NOVOSIBIRSK. July 25 (Interfax-AVN) - The management of the Novosibirsk aircraft production association (NAPO) is negotiating with Malaysian aviation authorities on the supplies of a batch of AN-38 planes for local Malaysian air routes, NAPO Director General Alexander Bobryshev said on Friday.
"NAPO continues to implement the conversion program that consists of promoting the AN-38 plane for local air routes on the domestic and foreign markets. The contract for the plane's supplies to Malaysia is being worked on," Bobryshev told Interfax- Military News Agency.
An AN-38 is already accomplishing missions in Malaysia. The plane leased to that country is piloted by a Russian crew, the director general said.
"The aircraft is NAPO's property, and it is flying there in the test operation mode," he stressed.
According to Bobryshev, the AN-38 has distinguished itself, and the Malaysian party has made the decision to buy it.
"Elaboration of technical documents on the plane is underway, I mean, Russia's flight readiness standards are being recognized by the Malaysian aviation authorities. A joint decision of the Malaysian aviation authorities, the Antonov aircraft research and technical corporation, and the Russian aviation registrar of the Interstate Aviation Committee with NAPO's involvement sets the deadline for this work at November 2003, after which the green light will be given to the AN-38 sales," he said.
Bobryshev noted that Malaysian aviation rules and flight readiness standards are recognized by Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The countries are potential buyers of the AN-38, he said.
The AN-38 multipurpose plane can be easily converted into a passenger plane for 27 seats, an administration plane for 10 seats, a cargo plane for 2,500kg of various cargo, a medical plane for six sick persons in stretchers and eight accompanying persons, or a patrol and landing plane. The aircraft is powered by two new certified TVD-20 engines made by the Baranov engine- building enterprise in Russia's Omsk. It is fitted with up-to- date piloting and navigation equipment allowing the crew to perform flights 24 hours a day in adverse weather conditions. The AN-38 can be used on unpaved airfield located at an altitude of up to 2,600m above the sea level.