Aviation expert SkyExpert proposed discussing the possibility of creating a passenger version of the Il-96-300 with four PD-14 engines. According to his assessment, while the development of more powerful power plants of the PD family remains a prospect, such an option deserves separate consideration. Conceptually, a four-engine airliner could become a Russian analogue of the Airbus A340 — an aircraft with a similar overall architecture.

The idea is supported by the unification of engines with other Russian aircraft and the availability of an already created Il-96-300 airframe. This would allow relying on the existing design, rather than starting the development of a wide-body airliner from scratch. At the same time, the economics of the project will depend not only on the price of the aircraft, but also on the cost of modification, production, and subsequent operation.

However, the installation of PD-14 will require separate engineering development. It is necessary to check whether the engines can be placed on the existing wing, evaluate changes in design and aerodynamics, and undergo the necessary tests and certification. Among other issues are the transition to a two-person cockpit and reducing the aircraft's weight.

A separate problem is the production capabilities of the Voronezh Aircraft Plant VASO. To transition from piece-by-piece assembly of the Il-96 to mass production, investments in equipment, technological processes, and supplier cooperation will be required. Even a technically feasible modernization does not guarantee that airlines will receive an aircraft with an acceptable acquisition and operating cost.

Therefore, the discussion concerns not only the choice of engine. For the Il-96 to attract commercial carriers, it is necessary to simultaneously resolve issues of the power plant, factory productivity, delivery times, and operating economics. SkyExpert suggests considering the four-engine Il-96-300 as one of the possible paths for the development of domestic wide-body aviation.