BANGALORE, February 9 (Itar-Tass) – The Sukhoi Superjet 100 jet liner may have a good future on the Chinese market, as the date when China may finalize its own medium haul plane has been repeatedly postponed, the president of the United Aircraft-building Corporation, Mikhail Pogosian, said on Friday.
“The way I see it, there are certain chances for us,” he said. “I estimate China’s market of medium haul planes at 250-300. The ARJ21 project has been delayed, so our chances have grown. I am pretty certain that our plane is better than Bombardier and Embrear.”
China’s future regional passenger jet ARJ21 is expected to carry 70 to 110 passengers, depending on configuration, to make non-stop flights without refueling at distances ranging 2,200 to 3,700 kilometers and land in adverse climatic conditions at high-altitude airfields.
Static load testing in November 2010 destroyed the ARJ21 wing before the design parameter was achieved. The testing program had to be revised and the expected delivery date moved to the end of 2011. However, the testing was not completed either in 2011, or in 2012. At the end of 2012 there was still no certificate. At best it may be obtained by 2014. Cracks in the wing and faulty wiring, avionics and landing gear are mentioned among the main problems.
“The Sukhoi Superjet-100 is a regional 100-seater, designed and developed by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft in cooperation with Italy’s Alenia Aermacchi. The standard version has a range of flight of 3,048 kilometers, and the enhanced range version can fly 4,578 kilometers non-stop. At present there are about 170 orders for SSJ-100. The medium haul plane may be used as a basis for a future business class version Sukhoi Businessjet.