Russian Civil Aviation: News #3

Great achievement ,Sam146 engine of Superjet gets ETOPS 120 rating 

http://www.ato.ru/content/dvigatel-sam146-dlya-superjet-poluchil-etops?slink=frs&pos=3

Interior of some special SSJ. Or the dedicated SBJ.

Irkut Corporation completed construction of the third MC-21-300 flight test aircraft





https://t.co/jgLQ4vqjOq

[ltr]SCAC Cites Engine Shortage for SSJ Delivery Slowdown[/ltr]



https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2018-12-26/scac-cites-engine-shortage-ssj-delivery-slowdown

Superjet RRJ95 automatic landing  Test flight, crosswind 28 kts. On board the SSJ 100 cockpit. This is how pilots preprare the autopilot, by inserting navigation and take-off data on the Flight Management System

IRKUT rolls out third MC-21 and answers AirInsight Questions



https://airinsight.com/irkut-rolls-out-third-mc-21-and-answers-airinsight-questions/

[ltr]SCAC Cites Engine Shortage for SSJ Delivery Slowdown[/ltr]

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2018-12-26/scac-cites-engine-shortage-ssj-delivery-slowdown

AirInsight publishes MC-21 Report

Our Executive Summary reads:
The IRKUT MC-21 is a clean-sheet design narrow-body aircraft family that seats between 132-175 passengers in two-class configurations.  As an all-new design, the aircraft competes favorably in operating economics with the re-engined narrow-body models from Airbus and Boeing.


The MC-21-300 has superior seat-mile economics to the Boeing 737 MAX8 and Airbus A320neo.  While the MC-21 does not match the range of its competitors from Airbus and Boeing, it offers full North American trans-continental range and well suited for short-to long-haul narrow-body operations.


The aircraft features advanced technology, including the latest generation engines, the latest generation of materials, including an all-composite wing and aluminum-lithium fuselage, the latest in systems, including active side-stick controls, and advanced avionics.  The MC-21 is the first of the next generation of narrow-body aircraft, competing primarily with re-engined models of aircraft that first entered service 51 and 29 years ago.


The MC-21 program has been delayed numerous times, and timing has slipped to the right with entry into service now planned for 2020.  With both western and Russian built engines available to operators, the MC-21 will be geared towards both export and domestic markets.  The Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, combined with new materials, advanced aerodynamics, and major systems supplied by western vendors make the MC-21-300 a strong potential competitor to Airbus and Boeing.


A key element to export sales will be overcoming a relatively poor reputation for Russian aircraft with respect to service and support, exacerbated by UAC’s Sukhoi Superjet 100.  That aircraft has run into difficulties keeping international customers operating, and IRKUT will need a stronger service and support network to ensure the availability of spares and technical expertise.  Geopolitics may also negatively impact sales of the MC-21 in western markets, and while we hope tensions ease, the current disputes over Ukraine and Syria continue without resolution.


The MC-21 will be a strong performer, and our independent economic analysis confirms that this aircraft will have compelling economics if the aircraft meets its projected performance.  With flight tests underway and confirming fuel burn and other performance factors, we expect the MC-21 to be the most competitive civil aircraft ever produced in Russia, with compelling economics and low capital costs.  If the aircraft performs reliably and can be readily maintained, we expect it to be a market success, projecting more than 1,000 deliveries over the next 20 years.



https://airinsight.com/airinsight-publishes-mc-21-report/

Alert 5
Alert 5
@alert5
·
27 déc.
SCAC says it has signed LOI with Thai Kom Airlines Company Limited and WishV for 6 SSJ100s

Can some one answer this question

1 ) How is that MC-21-300 Maximum Payload at 49.8 T is higher than Max8/9 ,A320/321 NEO but its fuel capacity is lower than others ?

Have they traded payload for fuel capacity and what would be the reason for this ?


2 )  Would it be better to use LEAP Engine like Chinese C919 program then using GTF PW Engine ?   GTF may have maintenance issue and prone to US Sanctions.


Can they also certify MS-21 with LEAP Engine ?

SibNIA tested in flight the Yak-40 with a composite wing

https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/114949/

Austin wrote:1 ) How is that MC-21-300 Maximum Payload at 49.8 T is higher than Max8/9 ,A320/321 NEO but its fuel capacity is lower than others ?
Have they traded payload for fuel capacity and what would be the reason for this ?

Perhaps better phrased as "traded range for payload/hot+high capability". I'd guess reason being max range isn't used by vast majority of routes/customers, so that is first to go if you want to optimize more. I think the "more seating than 320 / less than 321" niche is solid and in line with trends pushing 321 success, but strongly optimizing it's range reduces the fuel burn penalty for most customers/routes who don't need the extra seats.

And while it's not on chart, a stretch that goes well beyond 321 capacity seems very logical, and it's higher capacity fuel system can be used in long range version of -300, just as it seems same fuel system from -300 is used on -200 (which manages to beat brand new A220-300/CS300 across the board if these stats hold up).

