IL-114 Program
At the beginning of the 1980s the Experimental Design Bureau n/a S.V. Ilyushin evaluated the development trends in passenger aviation and studied more than 30-years of operational experience of the IL-14 aircraft and its various modifications. Finally, the experts proposed to develop a new passenger airplane for the domestic airlines – IL-114. The development of the Ilyushin-114, designed to replace the An-24 began in 1984-85. The Ministry of Aviation of the USSR approved that proposal and in spite of the works led by the ILYUSHIN team on the IL-96-300 airplane, development of the IL-114 airplane was launched. The first of three test aircraft took off March 29, 1990.
In early 1995, Prime Minister Utkur Sultanov requested U.S. Government assistance in transforming the Tashkent Aircraft Production Association named after Chkalov (TAPO) from a public sector military enterprise into a viable private sector commercial enterprise. In response, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) approved two Technical Assistance Grants, in the amounts of U.S.$1,000,000 and $600,000 respectively, to partially fund the cost of goods and services required to facilitate the development and sale of TAPO manufactured aircraft on commercial terms. Activity under the first Grant was successfully completed in September 1997 with the identification of the sales/lease of up to ten Ilyushin 114 aircraft with Pratt & Whitney engines to Uzbekistan Airways. The implementation of a financial structure to accommodate the sales/lease of these ten aircraft was initially defined as the scope of work for the second grant. At the request of the National Bank of Uzbekistan (NBU) and TAPO, the scope was expanded to include other CIS based airlines.
On May 29, 1998, the U.S. Government, acting through the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, acting through the Department of Investment Program, signed the second grant for $600,000 in Istanbul, Turkey, at the TDA sponsored 'Crossroads of the world' conference. Success of the TDA funded program would result in a significant increase in orders for TAPO manufactured aircraft, and resultant employment benefits - both within Uzbekistan and the United States.
According to TAPO's marketing specialists, in excess of 300 Il-114 aircraft could be placed in service within the next ten years subject to the availability of financing. Through the funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, training grants, conferences, and various forms of technical assistance, TDA enables American businesses to become involved in the planning stages of infrastructure and industrial projects in middle-income and developing countries. By doing this, the Agency provides American firms with market entry, exposure, and information, helping them establish a position in markets that are otherwise difficult to penetrate.
On June 17, 1998 Vadim P. Kucherov, General Director of the Tashkent Aircraft Production Association (TAPO) signed the Prime Contractor's Contract with Emerging Markets Finance Corporation (EMFC), at the American Business Center in Tashkent. EMFC, U.S. based project consultancy firm specializing in CIS aviation projects, will coordinate the activities of Pratt & Whitney Canada, AlliedSignal Aerospace, Price Waterhouse, UzinvestProject and Uzavialeasing in formulating and implementing a financial structure to accommodate the sale/lease of the TAPO manufactured Il-114 aircraft within the CIS and abroad.
The Il-114 was certified in 1997. It is rightly regarded as one of the most advanced aircraft in the Russian Federation. However, until recently only two such airliners existed that were used by the Vyborg airline. The situation was a matter of much concern. After such a spectacular flight, however, the Il-114 appears to have a bright future. In 2002, the Vyborg airline began operating 64-seat Ilyushin Il-114 aircraft manufactured by the Tashkent TAPO plant. However, this airline failed to build a position in the regularly-scheduled market, where Il-114 could be operated.
Uzbekistan has agreed to accept the the Chkalov Aircraft Building Corporation based in Tashkent as a partner in the United Aircraft Building Corporation. It includes components of the IL-76 but, above all, there is the very promising IL-114 turbo propeller, which can also be used for transportation.
In July 2006 Russian companies producing the “IL-114-100” planes signed an agreement on the supplies of 30 “IL-114-100” planes. The cost of each one of them is equivalent to 10.5 million dollars. This was announced at the international aerospace fair in London’s suburb Farnborough. Russia is represented there by more than 60 enterprises. More than 1,500 firms from 35 countries have put on show their models at the airspace fair in Farnborough.
MAKS-2007 air show was an opportunity for the Russian market to increase its Il-114 fleet size. At this major Russian aerospace show, two new domestic carriers — Otkrytoe Nebo and Kontinent — signed an agreement with Ilyushin Corp. for the delivery 96 Il-114 aircraft and Il-112 freighters. However, there are concerns that the TAPO facility will not be able to complete this order due to a lack of qualified production personnel, making the Il-114's prospects unclear.
A draft decision in the first session of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan. It involves the supply to the Russian airline market a family of 30 regional aircraft IL-114 and to take all necessary actions related to certification of the new re-modification of aircraft IL-114-300 training aircraft technicians and the corporate service new technology. Construction of the first new aircraft type IL-114-300 was to be completed in 2007. Bundling the first three aircraft at the expense of its own funds CJSC «TEHNOSPETSSTAL-ENGINEERING» and OAO «AviaBalt», as well as by attracting bank loans. Certification of the aircraft IL-114-300 will be funded from the budget within the Russian federal program «Development of civil aviation technologies by 2015» and be completed in April 2008. Delivery of aircraft carriers planned for the financial or operational leasing, as well as through direct sales.
