S7 Technics to provide МС-21 maintenance

Russia's MC-21 is expected to start commercial operations in 2020 (Artyom Anikeev / Transport-Photo.com)

Russian MRO provider S7 Technics has been approved to service the country’s latest narrowbody development, the Irkut MC-21 jetliner. It is currently undergoing flight tests in the run-up to national certification.

S7 Technics’ Moscow base won the 2017 MC-21 maintenance tender, which also included UTG, Nord-Technik, Volga-Dnepr Technics Moscow, and Tulpar Technic as the bidders. All the details and terms of the contract have been agreed upon, Igor Panshin, who is responsible for planning and sales at S7 Technics, told ATO Show Observer: “The [document], which is currently undergoing internal approval at Irkut, stipulates the maintenance procedures for the MC-21’s airframe and onboard equipment; it implies long-term cooperation covering all aspects of line and base maintenance.”

Russia’s flag carrier Aeroflot, which is the MC-21 launch customer, expects to take the first delivery in two years from now.

Asked by the Show Observer whether this timeframe was enough for S7 Technics to build associated maintenance infrastructure for the brandnew type, Panshin had this to say: “The clock is ticking, so we really should start training our personnel, doing the paperwork, and auditing our documents right now, as well as preparing the equipment, providing the infrastructure, stocking our parts depots, proceeding with the certification and other activities.”

By Artyom Korenyako