Indonesian authorities have approved the Sukhoi Superjet 100 for commercial operations, validating the type certificate for the Russian-built twinjet.

The validation on 22 November comes seven months after a fatal accident south of Jakarta involving a prototype Superjet as it performed a demonstration flight for Indonesian operators in May.

Approval by the Indonesian directorate general of civil aviation indicates that the authorities are reassured over the technical reliability and design of the aircraft.

It enables the Superjet to be exported to Indonesian carriers - such as initial customer Sky Aviation - and operated without restrictions.

Sukhoi civil aviation division certification chief Igor Vinogradov says the process has involved "long and careful work".

Sky Aviation's first Superjet has had its cabin fitted at the Aviastar plant in Ulyanovsk. The carrier is to take delivery of 12 Superjets, the first by the end of this year.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news