OREANDA-NEWS. November 9, 2012. S.V.Yeroshchenko, the governor of Irkutsk region and L.M.Berlina, the chairman of the Legislative assembly, are talking about their impressions to the mass media

Arrival of the AN-148 became a considerable event for the whole Irkutsk region

On October 30, the first AN-148-100E purchased by “Angara” airlines flew from a plant-manufacturer to Irkutsk airport, which is a basic one for the airlines. The airplane flew the distance of 4200 km from Voronezh to Irkutsk non-stop. After landing the crew reported that airborn systems and equipment of the airplane worked without failures. They also told about high comfort and excellent operational parameters of the AN-148. Arrival of this aircraft became a considerable event for the whole Irkutsk region, because the modern airplane of domestic production flew to the region for the first time for the several decades.

The new ANs were purchased by “Angara” according to the contract with “IFC” leasing Russian company within the limits of the “Modernization of regional aircraft fleet” investment project being performed under support of the government of Irkutsk region. S.V.Yeroshchenko, the governor of Irkutsk region and L.M.Berlina, the chairman of the Legislative assembly were present at presentation of the aircraft at the airport. They examined the AN-148 and shared their impressions with the mass-media. “I am glad of the new AN arrival, I have waited for this event for a long time”, told the governor. “The new aircraft means new possibilities of development of our region. This airplane can be operated from/to all our airports, land on unpaved and snow-covered runways”.

The AN-148 with registered number RA-61713 became the 25th aircraft of “Angara”, which is the main operator of ANTONOV aircraft in Siberia federal okrug of Russia as well as the main supplier in the market of their maintenance.

“Angara” ordered 5 aircraft of the AN-148-100E type in layout for 75 passengers. The second and the third AN-148-100E will arrive to Irkutsk during two next weeks. The fourth one will be delivered in summer 2013, the fifth one – in autumn 2013.

“We plan to start commercial flights of the AN-148 on December 15, - told A.F.Yurtayev, the director of “Angara” airlines, during the presentation . – We will perform flights to Novosibirsk, Mirny, Yakutsk, Khabarovsk, Blagoveshchensk, Ust-Kut and Bratsk every day. Besides, the AN-148s are completely equipped for the international flights. Since the next summer, flights to China, Japan and South Korea will start. The aircraft has the optimal dimension for such flights”.

The AN-148-100E is an aircraft of the AN-148 regional jets family of a new generation. It is intended for transportation up to 85 passengers on the international and domestic air routes over a range up to 4400 km. The AN-148-100E is optimal for conditions of Siberia and Far East. It has the necessary flight range, can be operated from/to poor-equipped unpaved, snowy and pebbled runways, under conditions of low temperatures (down to – 55-C) as well as icing. RA-61713 became the 12th aircraft of the AN-148 family entered into commercial operation. Till present about 1.5 millions passengers have been transported by the AN-148 aircraft.