RuAviation

Certification programme reaches 38.2% completion as flight testing continues

Russia’s MC-21-310 certification programme reached 115 completed flights out of a revised target of 301 by October 2026, according to figures presented at a government-level certification review. Meanwhile, Irkutsk Aviation Plant continued preparations for the next production aircraft, Aeroflot outlined plans to expand its order to 200 aircraft, and four development aircraft remained involved in the flight-test campaign.

On 8 October, a meeting of the aircraft certification working group took place at the Russian government’s Coordination Centre. The review covered the SJ-100, Il-114-300, Il-96-300 and MC-21-310 programmes. Representatives of the aircraft manufacturers reported on certification progress and measures to remove operational restrictions on the aircraft.

According to figures published by the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) following the meeting, the MC-21-310 had completed 115 of its 301 planned certification flights, representing 38.2% of the programme.

For comparison, Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov reported on 2 April that the aircraft had completed 68 of 232 planned flights, equivalent to 29.3% of the programme at that time. The number of completed flights therefore increased by 47 over the following six months, while the planned certification campaign expanded by 69 flights, from 232 to 301. The reported completion rate rose by 8.9 percentage points.

Rosaviatsiya head Dmitry Yadrov used the meeting to emphasise the need to maintain the certification schedule and minimise the risk of delays.

The introduction of the MC-21, SJ-100 and other Russian-built commercial aircraft is intended to support fleet renewal as imported aircraft age and approach the limits of their approved service lives. The new aircraft are also expected to help airlines maintain and develop their route networks, expand regional services and improve transport connectivity across Russia, particularly in the Arctic, Siberia and the Far East.

Irkutsk prepares third production MC-21 for flight testing

On 9 October, Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAZ), part of Yakovlev, transferred its third production MC-21-310, manufacturer serial number MS.0016, to the flight-test division.

The aircraft had completed fuel-tank leak-tightness checks. The next stage of ground testing is scheduled to assess the operation of the fuel system.

The second production aircraft, MS.0015, continued ground testing at the plant’s flight-test facility. Engineers were checking its onboard systems and engines. Flight testing was scheduled to begin by the end of October. MS.0016 is due to undergo a similar sequence of ground checks before entering the flight-test programme.

IAZ also planned to transfer the fourth production aircraft, MS.0017, to the flight-test facility for ground testing during October. The plant’s target is to have four production MC-21 aircraft at different stages of preparation for flight testing by the end of 2026.

Russia intends to complete certification of the MC-21 and SJ-100 in 2027 and begin delivering the first aircraft to airlines in the same year. First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov confirmed the target while addressing the Federation Council during a government question session.

Aeroflot plans to increase MC-21 order to 200 aircraft

Aeroflot is ready to begin preparations for a third contract covering 92 additional MC-21-310 aircraft. Chief Executive Officer Sergei Aleksandrovsky announced the intention during a meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

If concluded, the agreement would increase Aeroflot’s total planned MC-21 fleet to 200 aircraft.

The airline’s first contract covers 18 aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2027–2028. A second agreement, signed in 2026, covers another 90 aircraft, with deliveries planned for 2029–2032. The proposed third contract would add a further 92 aircraft.

Aleksandrovsky said that the expanded order would give Aeroflot a basis for long-term fleet procurement planning and help provide a more consistent production workload for the aircraft industry.

Aeroflot expects to receive its first MC-21 aircraft between September and December 2027. The airline has already developed a programme for introducing the type into commercial service. Staff training and other preparations for MC-21 operations are scheduled to begin in spring 2027.

Flight-test campaign: 30 flights completed in October

Four development aircraft participated in the MC-21 flight-test programme during October 2026: aircraft 73051 (MS.0001), 73054 (MS.0004), 73055 (MS.0012) and 73057 (MS.0013).

They completed 30 flights with a combined duration of 106 hours and 35 minutes.

At the beginning of the month, aircraft 73054 and 73057 operated from Syktyvkar Airport over Russia’s northern regions. The flights assessed the accuracy of aerodynamic parameter measurements across different airspeeds and altitudes.

Following their return to Zhukovsky, aircraft MS.0013 conducted further tests covering the automatic operating modes of the flight control system at different stages of flight. The test programme also included the automatic operating modes of the flight control system at different stages of flight, the cabin pressure control system, environmental control system, radio communications equipment and fire protection system.

Aircraft 73051 was used to evaluate radio altimeters and radio communications equipment. Engineers also measured the in-flight performance of the engine bleed-air extraction system.

Aircraft 73055 conducted flights to assess the software of the flight management system (FMS), weather radar and radio navigation equipment. The tests used representative en-route flight profiles.

First production aircraft completes preparations for transfer to Irkutsk

Following its ground-test programme, the first production MC-21, aircraft 73362 (MS.0014), was prepared for its transfer flight to Irkutsk.

Engineers updated the software of several onboard systems, including the wheel braking control system. The aircraft then performed high-speed runway runs to assess the updated system’s operation, followed by a 2.5-hour functional flight.

On 2 November, after completing the scheduled work at Yakovlev’s Flight Test and Development Centre in Zhukovsky, aircraft 73362 departed for the airfield at Irkutsk Aviation Plant.

IAZ plans to install the passenger cabin and associated cabin service systems, paint the aircraft and carry out any additional modifications required. Further software updates may also be implemented in response to findings from the certification flight-test programme.