Paul Duffy/MOSCOW
A delegation of Russian aerospace personnel has met with the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) at its headquarters in the Netherlands to discuss the certification of Russian and CIS built aircraft under Europe's Joint Aviation Regulations (JAR).
At last month's meeting, the Russian side was led by the Inter-state Aviation Committee (MAK) vice chairman, Alexander Knievel. The Russian delegation included the head of the Aviaregister, Anatoli Kruglov, and experts from Tupolev and Sirocco on the Tupolev Tu-204. The first aircraft proposed for certification is the Tu-120, a Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4-powered version of the Tu-204.
The delegation is seeking ways to develop a Bilateral Air Safety Agreement (BASA), similar to the one signed by Russia and the USA in 1998. JAA chief executive officer Klaus Koplin confirms the talks, but says that the JAA's approach would be project-led rather than an overall agreement. He adds that the JAA would also be prepared to audit Russian engines and avionics for European certification.
A JAA team is being set up to review the work on the Tu-204, and will hold its first meeting in January. It expects to complete its initial review of the design and manufacture of the Russian twinjet by mid-2001. A detailed audit of the aircraft itself will then be undertaken, which is expected to take about a year. When completed, this should simplify the certification process of other CIS and Russian aircraft, but each new type will need a pre-certification audit.
The JAA requires proposals for certification to be led by the designer and manufacturer, which are Tupolev and Aviastar respectively. These two organisations, along with Tu-204-120 marketing organisation Sirocco, will therefore lead the work on the aircraft, and will also provide funding for the certification effort.
Last year, the Russian designed and built Pratt & Whitney PW2000-powered Ilyushin Il-96T widebody freighter became the first CIS airliner to receive Western certification, when it won approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Source: Flight International
