Tupolev JSC: TU-204ON started the preparation for certification test

TU-204ON Open Skies is to undergo the certification test. TU-204ON is developed by Tupolev JSC under the Open Skies program (the contract made between Tupolev JSC and Vega Concern - head developer of Open-Skies airborne surveillance system) and is manufactured by the Kazan Aircraft Production Incorporation named after S.P. Gorbunov.  The aircraft is designed to perform observation flights according to Open Skies international Treaty signed by 34 countries. To monitor arms control agreements the aircraft is equipped with special purpose airborne surveillance system. State Parties to the Open Skies Treaty established the special purpose airborne and air surveillance equipment specification. It includes aerial photo cameras, TV and IR cameras, and synthetic aperture side-looking radar. Under the Open Skies Treaty, the air surveillance equipment is to have the following resolution limitation: 30 cm for the aerial photo and TV camera, 3 m for the side-looking radar, 50 cm for the IR camera.TU-204ON Open Skies aircraft was demonstrated publicly for the first time at MAKS-2011 International Air Show. The Russian airplane drew a wide response and received a high appraisal by the experts from Italy, Norway, Canada and USA. Once TU-204ON Open Skies is certified, it will be operated by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Tupolev JSC to retrain Russia SFU pilots in 2012

Starting from March, 2012 the Russia Special Flight Unit (the Department for Presidential Affairs of the Russian Federation) flight crew proceeded training for TU-204/214 flights at the Tupolev Aviation Training Center (TU-ATC). Over 100 specialists (pilots, flight engineers and navigators) are signed up to take training courses till the end of the year. The current Russia SFU aircraft fleet includes nine airplanes designed by Tupolev JSC: seven TU-214s and two TU-204-300s.
From November 2011 to January 2012 the Chinese flight crew was successfully trained on piloting of TU-204-120CE equipped with Rolls-Royce engine. The Chinese pilots completed theoretical and simulator-based training courses in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg and 20 practical training flights performed directly in China. According to the TU-ATC management while purchasing the aircraft the airline’s flight crew qualifications and skills shall be guaranteed. Tupolev JSC arranges the annual advanced training courses intended for flight crew operating Tupolev aircraft. The pilots are getting to learn about the latest a/c structure modifications and updating straight from the designers, airworthiness support specialists, aviation experts and the Center trainers. During 2012 Tupolev JSC is preparing to organize large-scale events within the complex training system development for the new TU-204CM a/c.

More than 200 specialists of “Tupolev” JSC to take English language courses aimed at the intensive study of aviation terminology.

The English language courses with aviation bias started on February 14, 2012.
The training program is intended for one year. Over 200 employees of “Tupolev” JSC signed up to take courses at the Aviation Тeaching Сenter. The classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The trainees are divided into three groups according to their English language proficiency level: Beginner (4 groups), Elementary (2 groups) and Upper-intermediate (2 groups). Teachers: Alexey I. Simonov and Semyon A. Simonov.

The Federal Air Transport Agency congratulated “Tupolev” JSC on the 40th anniversary of the Tu-154 maiden flight.

On the 9th of February 2012 the Tu-154 aircraft celebrates its 40th maiden regular passenger flight anniversary. Tu-154 is the most popular passenger jet Russian aircraft.

While creating Tu-154 the designers took into account the needs of fast-developing civil aviation and wide possibilities of the aircraft updating. Tu-154 used all advanced theory and practice of Russian aircraft industry, met the requirements of innovative aircraft science and technology.

The powerful design, technology base and valuable experience were gained during the post-war period under designing, testing, developing and operating of the first passenger jet aircraft. In the mid-1960s all that made it possible for «Tupolev» specialists to build the aircraft exceeding several types of native passenger aircraft by its parameters and complex characteristics and capable to replace all of them in operation in the decades ahead.

The maiden Tu-154 regular passenger flight was carried out on February 9, 1972 on Moscow — Mineralnye Vodi route. The flight was made by captain E. I. Bagmut, first officer A.V. Alimov, navigator V.A. Samsonov and flight engineer S.S. Serdyuk. Two months later – on the 2nd of April 1972 the airplane was launched into operation on international airlines.

