Superjet developer banned from repairing equipment abroad without approval – RBC

Yakovlev wanted to change the rules regulating the export of certain types of goods from Russia, including aircraft. The corresponding draft resolution was sent to First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov by Senator Andrei Kutepov, according to the company’s presentation shown at the regular conference of SSJ-100 operators, the aviation market interlocutor clarified.

The initiative was necessary to reduce the repair time of foreign-made components in friendly countries, as evident from Yakovlev’s materials. Its press service confirmed to RBC that the proposed clarifications would make it possible to optimize the maintenance of domestic civilian equipment abroad.

The initiative was considered by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, law enforcement and other federal authorities, according to a source close to the government. According to the interlocutor, the departments rejected Yakovlev, since “it would be risky to exempt the company from approvals due to its production of military equipment.”

The manufacturer was recommended to contact the Ministry of Transport to draw up “a list of items they want to export for repair,” the source explained. Yakovlev also owns the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, where the Su-30 fighter jets and new generation Yak-130 combat trainers are produced, RBC noted.

The publication sent inquiries to the press services of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Kutepov’s press secretary declined to comment, citing the closed and working nature of the meeting on this topic.

To repair almost any equipment on board, you have to resort to the services of foreigners, Andrei Patrakov, founder of the RunAvia flight safety service, told RBC. He indicated that we are talking about at least 50-80% of the equipment.

In late November and early December, several incidents occurred with the Azimut Airlines Superjet. On November 24, a plane landed at Krasnoyarsk airport due to hydraulic problems, and on the same day another plane made a forced landing in Antalya. On November 28, the Saransk-Saint Petersburg flight was delayed due to an equipment failure and on December 1 the plane made an emergency landing in Mineralnye Vody.