Really, lighter MC21 design gives plenty of room before hitting A321 MTOW so they probably wouldn't need to ask for much thrust growth beyond that from PW, although if they do want to push range on -400 version (or offer ultra long ranged -300) that could be more important. Afaik, higher thrust PD14 is already in development, and it's likely not a technical problem for PW even if cost and politics are factors for new contract on custom product beyond scale of existing A/B products.

Austin wrote:2 ) Would it be better to use LEAP Engine like Chinese C919 program then using GTF PW Engine ? GTF may have maintenance issue and prone to US Sanctions. Can they also certify MS-21 with LEAP Engine ?

Sure, with 20/20 hindsight it's easy to think choosing LEAP would have avoided maintenance issues, but IMHO this isn't major problem to worry about, plenty of other airlines will be flying A220/320/321 with GTF. Unlike situation with SSJ+SaM146 i.e. unique engine on platform with limited sales which made reinvestments unviable for Safran, they will basically be running minor variant of same GTF engine on A320/1 so will not need much unique investments.

If anything, writing new contract with GE would be more politically risky now, never mind potentially violating PW contract exclusivity.

-------------

I am curious where MC-21 stands re: NATO content, AFAIK it had quite a bit of US suppliers, although I'm not sure how that works out as percentage which (so far) determines threshold US sanctions kick in at. Some was via JV meaning produced in Russia, and I believe I read something about replacing NATO/US content (in response to sanctions both vs RU and potential clients like Iran and Syria), although I can't easily find info on what has changed since original plans ...???

good stastics 

[size=37]Aeroflot outlines performance expectations for MC-21s[/size]

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/aeroflot-outlines-performance-expectations-for-mc-21-449175/


[size=37]Ilyushin studies twin-engined version of Il-96[/size]

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ilyushin-studies-twin-engined-version-of-il-96-445788/

[size=44]We will take a step forward": the chief designer of PJSC "Il" on the replacement of "Ruslan" and the modernization of transport aviation of the Russian Federation[/size]


https://russian.rt.com/russia/article/588180-talikov-intervyu-aviaciya

Ilyushin studies twin-engined version of Il-96

Really baffling what the logic is here when they have CR929 project. Even the revamped 4-engine is really way past it's time, only makes sense for military usage and in context of revamping suppliers to be more capable of handling CR929 work. All this money could just directly subsidize + develop Ru suppliers for CR929. And this while Il-112v isn't meeting spec, so it's not like they don't have our usage for engineers.

CR929 will be built in China , Although Russia would still make many of its key component along with China but it will assembled in China and considering the proportion of Western component like Engine , Avionic etc  in future Russia might and I think will face sanctions on Aviation systems in Civil market.

Russifying CR929 will take some time like atleast a decade.

IL-96M twin engine is a elegant and low cost solution , with low maintenance , better fuel effeciency due to PD-35 engine and likely even extensive use of composite , It can serve for long distance bus carrier for Domestic travel also keeps Wide Body Manufacturing in Russia unlike CR929.

Russian Helicopters delivered 31 medical helicopters in 2018

Russian Helicopters JSC (part of Rostec State Corporation) on December 29, 2018 reported that, in a contract with the State Transport Leasing Company (STLC), in 2018, 31 medical helicopters were completed. 12 Ansat helicopters and six Mi-8MTV-1s produced by the Kazan Helicopter Plant, as well as 13 Mi-8AMT helicopters launched at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, were delivered to the customer.

The press release further reports that at present all helicopters have been handed over to end-operators, they are involved in the implementation of the federal project "Ensuring the timely provision of emergency medical care to citizens living in hard-to-reach areas of the Russian Federation", which envisages the development of sanitary aviation in Russia.

"The development of the aviation medical care system is one of the priorities of Rostec. The corporation is a key supplier of helicopters and medical equipment for these purposes, participates in the project to create a unified national air ambulance service, develops the appropriate infrastructure. These measures are aimed at improving the efficiency and availability of qualified medical care in the regions of the Russian Federation.The results of pilot projects in this area demonstrate a significant decrease in mortality among emergency patients with cardiovascular diseases (from 35% to 3%) and 60% - death from road traffic injuries, "- said the director of industrial aviation cluster Rostec Anatoly Serdyukov.

In 2017, Russian Helicopters handed over 29 helicopters to the State Transport Leasing Company, which are successfully operated as part of the air ambulance development program.

“At the end of 2018, the air ambulance development program involved 60 helicopters saving lives in 34 regions of our country. This project proved its efficiency: more than 6,000 sorties were made on the previously delivered vehicles, more than 8,000 patients were transported, of whom over 1,500 were children. We are convinced that the program should be developed, and we hope that with state support it will cover all regions of Russia. These measures will allow us to increase the proportion of patients hospitalized for emergencies during the first day by up to 90%. " declared the General Director of "Russian Helicopters" Andrei Boginsky.

"Ansat" - a lightweight twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter, serial production of which is deployed at the Kazan Helicopter Plant. According to the certificate, the design of the helicopter allows you to quickly transform it into a cargo and a passenger version with the ability to carry up to 7 people. In May 2015, an addendum to the type certificate for modification of a helicopter with a medical module was received. Ansat is certified for use in the temperature range from -45 to +50 degrees Celsius.

