RuAviation

The Arkhangelsk region may become one of the first areas in Russia to operate the IL-114-300 regional turboprop. The aircraft’s potential deployment was discussed during a visit to the Lukhovitsy Aviation Plant named after P. A. Voronin by Governor Alexander Tsybulsky, Flight Director Kirill Myzdrikov of the 2nd Arkhangelsk United Aviation Squadron, and officials from the regional Ministry of Transport, according to the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).

IL Corporation CEO Daniil Brenerman presented the delegation with two prototype IL-114-300 aircraft (tail numbers 54115 and 54116) and outlined the upcoming certification flight program. One of the aircraft will soon be sent to Arkhangelsk for natural icing flight tests. Operations will be conducted from Talagi Airport as part of a program to expand the aircraft’s operational envelope.

Myzdrikov noted that the regional operator is considering the IL-114-300 for routes from Arkhangelsk to Murmansk, Naryan-Mar, Petrozavodsk, and Saint Petersburg, as well as several local destinations, including Novaya Zemlya, the Solovetsky Islands, and Kotlas. Some routes experience strong seasonal demand and require a higher passenger capacity than currently available regional aircraft. Testing in Arkhangelsk will allow crews to familiarize themselves with aircraft operations and assess system performance at northern airfields.

Brenerman recalled that the IL-114-300 previously underwent cold-weather testing in Yakutsk, which validated the performance of onboard systems in extreme Arctic conditions. The Arkhangelsk phase will further confirm the effectiveness of anti-icing systems and the aircraft’s resilience to atmospheric icing.

Chief Designer Mikhail Alekseev emphasized that the IL-114-300 is designed for short- and medium-haul routes and can operate from airports with limited infrastructure. Most maintenance can be performed from ground level. “Platforms are only needed for engine service because the propellers are large, requiring the engine to be mounted higher,” he explained.

Talagi Airport is already hosting certification flights for prototype MS-21-310 (73057) and SJ-100 (97023), which arrived on March 14 and 13, respectively. The region and the White Sea coast will thus serve as a testing ground for three new Russian passenger aircraft types simultaneously.