Russia wants to extend the service life of Soviet-era aircraft to 50 years
Russian authorities plan to extend the service life of the An-28 aircraft—designed during the Soviet era—from 40 to 50 years. To this end, they have commissioned the necessary certification work.
The work was commissioned by the State Research Institute of Civil Aviation, which is subordinate to Rosaviatsia.
The contract is worth over 6 million rubles and is to be completed no later than December 15, 2028.
Information about the company that will carry out the work has not been disclosed.
The An-28 is a multi-purpose light aircraft designed for use by regional airlines. It can carry up to 18 passengers, cargo with a total weight of up to 1,750 kg, and mail.
In addition to passenger and cargo transport, the aircraft is used for patrols, geological exploration, and search-and-rescue operations.
The An-28 made its first flight in 1973, and its serial production began in 1983 in Poland. Production of the aircraft continued until 1997.
According to the Rosaviatsia registry, there are currently six An-28 aircraft in operation in the Russian Federation.
They are operated by two Russian airlines—Siberian Light Aviation (SiLA) and Aviation Search and Rescue.
Thus, the Russian aviation industry plans to extend the service life of the An-28 aircraft to half a century, despite the fact that these aircraft were designed back in the Soviet era.
This has been reported by Russian media.
Earlier, Poland began preparing a lawsuit against Russia demanding reparations for crimes committed during the Soviet era. The initiative is being carried out at the behest of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
