The first serial Superjet, delivered to Armenian national carrier Armavia, has not been operated during four days, RBC Daily reports. Reportedly the liner has problems with the engine. It is the first such problem of the Russian jet.
The jet has performed 234 flights since its delivery to Armavia on April 21st. Its flight time is 577 hours. The jet has been performing flights from Yerevan (base airport of the carrier) to Moscow, Rome, Larnaca, Kharkov and other cities. The liner has been regularly operated by Armavia except 13 days of its maintenance. The liner’s longest dead time was two days. However, according to RBC’s information, after arrival from Marseille on July 23rd the liner’s operation has been ceased.
As reported by the official representative of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCA), «an indication showing deviation of engine operating parameters has triggered during level flight on route Yerevan - Marseille». As noted by the RBC daily’s source, the crew has taken measures according to flight crew operating manual providing completion of the flight in regular operation mode and then they have performed the return flight to the base airport. «A commission including members of SCA, PowerJet and Armavia has been created in order to find out the reasons of this accident», — SCA noted.
A source close to the industry notes that the manufacturer of the engine — PowerJet (a joint venture between NPO Saturn and Snecma) is responsible for engine’s condition during commercial operation. «The problems have arisen in the part of engine, which is subject to the responsibility of French party. Analysis of the reasons is currently underway and then the problems will be solved», — the source notes. The representative of United Aircraft Corporation has denied any comments. He said that “no claims from Armavia have been addressed to UAC».
It is not the only problem with Superjet’s engine. The SSJ’s program resource man in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, has concluded that SaM146 engine is heavier than it was expected before by 114,3 kg, and its fuel consumption rate is higher by 2,7—3,2%. There were also problems with SSJ100 operated by Aeroflot. The jet has been out of operation during two weeks due to problems with air conditioning system.
The CEO of Motor Sich, Vyacheslav Boguslaev, said in his interview to "Aviation EXplorer" that his enterprise is ready to supply a more powerful, reliable and less expensive engine for Superjet.
