Airlines

The Antonov An-178 is back in production.

Antonov, a Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer, has announced that four Antonov An-178 will be built in 2021, ending a years-long production pause.

The business will primarily operate on three An-178s ordered by the Ukrainian government in 2020, according to the Ukrainian news website Liga. It will begin construction on one aircraft’s airframe, assemble another, and begin producing parts for a third.

In addition, the fourth plane, which was requested by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Peru, will be assembled as scheduled.

The company did not say if any of the four planes would be completed this year.

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Antonov will also modernize two An-124 Ruslans and manufacture spare parts for Indian An-32s. The company’s overall revenue is expected to be 9.5 billion hryvnias ($340 million).

It is nearly 30% higher than in 2020, indicating a substantial increase in production.

Antonov had not produced a new airplane in four years until starting production on Peru’s An-178 in 2019. The Ukrainian government signed a contract in December 2020 to produce four An-178 medium transport aircraft between 2021 and 2024 for the country’s armed forces.

The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine agreed to provide the company with a loan of 3 billion hryvnias (over $1 million) on January 4, 2021, for the manufacture of the aircraft.

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Related Topics:an-124 an-178 antonov Ukraine

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.