In the mid-1980s the substantial portion of passengers was carried by Tu-154. Tu-154 performed flights along the routes connecting practically all large cities of the USSR, during summer time the aircraft became the basic tourists and vacationers «carrier» to the southern cities of our country. Tu-154 aircraft performed flights into more than 80 cities of Europe, Asia and Africa and was repeatedly demonstrated at various exhibitions and air shows.

From the start of its operation Tu-154 aircraft fleet amounts to 25 million flight hours, 12 million landings and 1.5 billion passengers.

For the time being «Aviakor» JSC (Samara) manufactured more than 930 units of Tu-154, about 200 of them are exported to 15 different countries: Bulgaria, Hungary, German Democratic Republic (now FRG), Iran, China, KDPR, Cuba, Mongolia, Poland, Rumania, Czechoslovakia and other countries.

The Tu-154M modification is the most successful version designed under A.S. Shengardt leading. Due to new more cost-efficient engines as well as the improvement of local aerodynamics and power plant, aircraft economic figures were considerably improved.

The long-term Tu-154 operational experience under various weather conditions at different maintenance levels confirmed its high operational reliability and good performance.

On the 9th of February 2012 at «Tupolev» JSC (Science and Technology Council hall) the solemn event in honor of the 40th anniversary of the maiden Tu-154 flight was held. The enterprise’s employees and veterans who participated directly in legendary passenger aircraft development were awarded during the ceremony.

The delivery of Tu-204-300 aircraft to the Administration of President of the Russian Federation

During the visit of the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin to Ulyanovsk the solemn delivery of Tu-204-300 aircraft equipped with VIP interior took place. It is the second airliner designed by “Tupolev” JSC and produced at the Ulyanovsk aircraft building plant delivered this year to the special flight unit “Russia” of Administration of President of the Russian Federation.
Upon arrival Dmitry Rogozin inspected Tu-204-300 (No. 64058). Upgraded Tu-204CM (No.64151) aircraft was also demonstrated to the Vice-Premier, thereafter, during the press conference he confided: “To be honest, I wanted to see the aircraft first…”.

Then Dmitry Rogozin told the media representatives about the purposes of his visit pointing out that the present business trip was dedicated to start up meeting on future trends of aviation development. 
According to Rogozin Russia is at the threshold of establishing stable purchases of Russian-made aircraft, it’s necessary to revise the pricing and relations between the participants of the process.  In this regard Vice-Premier mentioned such advanced projects as Tu-204CM, Il-476 family and other native projects.

The government officers, authorities of Ulyanovsk region, the representatives of the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, United Aircraft Corporation, JSC “Tupolev”, JSC “Aviastar-SP” took part in the solemn ceremony of Tu-204-300 delivery. Right after Tu-204-300 delivery to the customer, the Deputy Prime Minister met the staff of “Aviastar-SP” JSC and took part in the ceremony of awarding some of the enterprise’s employees.

Tu-204CM is an up-to-date Russian medium-range airplane designed by “Tupolev” JSC. Tu-204CM is capable of carrying up to 215 passengers at flight range of 4800 km. Currently the Tu-204CM airplane is under certification tests. The tests completion and the launch of serial production are expected in 2012. The Tu-204CM airplane is a competitive version consistent with the existing foreign airplanes. Tu-204CM meets Russian and international flight safety requirements and has a contemporary system of after-sale support. The design service life of the airplane is 60 000 hours / 45 000 flights / 25 calendar years.
The Tu-204-300 airplane is a modification of the Tu-204-100 airplane with extended flight range. The certificate for the passenger version of Tu-204 -300 was issued to "Tupolev" JSC in 2005, thereafter that it was launched into the serial production. The Tu-204-300 aircraft is equipped with luxury interior and meets all the current and advanced requirements of ICAO and Eurocontrol. The Tu-204-300 airplane has a noise certificate that allows it to operate without restrictions on all international routes. Tu-204-300 is successfully operated by the “Vladivostok Avia” airline. The average monthly operating time is about 350 hours.

TU-204CE

TU-204CE (side number 64036) the new representative of TU-204/214 family made its maiden flight 19 December, 2006 in Ulianovsk.

• TU-204|214 aircraft family

18 December, 2006 “Tupolev” PSC was granted with Supplement

№ CT233-TU-204-120CE/DO to TYPE CERTIFICATE for a new mid-range cargo aircraftTU-204-120CE provided with Rolls-Royce engines and English language data representation for pilot(“English-language cockpit”).

