European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recently announced its action against the Russian invasion. A ban has been put on aviation parts supply, along with banning Russian carriers from EU territory. These sanctions will be devastating to Russian manufacturers. This will severely impact the development of aircraft which haven’t flown commercially yet, like the Irkut MC-21, the turboprop IL-114-300, and the Chinese-Russian jet, CR929.
The EASA has revoked the airworthiness certification of the AL30 tethered gas balloon, Beriev Be-103 amphibious seaplane, Tupolev TU204-120, Kaman Ka-32A heavy-lift helicopter, Beriev BE-200ES utility amphibious aircraft, and the Irkut Superjet 100 jets.
Commenting on the current situation, the CEO of Rostec said, “In the current situation, the absolute priority for the Russian industry is the accelerated implementation of import substitution programs for key products, technologies, and systems.” Rostec is an organization that comprises about 700 enterprises, which together form 14 holding companies, including United Aircraft Corporation.
Russia has reportedly seized around 600 aircraft from foreign lessors and re-registered them in Russia despite the sanctions. This action will allow domestic Russian aviation to continue, and some aircraft could be cannibalized for spare parts in the near future. Mike Stengel, a senior associate at US consultancy AeroDynamic Advisory, said that the sanctions would affect the Russian operators, but it will not entirely stop them from flying.
The future of the CR929 also remains uncertain. The aircraft was meant to compete against the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, but the sanctions could severely impact the development. These imposed sanctions will have a deep impact on the Russian aviation industry.
“I think it’s too early to tell what the fate of the CR929 will be and if there will be any changes in partnerships. The crisis needs to play out a little longer to see where all the chips fall and the long-term implications on the marketability of the project,” Mike Stengel added.
Recently, the United States government has also grounded 100 aircraft that they believe recently flew to Russia, including a plane used recently by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich.
Feature Image: “Aeroflot”
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