Published: 12/12/1997

In a recent interview, Premier Victor Chernomyrdin presented his viewpoint on the reforms in the aviation industry. He stated that in fulfilling President Yeltsin's strategic policy on restructuring the Russian economic system, the Government pays particular attention to aircraft manufacturers. Chernomyrdin said, "We know, and foreigners know, that our airframes are good, but a good airframe needs good engines and high-quality avionics. If we, with assistance from abroad, manage to outfit our airframes with reliable engines and on-board equipment, then we will be able to enter the world's market with our products and renew the inventory of our own civil aircraft." He continued that the Russian design bureaux have developed a wide range of promising airframes, able to meet all imaginable demands of civil operators. To put them in mass manufacture, the Government is trying to "put in motion the market tools and mechanisms" in order to create a favourable atmosphere for foreign investors. The Government is also trying to unite developers and manufacturers into commercially-viable mergers to cover the whole circle of aircraft development, production, sales and after-sale support. (IN1297.3) (VK)

Article ID: 98