MOSCOW. Dec 10 (Interfax-AVN) - The business-plan of the new Russian Regional Jet project is to be completed next week, the press service of the Sukhoi aircraft production enterprise reported on Monday.
The aircraft is being developed by the Suchoi design bureau and Ilyushin aircraft-building enterprise in co-operation and collaboration with the Boeing Company on the basis of the memorandum signed in June 2001.
A decision on continuing the development of the aircraft within the framework of the Russian Regional Jet project is to be taken after the business plan has been considered and approved.
The maiden flight of the aircraft has been scheduled for 2005, its serial production to be launched in 2006. The largest part of the work on the development of the aircraft will be performed by the Sukhoi civil aircraft private company. The jet will be designed in the computer with the employment of no-paper technology. The Ilyushin aircraft-building enterprise will certify the aircraft in accordance with the corresponding international flight standards, the Boeing Company is to carry market studies as far as the new jet's sale is concerned.
Regional aircraft with 80-100 seats account for 7% of the world's aircraft fleet; the index is likely to rise to 17% by the year 2020. Experts believe the cost of the jet will not be more than USD30-35m. The Aeroflot Airlines has already signed a contract for 30 aircraft.
Investments ranging from USD300m to USD1b are necessary for realizing the project. Income from export contracts of the Sukhoi aircraft-building enterprise, grants of the US Administration and credits of the Western commercial banks will be used to fund the project.
There are three variants of the Russian Regional Jet, these being the RRJ-55, RRJ-75 and RRJ-95 baseline aircraft, RRJ-55, RRJ-75 and RRJ-95ER extended range aircraft and RRJ-55, RRJ-75 and RRJ-95LR maximum range aircraft. All the jets will be powered with under-wing engines.
The take-off weight of the aircraft will range from 31.64 to 43.8 tons depending on the modification, its maximum commercial payload varying from 6.05 to 10.45 tons.