OREANDA-NEWS. On January 20, 2015, a meeting between Dmytro Kiva, President - General Designer of ANTONOV Company, and the enterprise team took place. It was dedicated to discussions of sums of the works, done in 2014.

Among positive activities Dmytro Kiva mentioned growth of enterprise's income, profits, salary, number of the employees that now is more than 13200 persons. At the same time, ANTONOV transferred over 620 million hryvnas to the state without budget financing.

The program of the AN−178 new transport creation was developed. At present, assembly of its first prototype is being finished; construction of a second variant for static tests has been started. Designing and production of the AN−178 is based on paperless - digital technology of Siemens Company. It's pleasant to see young specialists taking active part in this process.

Some difficulties are connected with the AN−148 and AN−158 serial production. Taking into account incomplete deliveries of landing gears from Yuzhmash Dnipropetrivsk plant, a plan of aircraft construction was not completed. However, two AN−158 have already been transferred to their operator - Cubana de Aviacion Airline. Thus, today this company has five such aircraft in its fleet.

Besides, four AN−148 and AN−158 are at the final assembly stage at ANTONOV Serial plant. Six aircraft are in preassembly workshops at different stages.

Within cooperation with Voronezh Aircraft Manufacturing Company on the AN−148 production five sets of aircraft aggregates were produced and transferred.

On April 2014, Joint State Tests of the AN−70 military STOL aircraft were successfully completed. Basing on those results the aircraft was adopted by Armed Forces of Ukraine. A corresponding order was signed by Minister of defense on January 13, 2015.

ANTONOV Service centre continued working on maintenance and support of the aircraft, including the AN−74 and AN−148 passenger, AN−26, AN−32 and AN−124−100 transport.

The ANTONOV specialists also worked on airworthiness assumption and service life extension of the aircraft adopted by Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result, the following aircraft were restored: nineteen AN−24, AN−26, AN−30 of Air Forces of Armed Forces of Ukraine, two AN−26 of Navy of Armed Forces of Ukraine. Works on service life extension of the AN−72P patrol of Ministry of Internal Affairs are at the final stage. Works on four AN−30, AN−26 and AN−72 fitting with additional equipment and defense systems have been started; Development of corresponding design and operational documentation, preparation for equipment setting and necessary tests conduction are in process.

Majority of above mentioned works were performed at the expense of ANTONOV Company. Besides, employees of the enterprise transferred money to support military subdivisions that participate in antiterrorist operation, bought uniform, equipment, medicines. Groups of volunteers are working.

Opening of renewed kindergarten that has already accepted 260 children became a spectacular event in social sphere. In summer 2014 children of ANTONOV employees together with children from Donetsk and Lugansk regions had a rest in two child health−improving complexes. Recreation centers were at ANTONOV employees' disposal as usual. Equipment of medical unit was partially renewed.

Summing up the year that has already left it was impossible to forget about raider attack of ANTONOV. President - General Designer thanked the collective for its unity while defending the enterprise: "That how you were fighting for your rights, your future and future of aviation in Ukraine is worthy of respect. We have a lot of work and lots of tasks to be done in future", − said him addressing to ANTONOV employees.

Among plans for 2015 Mr. Kiva named acceleration of the AN−148/AN−158 serial production. In the nearest future the AN−148 and AN−158 will be delivered to customers. Development of new variants of the AN−148/AN−158 family, AN−140, AN−74, AN−32 and AN−70 will be continued.

It is necessary to complete construction of the AN−178 prototype and to perform certification tests.

List of the main tasks includes transition to Euro−standards, extension of international cooperation and markets for ANTONOV aircraft.