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MILITARY AIRCRAFT MAKERS TO HELP COMMERCIAL COLLEAGUES TO SQUARE AWAY

RIA Novosti

ZHUKOVSKY (Moscow Region), February 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin suggests the advances made by military aircraft manufacturers should be used to the benefit of the whole aircraft industry.

"We should use the achievements made by the military aircraft makers to the benefit of the whole aircraft industry. We should make up our mind, on which global aircraft market segment we should focus our resources and, in the long run, get a niche to produce good results," the Russian president told the meeting of the State Council's presidium, dedicated to the problems faced by the aircraft industry.

Mr. Putin touched upon where it hurts, mentioning the personnel drain, equipment wear and, hence, loss of the technological edge.

"Equipment keeps on wearing down, personnel drain continues, professional skill deterioration persists and, which is the worst, the technological edge is getting blunt both in terms of production and designing," he said.

According to the president, the cause of the problems is that the aircraft industry has had no up-to-date management and efficient economic tools capable of ensuring smooth operation and investment appeal of the industry.

Mr. Putin voiced his concern about the conflict between factional and national interests within the industry and underlined alarming negative trends, first of all, the deteriorating competitiveness of commercial aircraft.

"Their low attractiveness and lack of compliance with the international level of comfort are obvious, which by no means contributes to consolidating our positions on the global market, including such a familiar one as that of CIS," the president said.

According to him, today's consumer at the same time opts for "the most advanced, safe and comfortable aircraft" and the most beneficial terms of maintenance.

"If we are serious about making Russian-built aircraft in demand again, domestic manufacturers should meet these rather stringent requirements," Mr. Putin said.