Russia approves MC-21 to carry 211 passengers

:: UAC

Russia’s new MC-21-300/310 medium-haul aircraft is now allowed to carry 211 passengers, it follows from the approval of the main change to the type certificate.

The necessary approval was issued by Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia on December 26. Previously, the yet-to-be-mass-built jet was allowed to carry maximum 175 or 26 less.

Before the approval was issued, tests on emergency evacuation of passengers and crew were conducted. The compliance of the aircraft with all airworthiness standards was confirmed, as well as the functioning of the MC-21 emergency rescue equipment.

In addition, the efficiency of cabin and flight crew training and the quality of the developed operational documentation were demonstrated, the aircraft manufacturer claims.

The approval issued by Rosaviatsia will allow to provide airlines with MC-21 featuring all layout variants, including the most capacious one, noted Andrey Boginsky, Deputy general director of the United Aircraft Corporation – General Director of PJSC “Yakovlev”.

Certification and the start of deliveries of the import-substituted version of Russia’s new MC-21 medium-haul aircraft are still scheduled for 2024. However, the first flight of the Russified version of MC-21-310RUS has already been shifted from 2023 to 2024.