Officials from Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) visited Russia as part of the validation process, DGCA Director General Herry Bakti tells Aviation Week. He notes that the Superjet already has type validation from the European Aviation Safety Agency.
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company, however, has still to receive formal notification of the decision, telling Aviation Week that the “Indonesian DGCA is still working with respective documentation.”
Sky Aviation owner and Chairman Yusuf Ardhi tells Aviation Week that some of the airline’s pilots already have been sent to Venice, Italy, for Superjet simulator training. The airline has 12 Superjets on order, and Ardhi says the first is due to arrive in Indonesia next month. The airline also is due to receive a second Superjet in December, although Ardhi adds there are no firm delivery dates.
Sky Aviation currently operates five Fokker 50s, a Boeing 737-300, a Cessna Grand Caravan, a Cirrus SR-22, a Cirrus SR-20 and a Fokker 100. “We plan to have five more Fokker 50s and more narrowbody jets,” Ardhi says.
“We are still seeking other options on the narrowbody jets. The additional number of [these aircraft] will be decided after we fly the Superjet.”
“If the Superjet can perform economically, and [is operationally] as good as the 737 and Airbus A320 in the Indonesian market, we may focus on Sukhoi Superjets,” says Ardhi.
A Sukhoi Superjet operated by the manufacturer crashed while on a demonstration tour in Jakarta in May. All 45 on board died, including 14 employees of Sky Aviation.
[Editor note: This article is an update of the original to reflect comments by Sukhoi]
SOURCE: http://www.aviationweek.com
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