An-140 completes cold weather test, but still looking for buyers

Published: 2/15/2000

On 7th February, the An-140 twin turboprop aircraft completed its cold weather tests over Batagai, in the Verkhoyansk district of Yakutiya, logging over 25 hours of test flights at temperatures as low as –55 C, according to Nikolai Onupchenko of the Antonov Design Bureau. Aircraft trials have been underway since August 1998, logging over 1000 flights after flying for the first time in September 1997. ITAR-Tass reported that the local Yakutia FSVT described the aircraft, intended to replace the huge Russian An-24 fleet, as one of the most promising aircraft that had been tested in the region"s harsh conditions. The $7m Klimov-powered aircraft is in the early stages of serial production at KhGAPP in Kharkov in the Ukraine, where four aircraft have already been assembled and will be followed by production at Aviakor in Russia. It is also reported to be starting production at the IAIC facility in Iran in March under a licence agreement for production of 12 aircraft a year. To date, there has been a great deal of interest in the aircraft, but the only orders that appear to be realistic are those associated with the Iranian production, initially assembled from the Ukrainian and Russian parts, which include orders from Iran Air and Iran Asseman Airlines. A Ukrainian buyer, Ikar Airlines, based in Kiev, has also recently emerged, reportedly funded by the Kharkov Trade House, a subsidiary of the aviation plant, for the purchase of ten aircraft. However, the order remains controversial, provoking debate as to the actual resources of the Kharkov Trade House and the production location. Associated article: www.concise.org. 19th January 2000

Article ID: 1420