Éditorialistes & Contributeurs
Corporate management
When Soviet Union torn apart at the beginning of the 1990’s, Russia felt behind in the world competition for economic leadership. Since then, Russia has kept good hope to catch up by investing into strategic sectors. Aviation industry is one of them of course and this is the reason why the Russian government started a program for the revival of its national production of aircraft. The stated goal of the plan is to allow Russian aircraft to conquer no less than 10 per-cent of the world market before year 2025. To make it real, older technologies and aircraft will have to be replaced by newer ones.
Before 2020, Russia will produce a new model of low-cost aircraft called Samolet 2020 with a capacity of 300 passengers. At the moment, Russia is also developing a medium-haul aircraft in collaboration with the Irkout industrial group; named MS-21, this new aircraft will replace Tupolev 204. Last but not least Russia has also built the first regional airliner ever made in this country since the end of USSR. Many international manufacturers helped out to build this new model of aircraft and it has already been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency in February 2012.
The replacement of Russian aircraft technology was undoubtedly justified by the need to overcome the bad reputation they inherited from their record-breaking number of yearly crashes. According to the Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre (JACDEC ), 827 passengers found death in a Russian aircraft between 2001 and 2011. In 2011, four airplanes crashes occurred in Russia between June and September only. Reacting to these events, the government made several statements and pointed out the lack of reliability of those planes that were all created and built during the soviet era. Safety has thus become a public stake as well as a key factor for reviving Russian aviation industry.
Sukhoi is the company that led the development of the SuperJet 100. The very first flights of its brand new aircraft were meant to be a strong selling case for the potential clients of Sukhoi. On the 9th of May 2012 though, a SuperJet 100 crashed in Indonesia during a display flight. A delegation composed of business man and officials thus perished some 20 minutes after the plane took off. Such a dramatic event also sent a very negative signal to the market of the SuperJet 100. The way for Russia to realize its hope seems full of pitfalls.
The SuperJet 100 came into service in June 2011 and only 6 of them had been delivered already when that crash happen in Indonesia. This terrible accident hit the heart Russian aviation strategic weaknesses. It also contradicted the ambition the Russian government supported for its national industry. In spite of 340 orders for the SuperJet 100, Sukhoi now must demonstrate the safety of its new planes to ensure its investments will not be discredited by the market.
Russian aviation industry is in the middle of reshaping its offer. It aims to conquer 10% of the world airplane market with new aircraft of its own conception. The government also supports the project and displayed its will to update both the technology and the safety standard. The SuperJet 100 was built with the help of international manufacturers and was soon enough certified and allowed to fly by the European Aviation Safety Agency. This plane is the first symbol of Russia’s new industrial politic. Despite the care and the ambition, the SuperJet 100 suffered in May 2012 a severe reputational damage. On the 9th of this month, one of this aircraft crashed in Indonesia and remembered to passengers, investors and buyers around the world the very reason this plane was made for. It is a real crisis for Sukhoï and whether or not it will overcome it is still to be determined.
Before 2020, Russia will produce a new model of low-cost aircraft called Samolet 2020 with a capacity of 300 passengers. At the moment, Russia is also developing a medium-haul aircraft in collaboration with the Irkout industrial group; named MS-21, this new aircraft will replace Tupolev 204. Last but not least Russia has also built the first regional airliner ever made in this country since the end of USSR. Many international manufacturers helped out to build this new model of aircraft and it has already been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency in February 2012.
The replacement of Russian aircraft technology was undoubtedly justified by the need to overcome the bad reputation they inherited from their record-breaking number of yearly crashes. According to the Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre (JACDEC ), 827 passengers found death in a Russian aircraft between 2001 and 2011. In 2011, four airplanes crashes occurred in Russia between June and September only. Reacting to these events, the government made several statements and pointed out the lack of reliability of those planes that were all created and built during the soviet era. Safety has thus become a public stake as well as a key factor for reviving Russian aviation industry.
Sukhoi is the company that led the development of the SuperJet 100. The very first flights of its brand new aircraft were meant to be a strong selling case for the potential clients of Sukhoi. On the 9th of May 2012 though, a SuperJet 100 crashed in Indonesia during a display flight. A delegation composed of business man and officials thus perished some 20 minutes after the plane took off. Such a dramatic event also sent a very negative signal to the market of the SuperJet 100. The way for Russia to realize its hope seems full of pitfalls.
The SuperJet 100 came into service in June 2011 and only 6 of them had been delivered already when that crash happen in Indonesia. This terrible accident hit the heart Russian aviation strategic weaknesses. It also contradicted the ambition the Russian government supported for its national industry. In spite of 340 orders for the SuperJet 100, Sukhoi now must demonstrate the safety of its new planes to ensure its investments will not be discredited by the market.
Russian aviation industry is in the middle of reshaping its offer. It aims to conquer 10% of the world airplane market with new aircraft of its own conception. The government also supports the project and displayed its will to update both the technology and the safety standard. The SuperJet 100 was built with the help of international manufacturers and was soon enough certified and allowed to fly by the European Aviation Safety Agency. This plane is the first symbol of Russia’s new industrial politic. Despite the care and the ambition, the SuperJet 100 suffered in May 2012 a severe reputational damage. On the 9th of this month, one of this aircraft crashed in Indonesia and remembered to passengers, investors and buyers around the world the very reason this plane was made for. It is a real crisis for Sukhoï and whether or not it will overcome it is still to be determined.
