The fleet of heavy transport aircraft An-124-100 Ruslan as of the current moment can be operated for another 10-18 years, Deputy Director of the air transport company of the Antonov State Enterprise for aircraft maintenance and airworthiness support Maksym Sanotsky has said.
“Today, the entire fleet of An-124-100 aircraft can be operated for another 10 to 18 years and this is only now. And this program will expand. Strength tests of the structure of this aircraft are underway. And I hope that the life of not only An-124-100, but all Antonov aircraft will be extended,” he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday.
He said that the management of the Antonov State Enterprise very closely monitors compliance with the requirements of European and U.S. industry regulators.
According to Sanotsky, precision navigation systems have already been installed on the Ruslan aircraft. Radar equipment, life support systems, as well as chassis and other mechanical systems are being changed.
He also said that now Antonov can install modernized D-18T engines of the 3M series with an extended service life on its aircraft.
“We expect that the modernization program will be completed in five or six years. And all An-124 aircraft will be the same,” Sanotsky said.
