Domestic airlines could probably be interested in purchasing a large number of Tu-214 aircraft from the Kazan Aviation Plant (KAZ, part of Tupolev PJSC of Rostec), but a two-pilot crew is a fundamental issue for carriers. This issue can be resolved, but significant funds and time are required, explained Oleg Panteleev, Executive Director of the Aviaport agency and aviation expert, to "Perviy Technicheskiy".
He suggested that while airlines may be willing to take aircraft with a three-pilot cockpit in the short term, the problem needs to be eliminated by the end of the decade.
The issue is not only that a third crew member is an additional expense for the airline, but also that flight engineers need to be trained – this task cannot be solved immediately. The Tu-204SM had a two-pilot crew. In the context of the Tu-214, we are talking about conducting development work and subsequent certification. There is no doubt that this is technically possible. But we must realize that this task will take not months, or even a year.
Panteleev explained that funding is needed for such work. Tupolev does not have its own working capital for this, and airlines, as potential buyers, are not willing to allocate funds.
The priority for the state is the MC-21, not the Tu-214. So the issue is not the easiest to solve. As always, the question is money.
Aviation expert Roman Gusarov previously told "Perviy Technicheskiy" that KAZ is currently unable to produce Tu-214 aircraft in the required volume due to its outdated material and technical base. According to him, there is too much manual labor at the enterprise, and technically the aircraft is inferior to more modern counterparts, such as the MC-21-310 and SJ-100.
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