MOSCOW. Nov 22 (Interfax-AVN) - Malaysia has made a preliminary decision to certify Russia's AN-38-100 multipurpose plane, Valery Saldayev, official of the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPO), said on Thursday.
Russian planes attract more and more attention in South-eastern Asian countries, Saldayev told Interfax-Military News Agency.
The Vostok company has leased two AN-38-100 planes to Malaysia in 1999. The planes capable of transporting 27 people started making commercial in South-eastern Asia in early 2000. According to Malaysian estimates, both aircraft have show brilliant results and that was the main reason for their certification in the country which is to have been completed by 2003.
The AN-38-100 is intended for making local flights. It is powered by engines of the U.S. Garret company and mass-produced by NAPO.