Agreement signed between Canadians and Tiblisi Aircraft Manufacturing(320 words)

Published: 12/15/2000

The newly privatized Georgian producer, Tiblisi Aircraft Manufacturing (TAM), formerly known as the state-owned Tiblisi Aircraft Association (TASA), has recently concluded an agreement with the British Columbia-based Canadian aerospace company, Kelowna Flightcraft - according to Gocha Goguadze, TAM,s Head of Engineering. Flightcraft,s Director of Engineering, Mike Sizeland, said that the agreement would, initially, take the form of a training contract for Tiblisi personnel, in order to bring them up to speed on Western aerospace production methods. There are currently 26 TAM personnel from a variety of disciplines training at the company's facility in British Columbia. If the initial phase of the agreement goes well, the plan is to extend coverage to marketing and production for the Convair 5800, Flightcraft's upgrade of the Convair 340/440. The Tiblisi factory would then be responsible for the upgrade of the former USAF Convair 340/440 (designated C-131Fs). This aircraft has an average life of 2000 hours. It will be refitted with a new avionics suite from Honeywell, upgraded engines, in addition to the airframe being stretched. This aircraft, considered as a serious competitor for the P&W powered Il-114-100, will have a price tag close to $7m, which is substantially less than the Il-114-100's reported $13m. If the initial stages of the agreement with TAM are successful, it is hoped to have the aircraft rolling off the production line in Tiblisi within two years. For Flightcraft, aircraft manufacturing at Tiblisi will mean a royalty on each sale in addition to providing the necessary avionics and engines. Flightcraft have built up considerable experience of cooperating with regional producers. This has been made possible through its agreement with Kazan Helicopters on the production of the Mi-17KF, which has FAR pt 29 and Honeywell avionics. The first helicopter has been supplied to the South Korean Police through LG Corporation. There are reports of orders for a further three helicopters for the South Korean Air Force, with VIP configuration.

Article ID: 2247