Week of March 17, 1997
Tu-154: 25 Years With Vnukovo Last month Vnukovo Airlines, with the hub at Vnukovo airport near Moscow,
celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Tu-154 becoming operational - on 9
February 1972, a crew headed by Eugeny Bagmut made the first regular Tu-154
passenger flight on the 1,350-km Moscow to Min Vody route. To honor the
long-serving airliner, on 9 February 1997, Vnukovo Airlines organized a
special Tu-154M flight to Min Vody.
At a press-briefing before the historic flight, Yuri Kashitsin, General
Director of Vnukovo Airlines, said, "The Tu-154 is still in production at
the Samara-based Aviacor factory and this means the plane will continue in
Vnukovo Airlines currently employs 3000 people, including 700 crew
members flying 34 Tu-154C/B/Ms, 22 Il-86s and 3 Tu-204s. In 1996, the
company carried 2 million passengers, 50,000 less than in 1995. The Tu-154s
fly more often than other aircraft in the fleet, being responsible for
Kashitsin explains this phenomenon by a combination of several factors, resulting in the 164-seat Tu-154M being more preferable than the ultra-modern 210-seat Tu-204. First, the Tu-154 is a well-proven design, super-reliable and easy-to-service. Spare parts and engines are readily available, which is not the case with the so-far-rare and immature Tu-204. Not wanting to take any chances, the company's leadership replaces a Tu-204 on a regular passenger flight with a Tu-154 whenever the smallest sign of malfunctions occurs. Kashitsin clarifies, "The Tu-204 is a beautiful aircraft, but needs additional investments to cure teething problems. The plane itself is not that bad, but it happened to appear at a very difficult time for our country." Earlier this year the Russian Aviation Consortium (RAC) acquired a controlling stake of shares in Vnukovo Airlines with the intention to use the company as a pilot operator for its Tu-204s. As its investment in Vnukovo, RAC is providing three Tu-204C freighters, including two former Aeroflot aircraft. RAC also has plans to provide Vnukovo with as many as twenty new Tu-204s. It is reported that those will be leased with the monthly leasing payment being 1% of the Tu-204 cost (US $20 million). Kashitsin states that his company is not afraid to work with new designs. "It is our destiny - Vnukovo conducted operational trials of the Il-18, Tu-104, Tu-124, Tu-134, Tu-114, Tu-154B, Tu-154M and Il-86. We have qualified ground and flying staff able to solve technical problems which usually arise during operational trials of new airplanes." Vnukovo's future carries with it the strength of its past. So it is with the Tu-154.
| |
service for at least a dozen years." These words, however, apply only to
the latest version, the Tu-154M-100. "The calendar lifetime for the Tu-154B
is 22 years, and I do not see a reason to prolong it," Kashitsin added,
explaining that early-built Tu-154s are too fuel-thirsty to be profitable.
Developing the same cruise speed of 900-950 km/h, the Tu-154B consumes 6.2
tonnes of fuel an hour, while the Tu-154M only 5.4 tonnes. Moreover, the
D-30KU-154-powered Tu-154M meets ICAO Chapter III requirements for noise,
whereas the Tu-154B does not.
50% of the total passenger traffic via Vnukovo airport. According to
Kashitsin, during the summer months a Tu-154M accumulates 250-300 hours
a month. It is worth mentioning here that despite a considerably lower
fuel consumption, at 3.2 t/hour, the leading Tu-204 in Vnukovo inventory
(RA64011) logged only 1,000 hours during the entire year of 1996.
