Sukhoi's Superjet 100 is easing closer to certification following the completion of high-intensity radiation field exposure in Italy and flight-management system tests.
One of the flying prototypes, number 95004, has been undergoing radiation field tests at Turin, to ensure that the twinjet is not susceptible to external electromagnetic interference.
"Our airliner is the first Russian aircraft that has compliance with international standards in this domain," says Sukhoi Civil Aircraft's certification chief Igor Vinogradov.
Sukhoi has been demonstrating the aircraft to its latest prospective customer, Russia's UTAir, which is looking to acquire 24 of the type to replace its Tupolev Tu-134 fleet.
Its fully furnished prototype, 95005, has arrived in Khanty-Mansiysk as the two sides seek to finalise an agreement to deliver Superjets to UTAir from 2013.
"The Superjet fully meets the airline's technical and economic requirements," says UTAir general director Andrei Martirosov.
Sukhoi is striving to complete the certification of the aircraft by the end of this year, in preparation for initial deliveries to Armavia and Aeroflot.
Russian and Canadian pilots have undertaken joint flight-testing of the type's flight-management system, as well as a series of ground tests, to evaluate capabilities including vertical navigation.
"These verifications are required to ensure safety and aircraft performance in dense air traffic operations," says Sukhoi.
Superjets have collectively carried out 950 flights accumulating more than 2,200h as part of the certification campaign.
Prototype aircraft 95003 finished crosswind testing in Iceland at the end of October, while the first serial production airframe, 95007 for Armavia, made its maiden flight on 4 November.
Source: Flight International
