Aviation

Russia Offers Large Aircraft Production in India with One Condition

Russia to Establish Local Aircraft Production in India

As India’s aviation sector continues to experience rapid growth, Russia has put forth a compelling proposition to manufacture its commercial aircraft, the MC-21 and Il-114-300, locally within the country.

This offer comes at a time when Airbus and Boeing have consistently refused to establish final assembly lines in India. Despite this, Indian Airlines, India’s national carrier, remains the biggest single customer for these jets, underscoring the nation’s booming aviation market.

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According to a report by Tass Agency, Viktor Kladov, International Cooperation and Regional Policy Director of Rostec Corporation, highlighted the potential for local production of these latest Russian civilian airplanes during an interview on the verge of the Aero India exhibition.

“We offer making a joint development to our Indian partners on its basis – a Russian-Indian modification, and organize its production in India in case of successful promotion on the Indian market,” Kladov stated.

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The local production of Russian aircraft would bring several advantages to India. It could lead to increased self-reliance in the aviation sector, providing improved control over maintenance, parts availability, and potential technology transfer. This aligns with India’s broader goals of developing its domestic aerospace industry.

However, entering into such an agreement with Russia could also strain India’s relationship with Airbus and Boeing, potentially hindering future collaborations and technology sharing with these companies. Balancing the benefits of local production with maintaining strategic partnerships will be a key challenge for India.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.