Russian jets could stop flying for lack of western parts

The main modern Russian passenger plane may be on the ground soon, and because of sanctions imposed by the West. The information was provided by Igor Kobzev, director of Russian airline IrAero Airlines, a Siberian company based in Irkutsk.

According to the executive, given the sanctions imposed by the West, it will not be possible to guarantee the maintenance of the PowerJet SaM146 engines, which equip the Sukhoi Superjet 100 jet, the main Russian commercial jet of the 21st century, which despite low sales, is one of the few that managed to “break the stigma” and get clients outside Russia’s sphere of influence for a time.

The SaM146 engine is developed by French Snecma-Safran, together with Russian NPO Saturn. It is based on the proven CFM56 engine, which is the most popular of Western commercial jet engines, widely used in many Airbus A320s and unique to the market-leading Boeing 737 Classic and Next Generation.

The CFM56 itself is another joint venture, but by Safran and the American company General Electric.

The executive’s statement was read by the Russian newspaper RBC, which obtained a copy of the letter sent to the governor of Irkutsk, warning of the possible stop of the jets as early as next autumn (which begins in September).

Kobzev’s suggestion is that the Russian government authorize Rostec, Russia’s state-owned aviation and defense company, to maintain the engines as well as produce replacement parts.

Another option proposed by Russia itself is the replacement of the Franco-Russian engines with a 100% national one, which is already being tested but will not be put into operation in time for the autumn.