OREANDA-NEWS. In November 2013, the AN-158, serial number 201-03, of Cubana de Aviacion airlines, Cuba, went on a tour of Latin America.

During this expedition, following demands of the potential customers from the region, ANTONOV Company and its partner Ilyushin Finance Co. leasing company, Russia, conduct the airplane tests under conditions of alpine airfields. Till present, test crew of ANTONOV Company performed ground trials of the airplane at the airport of Latakunga, Ecuador, located at the altitude of 2800 m above sea level. After that, the aircraft flew to La Pas, Bolivia. There flight and ground tests at the airport located at the altitude over 4000 m above sea level are conducted. Completion of the tests under alpine terrain conditions is scheduled for November 22.

This expedition is an important constituent to promote the aircraft of the AN-148/AN-158 family into the market of Latin America. Antonov aircraft are well-known in this region owing to their reliability and flexibility to the operating conditions as well as to the quality of the airports' runways.