventh production aircraft, set for completion in the third quarter of 2003, may also be involved.
According to Sirocco chairman Dr Ibrahim Kamel, JAA certification is taking longer than planned due to technical and "bureaucratic" problems. "I have made several appeals to the Russian government on the matter of JAA certification because it is only partly technical," he adds.
Sirocco already has a contract with China Northwest and China Southwest for five Tu-204-120 freighters which will come from the new batch. Deliveries should start in the first quarter of 2004.
The Chinese airlines also hold options for 10 aircraft, and Sirocco hopes to announce placement of more aircraft in the first quarter next year, with the company indicating that the Chinese market is again looking the most likely destination.
Source: Flight International
