Uzbeks to take delivery of P&W powered Il-114 suggesting Klimovs may have been finally abandoned

Published: 9/9/1999

The first Pratt & Whitney (P&W) powered Il-114-100s to come into service are likely to be three ordered by Uzbekistan Khavo Yullari, the Uzbeki national carrier. The aircraft will come from the serial production due to be started by the end of the year at TAPO's Chaklov factory in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Over ten airframes are reported to be nearing completion at the factory, with a further ten in production. Uzbekiston Khavo Yullary currently has two Il-114s, which re-entered service in July 1998 after problems with its Klimov power plant. The Klimov TV7-117S aircraft however, still continue to have short service lives of only 800 hours, although Ilyushin claims that this will rise to 6000 hours in 1999. Given the purchase of the P&W version of the Il-114, suggesting that the airline may not be entirely happy with progress and has finally abandoned the struggle with the TV7-117S (www.concise.org 25th August 1997). To develop sales of the aircraft, reported by TAPO as totalling 60 orders, the Uzbeki government has established the Uzavialeasing aircraft leasing company. Reports suggest that the company has signed a lease agreement with Russia's Perm Airlines for two Il-114-100s, with delivery anticipated in 2000 (www.concise.org 19th May 1999). The letter of agreement signed between Aeroflot and TAPO for the delivery of 20 aircraft in December 1997 still remains just that, although talks have taken place over the last few months. According to Ilyushin, the aim is to make the Il-114 available on a leased basis at $60,000 a month. This is equivalent to a unit price of $7-8m per aircraft for the TV7-117S engines.

Article ID: 843