Paul Duffy/MOSCOW
Sirocco Aerospace International, the subsidiary of Egypt's Kato Aromatic set up to market the Rolls-Royce RB.211-powered Tupolev Tu-204-120, has signed deals with two launch customers involving 15 aircraft. The agreements will be formally announced at the MAKS '97 air show being held in Moscow during 19-24 August.
Kras Air, based in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, has concluded a deal for ten aircraft, while new Egyptian carrier Air Cairo has signed for five.
Kras Air will take the aircraft under Sirocco's lease programme, but with an option to purchase, which may be exercised during the initial five-year lease term. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in October, with the next four following every four-to-six weeks thereafter. The delivery schedule for the remaining five has not been revealed.
Kras Air's first Tu-204 will be configured in a single-class passenger layout. The second and third will be the Tu-204-120C freighter variant, scheduled for certification in October. The last two aircraft from the initial batch will be configured with three-class cabins.
Kras Air has a fleet of 65 aircraft, including Ilyushin Il-76 freighters and Il-86s, Tupolev Tu-154s and Antonov An-24 and An-26 turboprops. The new Tu-204s will be used to start the fleet-renewal process of its medium-range fleet.
Newly established inclusive-tour carrier Air Cairo, which has been set up by a group of Egyptian travel agents, has ordered three passenger versions and two cargo models. Deliveries will begin in the first quarter of 1998. Sirocco is finalising deals with two other CIS airlines and with one non-CIS one. Talks with other carriers are also in progress. The company expects to announce these deals in September.
Following completion of its Category II certification tests in Ireland in early August, the MAK Avia Register has added Cat II approval to the Tu-204-120's certification. Cat III approval may be sought later as extra equipment needed is installed. Sirocco says that certification work for European Joint Aviation Authorities approval of the R-R-powered Tu-204 has begun, with completion expected "within two years".
Source: Flight International
