New CEO for Sirocco Aerospace International as seven Tu-204-120s are due to be completed this year

Published: 1/17/2000

Tu-204 leasing company, Sirocco Aerospace International, has appointed an experienced aviation manager as its new CEO. Tom Smith, who was previously CEO of Mooney Aircraft and Fairchild Aircraft and worked as a SVP at Fokker, will be based at company"s London office. Smith"s experience is expected by the London based company to bring considerable experience to the marketing of the Rolls Royce powered Tu-204-120, produced by Aviastar in Ulyanovsk. Sirocco Aerospace International is a leasing company is majority controlled by Dr Ibrahim Kamal with a number of Russian shareholders including Aviaexport, and has leased a number of Tu-204s to Egyptian carrier Air Cairo. The company is reported as having seven Rolls Royce powered Tu-204s due to be completed this year to place with customers. Unconfirmed reports are emerging from Russia that the Tu-204 programme may be merged with the heavier Kazan produced Tu-214 into a single model by the time the aircraft is fully certified.

Article ID: 1326