Russia's and France's prime ministers sign a Russian-French memorandum in Paris to give a priority status to the RRJ Programme. Both governments expressed their intentions to provide financial support for the RRJ Programme.
The Second Conference of Suppliers of basic systems of new family of Russian short-haul aeroplanes (Russian Regional Jet - RRJ). The conference, held in Moscow in anticipation of the signing of contracts, gathered 50+ representatives of 20 companies taking part in the RRJ Programme. The meeting reviewed the results of the systems integration into the aeroplane frame configuration.
Next session of the board of directors of SCA CJSC. The Board meeting reviewed the arrangements for a full-scale launch of the programme to develop a new family of Russian short-haul aeroplanes. The decision was made following a session of the company's Technical Council with representatives of all major programme members in attendance. The Board of Directors approved the resolution on successful completion of the fourth stage of the programme, including the issues of marketing and sales, design and development, production and certification and aftersales support for the aeroplanes of the new family. The current stage of the programme development means that arrangements are in place for start-up production of prototype aeroplanes meant for static and flight tests.
The meeting of the Board of Directors expressed satisfaction with progress of the project work on all preliminary stages of the project implementation.
At the same time, in view of the entirely new stage of the programme development approved by today's resolution, the Board of Directors found it necessary to merge the organization and production functions in the activities of the company's top management by appointing V.V. Subbotin, Director of the Sukhoi Design Bureau Civil Aircraft Programme, to the position of General Director of SCA CJSC.
The Technical Council incorporating representatives of the Sukhoy Civil Aircraft and Boeing companies with advisory participation of the Snecma company adopted a resolution declaring Stage Four of the RRJ Programme to be successfully completed, which means readiness for a full-scale launch of the Programme to start production of aeroplanes. This resolution was passed following a meeting of task teams of the companies Sukhoi Civil Aircraft and Boeing, which took place in Moscow 25-28 October. The representatives of both companies reviewed the progress of work under the RRJ programme, including issues of marketing and sales, design and development, production, certification and aftersales support.
The RRJ project mock-up committee completed its first stage under AP-21 procedures. An IAC Aviation Register approval was obtained.
The RRJ programme was presented at EASA. A task force of EASA technical experts was set up to continue work on certifying the RRJ aeroplanes.
Moscow - Farnborough. In July 2004, Russian Post FSUE and Sukhoi Company OJSC signed a Memorandum of understanding for joint projects, which provides for setting up task teams to elaborate specifications for development and production of postal cargo aircraft. The agreement marks a watershed in the history of development of the Russian postal service because it lays down groundwork for creating a fleet of dedicated postal aircraft.
Farnborough. The UTair airline, a major Russian carrier, indicated its intention to announce its decision regarding purchasing of RRJ family aeroplanes not later than October 2004.
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft CJSC regards UTair airline as one of its more promising Russian customers. Since November 2003 UTair representatives have been taking an active part in the work of the Consultative Council of airlines and task teams.
Farnborough. The Siberia airline, Russia's leading carrier, announced its firm intention to acquire 50 aeroplanes of the new family of Russian regional aeroplanes (RRJ).
Under the agreement, signed between Sukhoi Civil Aircraft CJSC and Siberia airline, the airline is expected to acquire fifty basic-configuration RRJ 95 aeroplanes, with deliveries scheduled to commence at the end of 2007.
On the eve of the Farnborough air show, on 15 June, Round Table was held with representatives of leading international financial institutions with participation of the Snecma company and Consultative Council member airlines.
The meeting was attended by world famous banks, leasing, and insurance companies: ILFC, CIT, Citibank, Societe Generale, BNP Paribas, JP Morgan, Sberbank, Ingosstrakh. They indicated their genuine interest in the RRJ Programme and expressed willingness to discuss arrangements for their participation in the project.
Summing-up of the results of the front-end engineering stage by the joint task forces of Sukhoy Civil Aircraft CJSC (SCA) and Boeing company was the final item on the agenda of the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the RRJ family aeroplanes. Boeing and SCA specialists joined forces with representatives of systems suppliers to perform audit of the aeroplane systems and configuration to ascertain their readiness for detailed engineering.
SCA and Boeing task teams determined the exact scope of work to be performed to bring Stage Four of the RRJ Programme to its successful completion.
Paris. Sukhoi Civil Aircraft CJSC jointly with suppliers Thales Avionics, Liebherr Aerospace, B/E Aerospace, Intertechnique (Zodiac), Messier Dowty, Parker and Hamilton Sundstrand, as well as Boeing and Snecma held Second Consultative Council of Airlines. Potential customers were given extremely detailed presentations on the Programme status and basic systems of the aeroplane. At the meeting, the Council was joined by new airlines. The most active participants such as Air France, SAS, Aeroflot were joined by Iberia, SN Brussels, Pulkovo.
Moscow. A meeting was held to sum up the results of the first stage of the activities of the task teams covering the air show, avionics, and aftersales support as well as to review the deliverables and obtain additional wishes and remarks from airlines.
Moscow. A first meeting took place between 16 companies that won the tender for delivery of major systems. It was expected to produce a clear-cut plan of aeroplane systems integration work at the stage of Joint Development Project (JDP) and, joining forces with our suppliers, to set up task teams to begin work at our Design Centre scheduled for commencement in late February of this year in order to turn the plan into reality.
