RuAviation

The Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia (Rosaviatsiya) has issued an airworthiness certificate for the RA60 passenger seats installed on the IL-114-300 regional turboprop. The certificate, dated February 20, 2026, covers a two-seat economy-class module and confirms compliance with the applicable qualification standards, according to the agency’s press release.

The certificate was formally presented to the developer, Aviation Interiors – Voronezh JSC, on March 25, 2026. The ceremony included Dmitry Kopysov, Head of Aircraft Certification, and Roman Ramazanov, the company’s CEO.

Testing verified that the RA60 seats meet airworthiness requirements for structural integrity, fire resistance, and passenger safety. Evaluation included dynamic loading under emergency landing conditions, material smoke and toxicity assessments, and evacuation performance checks. Certification was conducted in accordance with AP-25 standards, harmonized with international airworthiness regulations.

Seat approval is a mandatory element of the aircraft type certification process. The cabin interior is treated as a standalone subsystem, subject to validation alongside avionics, systems, and the propulsion unit. Without certified seating, completion of type certification and issuance of the aircraft type certificate is not possible.

Certification of the RA60 seats locks the cabin configuration, enabling final aircraft assembly and reducing the risk of late-stage modifications. For the IL-114-300 program, this milestone marks the transition from certification testing to pre-production preparation.

The aircraft is designed for regional operations with limited airport infrastructure, short runways, and a wide range of climatic conditions. In these environments, seats must withstand heightened requirements for durability, maintainability, and resistance to temperature and humidity variations. Seat weight also impacts fuel efficiency and payload capacity.

Production of the IL‑114‑300 cabin is carried out by Russian suppliers under the national import-substitution program. Domestic companies manufacture passenger seats, interior panels, and service modules. Certification of the RA60 completes approval of a key cabin element, mitigating supply chain and aftermarket risks previously dependent on foreign suppliers.

The IL-114-300 type certificate is expected in May 2026. Certification of the RA60 seats represents one of the final steps in the program and confirms the aircraft’s readiness for commercial passenger operations.