Multi-purpose helicopters Mi-8AMT and Mi-8MTV-1 have high flight performance and can be used around the clock in the most difficult climatic conditions. These machines are able to carry on board a wide range of specialized equipment. Medical modules are equipped with a stretcher with an adjustable position of the back, a vacuum mattress, devices and first aid equipment. The presence of the oxygen supply system, the built-in power supply system and resuscitation equipment allows for the emergency resuscitation of patients. The total time of installation and dismantling of the module on the helicopter does not exceed 15 minutes, which ensures prompt variation in the composition of the aircraft equipment depending on the current needs of the customer.

EASA flight test crew prepares for Russian MC-21 certification

https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/flight-testing/easa-flight-test-crew-prepares-for-russian-mc-21-certification.html


Superjet’s SaM146 engine receives ETOPS approval

http://www.rusaviainsider.com/superjets-sam146-engine-receives-etops-approval/


Thailand’s Kom Airlines signs LoI for six Superjet 100s

http://www.rusaviainsider.com/thailand-kom-airlines-signs-loi-six-superjet-100s/

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/01/01/584570/Iran-aviation-Superjet-Russia-US-sanctions-Airbus

I said it before and I'll say it again - Sukhoi and Russia was really, really, really stupid using Western parts.

Now they will miss out on Real sales that would have garnered a lot of money, way more than they have now.

Why dont Iran buy Tu-204SM ?  for Superjet they will have to wait till a fully Russified SSJ-100R comes into being

I don't really know. I imagine now it makes more sense than before. Add newer engines it may be able to fly even farther than before.

From this interview I have few questions  https://www.aviaport.ru/digest/2018/12/29/570121.html




- This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first flight of the long-haul IL-96 airliner. Unfortunately, the potential of this machine for three decades has not been realized. In recent years, work is underway to create IL-96-400M. At what stage is this project and when will the updated version of the liner rise into the air?

- IL-96 is a plane with a complex fate. After the collapse of the USSR, its operation in our country was recognized as economically inexpedient. As a result, the IL-96 ousted the products of Boeing and Airbus from the market. However, I can say that the IL-96-300 is highly reliable and is not inferior in economic efficiency to the Boeing-767. 

In 2015, it was decided to resume the production of IL-96. Russia found itself in a situation where deliveries of foreign aircraft, which are operated by domestic airlines, may stop at any time. Of course, this is not the normal state of affairs.

Flight tests of IL-96-400M should begin in 2020. According to the requirements in the TZ (technical specifications. - RT), the liner is designed for 380 seats. We refused to offer customers to develop a plane with 420 seats, because in this case, passengers will be deprived of the necessary amenities during long-distance flights. Still, comfort is an important competitive advantage of a civilian liner. To date, the program of production of IL-96-400M designed for six cars with the condition of continuing serial production. 

- Would commercial exploitation of IL-96-400M with PS-90A engines be expedient?

- It all depends on how to carry out the calculations. It is believed that the IL-96-400M with these engines will not be economically feasible - for example, we still do not consider. In the end, having your own fleet for Russia is a matter of national security. We must invest in projects that will allow Russian citizens to fly on domestic aircraft. 

He says 


the IL-96-300 is highly reliable and is not inferior in economic efficiency to the Boeing-767. 


How is a twin engine 767 comparable in effeciency compared to IL-96-300 , 4 Engine ?




He says 


Flight tests of IL-96-400M should begin in 2020. According to the requirements in the TZ (technical specifications. - RT), the liner is designed for 380 seats. We refused to offer customers to develop a plane with 420 seats, because in this case, passengers will be deprived of the necessary amenities during long-distance flights. Still, comfort is an important competitive advantage of a civilian liner. To date, the program of production of IL-96-400M designed for six cars with the condition of continuing serial production. 



so what will be the Seat Pitch of IL-96-400M ? Since they reduce the number of seat from 420 to  380......so 40 less seat 


- It all depends on how to carry out the calculations. It is believed that the IL-96-400M with these engines will not be economically feasible - for example, we still do not consider. In the end, having your own fleet for Russia is a matter of national security. We must invest in projects that will allow Russian citizens to fly on domestic aircraft. 

Likely most of their potential customers demanded familiar systems and components to make it easier for them to use as they already have service contracts...

India has something like 70% of its military equipment coming from the Soviet Union, but when it buys Flankers it insists on French and Israeli components... go figure...

The simple reality is that Iran was all set to buy from Boeing and Airbus and largely ignore Russian products... now that the US has turned on Iran and they can't get products with US components all of a sudden they want all Russian stuff... well that sounds like Irans problem.

The Russian military will eventually want all Russian component versions of commercial Russian airliners that they can use for various roles, but that sort of subsidy wont be forth coming for a little while yet...

So he admits IL-96-400M will not be economically feaseable but being built for National Security Reason

Being slightly more expensive to run is no problem if the alternative is sanctioned by the west and cannot be supported...

PS-90A engines are not state of the art any more, there are new families of engines coming out that will be much better and offer much better performance... use the PS-90A now and use the new engines when they become available...

It might not be super competitive to start with, but it will become much more so when the new engines are available.