MOSCOW, February 22 (AVN) - The Ilyushin-Finance Co. is holding talks with the Atlant-Soyuz airlines on leasing of 10 IL-96-400T and four TU-204-100S cargo planes, Alexander Rubtsov, director general of the leasing company, told the Military News Agency on Thursday.
According to Rubtsov, four TU-204-100S planes will be the first to be supplied. As far as the 92t-capable IL-96-400T is concerned, it is under development now. The IL-96-400T's size will be the same as that of the IL-96T.
The plane will be powered by Russian-made PS-90A2 advanced engines. The engine is being designed by the Perm-based Aviadvigatel JS in co-operation with Pratt & Whitney.
Equipping the aircraft with 18t-powerful NK-93 engines produced by Samara-based Kuznetsov scientific and technical enterprise is also an option as they are deemed optimal for aircraft of such type. Mass production of these engines should begin by the time IL-96-400T enters market.
According to Rubtsov, the first production IL-96-400T can be leased to Atlant-Soyuz no sooner than in 2.5 years. The supply is expected to be completed by 2007.
The leasing agreement will be signed after all the state has guaranteed credit potential. The main banks to be involved in the transaction are the Bank of Foreign Trade and Bank of Foreign Economic Activity.