OMSK. Oct 17 (Interfax-AVN) - The Polyot production association, based in the Siberian city of Omsk, expects to sign a contract on the supply of a batch of An-74 military transport planes to Venezuela, the press service of the Omsk region administration told Interfax.
A delegation of military technical specialists led by Mauro Ernana Araujo, chief of the Venezuelan Aviation Academy, rounded up its visit to Omsk on Monday. The Venezuelan experts spent two days at Polyot, studying the possibilities of placing an order on the production of a batch of An-74 multi-role medium-range military transport planes.
According to the press service, Araujo said during the visit that he was sure that procurement of An-74s from Polyot will bring good results. The official is expected to submit his expert estimation and conclusion on capabilities of the Omsk aircraft building industry to the Venezuelan government and President Hugo Chavez.
The press service quoted Alexander Luppov, minister of industrial policy, transportation and communication in the Omsk region government, as saying that An-74 planes made in Omsk meet requirements of Venezuelan experts as far as cargo carrying capacity, altitude and speed are concerned.
Polyot mastered the production of An-74 military transports in the early 1990s.