MOSCOW, December 15 (Itar-Tass) —— a mobile pilot training simulator for the Sukhoi SuperJet-100 plane has become operational at Zhukovsky’s Aviation Personnel Training Centre, Moscow region.
“This is the first full-fledged crew training centre in Russia, organised by the plane manufacturer and fully equipped with training aides,” United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) President Mikhail Pogosyan said.
The simulator was designed by French Thales Training and Simulation. “The simulator will accelerate the training of pilots for the SuperJet,” UAC said earlier.
The first pilots trained on regular simulators, which took more time and money.
A second such mobile simulator will be installed at Aeroflot's training centre. This national air carrier has ordered the largest number of Sukhoi SuperJet-100 planes thus far.
Aeroflot is operating one Sukhoi SuperJet-100 planes, and Armenia's Armavia, two planes.
The second assembled Sukhoi SupetJet-100 was handed over to Aeroflot on June 9. The plane to be operated by Aeroflot made the first regular flight on June 16. The plane flew from Moscow to St. Petersburg to bring passengers for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, including officials from the federal government, the Transport Ministry, and Aeroflot.
Aeroflot has ordered 30 such planes and will get 10 of them in 2011, then 12 in 2012 and another eight in 2013.
The SuperJet, the first new Russian passenger plane over the past 20 years, is being created through unprecedentedly broad international cooperation that involves more than 30 major international aerospace companies, system and component suppliers.
Sukhoi SuperJet-100 integrates the world's best industry practices and solutions. All aircraft will be certified in accordance with both Russian and international requirements. SSJ100's technical and operational performance make the product fully marketable and capable of taking a solid share in the highly competitive global market. Thus, Sukhoi expects to sell 800 aircraft until the year 2024, while the global demand for the aircraft of this class totals 5,400. So far the company had secured 73 solid orders for the aircraft.
The SuperJet-100 was formerly referred to as the Russian Regional Jet, or “Sukhoi RRJ”. The name was changed on 17 July 2006. The aircraft will be equipped with two Saturn/SNECMA PowerJet SaM146 turbofans.
The Superjet-100 is intended to compete against the Antonov An-148, Embraer E-Jets and the Bombardier CSeries programs. Sukhoi CEO Mikhail Pogosyan claims the SSJ will have 10-15 percent lower operation costs than its Embraer or Bombardier counterparts and its wider cabin will offer more comfort; at the catalogue price of 27.8 million dollars, it should also be cheaper by 18-22 percent. On the other hand, both Embraer and Bombardier offer much more comprehensive after-sales and maintenance network.
SuperJet-100 will in the future provide the basis for a whole family of planes, including transport and special purpose planes. However now the main goal is the certification of the plane and serial production of 60-70 planes annually.
The project is implemented by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company created in 2000. Experts say that the SuperJet-100 project will secure Russia's leadership on the market of regional planes. Sukhoi Civil Aircraft is a subsidiary of the famous Sukhoi combat aircraft manufacturer. It was created to implement the latter's civilian projects. The chief task of the company is to develop a regional Superjet-100 plane that will replace Tu-134 liners that are now in use.
The Sukhoi SuperJet-100 family consists of two types of aircraft of basic and increased flying ranges with the carrying capacity of 75 and 95 passengers respectively.
The company is trying to make the two types of plane as universal as possible in order to increase the number of potential buyers.
The design of the plane meets the requirements applicable in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the West.
The Sukhoi SuperJet-100 plane has been designed by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft. Its shareholders are Sukhoi with 75 percent and World's Wing SA with 25 percent of shares.