Week of May 12, 1997
Renewing The Russian Civil Fleet; Uzbekistan A310Civil Fleet Renewal in FiguresLeonid Shkadov, deputy chief of TsAGI, the Central Hydroaerodynamics Institute named after Zhukovsky, says in 1996 air operators were responsible for 35% of all passenger traffic in Russia (judging by km*tonne factor). However, the existing airliner fleet needs 100% renewal in the next 15 years. If the old designs are superseded by the new generation ones, then, during the 15 years of service, some US$ 30 billion may be saved on fuel. If the process of certification and curing "teething problems" of the new-generation airliners like the Il-96M and Tu-204 stops, then Russia will have to pay US$ 98 million by the year 2015 for its fleet renewal with western civil airliners. The same result may be achieved for only US$ 53 billion if the new Russian designs are put in mass production.
Uzbekistan purchases A310
On 16 April Uzbekistan Airways ("Uzbekiston Khavo Yallari") president Arslan
Ruzmetov and Airbus Industrie chief operating officer Valker-von-Tein signed
an agreement for the sale of a third A-310 to the Uzbeki flag carrier. The PW4000-
powered airliner with 193 seats in three-class layout will be delivered in May According to Airbus, the transaction is part of an agreement between Uzbekistan and Daimler-Benz AG, holding 37.9% in Airbus. The deal has been approved by the President and Prime Minister of Uzbekistan. Talks are in progress for setting up hard form maintenance on the A-310, for the local and foreign operators, at the former military 243th repair factory in Uzbekistan. Operating a fleet of about 100 aircraft, including two B-767s, Uzbekistan Airways carried 2.3 million passengers in 1996. Flown on routes to Western Europe, Eastern Asia and the USA, the two A310s have shown an average daily in-flight time of 12 hr 30 min and operational reliability of 99.3%. The company intends to improve its commuter fleet with Il-114s in production at Chkalov's Aircraft Production Association of Tashkent (TAPO) and RJ-85s. Those types should provide better services to foreign tourists visiting Bukhara, Samarkand and Urgentch. | |
1998. According to the agreement, the two A-310s taken in financial lease for
12 years in 1993 will be purchased within one or two years. Razmetov said the
deal, concluded on very favorable terms, would allow the country to save
US$ 48 million.