Issue of this document means full aircraft compliance with current aviation rules AP-25 regarding Airworthiness Standards for Transport Category Airplanes. Correspondence of the aircraft to Chapter 3 of Annex 16 ICAO regarding community noise level and Annex 16 of International Civil Aviation Convention , vol. 2 “Emission of aircraft engines” was also confirmed.

TU-204-120CE a/c complies completely with all Eurocontrol requirements to advanced airplanes including RVSM, B-RNAV and others. The aircraft does not have any limitations regarding flights under icing conditions.

Aviation Rules AP-25 are Russian analog to European and American Airworthiness Requirements therefore issue of said Supplement to Type Certificate will open the way to TU-204-120CE a/c certification to European Standards JAR-25.

The Customers of TU-204-120CE a/c manufactured at Ulianovsk “Aviastar-SP” Plant are Chinese Operators. This means that this type of aerial vehicles should be certified to Airworthiness Standards currently in force in China. Issue of Russian Certificate is the final step before certification of this aircraft in China.

It is the first time in native practice when certification was made for the aircraft with English-language cockpit which will give wide possibilities for “TU” airplanes exportation.

It should be noted that issue of the Supplement to Type Certificate for TU-204-120CE a/c was made at the same time of TU-204CE maiden flight intended for Cubana Airlines. This demonstrates “Tupolev” PSC high potentiality once more. This success is possible due to tense activity of the whole staff of “Tupolev” PSC, “Aviastar-SP” serial production plan, vendor-items suppliers and all subcontractors involved.

• Licences and certificates

TU-160

18 December, 2006 it was 25 years from the first flight of supersonic strategic missile-carrier-bomber TU-160. For the first time this machine was taken to the sky by the crew listing captain – Varamy Boris, co-pilot - Agapov Sergey, navigator – Eremenko Anatoliy, navigator-operator – Kozel Michael.

Created at the end of the XX-th century by TUPOLEV DB the strategic multipurpose aviation complex TU-160 is provided with unexcelled combination of high performance and huge combat potentiality being an outstanding achievement of Russian science and technology.

Adopti9on of TU-160 missile carrier-bomber by Russian Air Forces laid a basis for further increase of combat potentiality of Russian Army which is currently one of main stability guarantor in the world.

To-day TUPOLEV PSC collective is busy with further stand guard over the interest of our Motherland for next several decades.

We congratulate all those who built TU-160 a/c with such a memorable date and with to them further success in strengthening of Russian defensive capability.

• Military airplanes

TU-154

Russian airliner TU-154M has been recognized by “Aeroflot Russian Airlines” company to be on of the best airplanes if the XX-th century. Such high appreciation was expressed by Mr. Vladimir Antonov Deputy Director of “Aeroflot” at Flight and Technical Conference devoted to operation of said aircraft by the company.

The conference was attended by representatives of Ministries and Authorities, Design Bureaus, Industrial Institutes and Companies of Aviation Industry.

This type of aerial vehicles is the most popular in “Aeroflot” fleet (25 units are the company’s own airplanes and 3 units in leasing). According to Antonov “ 35% of all flights of the company are performed by these airplanes.” He believes that the most important event was the transfer to “on-condition” maintenance.

The airplane was successfully certified tot international Airworthiness Standards which allowed “Aeroflot” to join the “Sky-team” international alliance . “Aeroflot” realizes fuel efficiency improvement program for this airplane. Thus due to wing tips installation fuel efficiency became 1.7%. Wooden floor replacement for honey-comb structures made it possible to reduce the airplane weight by 600 kg which also reduces fuel consumption. From 25 airplanes 12 units have been up graded already. Additionally the more efficient cruising mode was introduced. In this mode the third engine is set for idling while two others engines increase their thrust. “Introduction of this program resulted in saving money in the amount of millions dollars”,- said “Aeroflot” representative and highlighted active participation of “Tupolev” PSC in the program and personally Mr. A. Shengardt – Chief Designer of TU-154 a/c.

“It is too early to speak about finalizing TU-154 a/c operation”, - stated Mr. Antonov. According to his estimation these airplanes will start to be discarded after serving out their service life which falls on the year 2010.

• TU-154 aircraft family