Derivative would have three-abreast seating for 102 passengers and 2,100km range
Beriev is evaluating the development of a conventional land-based passenger derivative of the Be-200 utility amphibian that could seat up to 100 passengers.
Designated the Be-310, work on the project started earlier this year in a bid to find other applications for Be-200 production tooling at NPK Irkut's IAPO plant in the event that the baseline amphibian does not attract sufficient orders.
Russia has placed orders and options for up to 15 of the amphibians for use in fire-fighting, search and rescue and emergency evacuation roles. The land-based version would have a high degree of commonality with the twinjet amphibian, inheriting the wing, empennage, Progress D-436-series engines and major onboard systems. It would have a conventional fuselage instead of the flying-boat hull of the Be-200.
While retaining the Be-200's cabin length and height of 18m (59ft) and 2m, respectively, the Be-310 derivative's modified fuselage enables the floor width to be increased from 2.5m to 3.1m, allowing for three-abreast seating.
With a maximum take-off weight of 42,000kg (92,500lb), the Be-310 would have a range of over 2,100km (1,140nm) with 102 passengers in high-density layout, or 74 in a two-class cabin. A lower-capacity, VIP version would have a range of 5,000km. The sleeker fuselage would enable maximum cruise speed to rise by 27kt (50km/h) to 405kt and maximum altitude would increase by 6,600ft (2,000m) to 32,800ft.
Beriev general designer Victor Kobzev says feasibility studies for the Be-310 are under way, but there are no plans yet for production.
The previously proposed 16-seat Be-32K and larger Be-132MK regional aircraft have been shelved after failing to attract customers.
VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / GELENDZHIK
Source: Flight International