MOSCOW. June 18 (Interfax-AVN) - The Ilyushin aircraft corporation and the Volga-Dnepr group of companies are about to launch an upgrade program for the IL-76 Candid plane, the foreign relations department of the group of companies said on Wednesday.
"The upgraded planes will be designated IL-76-90VD. Planned replacement of engines will allow the IL-76-90VD to stay in commercial operation for at least 15 years," a department official told Interfax-Military News Agency.
According to him, the upgraded aircraft will meet requirements of Chapter III of ICAO regulations that took effect on April 1, 2002. It can also be adjusted to requirements of Chapter IV.
"In addition, installation of new engines in the aircraft will boost its flight and technical specifications - take-off thrust will increase and fuel consumption will fall dramatically," the official said.
He quoted Volga-Dnepr Technical Director Viktor Tolmachev as saying that the derivative of the IL-76 will pass certification within 1.5 years and be put in operation already in 2005.
The official said that design documents will be provided by the Ilyushin corporation, airframe by the Chkalov aircraft production association based in Uzberistan's Tashkent, and PS-90A engines by the Perm engine plant. "Elaboration of agreements has begun," he noted.
The global commercial fleet of IL-76 aircraft amounts to about 200 pieces. The IL-76 accounts for 90 percent of transportation of emergency cargoes, most of which cannot be transported by Western planes.