LANGKAWI, Malaysia. Oct 3 (Interfax-AVN) - Authorities of the MIG Aircraft-Building Corporation consider it wrong to merge all Russian aircraft companies into a single national aircraft- building company, MIG Deputy Director General Viktor Kozlov told reporters at the LIMA 2003 arms show that is underway in Malaysia.
"If there is a program adopted by the government with this end in view, being a state-owned enterprise, MIG will certainly comply with all decisions and embrace the approach specified. However, it is my opinion as an expert that there are different production and personnel training institutions, which cannot be merged without affecting the common cause. International experience in both aircraft industry and automobile industry, as well as that of other engineering industries, proves that a brand is a brand, which only exists when it meets customers' requirements," he said.
Kozlov noted that the MIG history took its roots in the 19th century. A great number of generations of engineers, technicians, and pilots have been trained since its establishment.
"I believe that the problem must be though over once again before the final decision is made on establishing a single national aircraft-building company. Moreover so that MIG boasts such developments, which enable us to say that we have made great progress both with respect to structural integration and production diversification, and laying the groundwork, which will allow the corporation to solve short-term problems," he said.
Boris Alyoshin, former prime minister, was the one to propose that a single national aircraft-building company should be established in Russia. The Sukhoi Aircraft Holding Company, which has officially been registered this week, has been established within the framework of this project.