RuAviation

At the meeting of the Technical Committee of the United Aircraft Corporation the concept of an in-line assembly line for MC-21 aircraft pylons was considered and unanimously approved within the framework of the project of the Centre of Specialisation Pylons at the Voronezh Aviation Plant (VASO). This was reported in the press service of UAC.

Apart from UAC and VASO specialists, representatives of Yakovlev and Ilyushin also took part in the discussion of the concept implementation The project of the flow line was developed by the department of the chief technologist of VASO, and sets several tasks. Firstly, optimisation of the directive technology of assembly of pylon units in accordance with the future flow line. Secondly, design of high-tech assembly equipment that will ensure high product quality and reduce the duration of assembly processes.

Maxim Kuznetsov, Chief Technologist of VASO, shared his opinion on the concept before the members of the UAC Technical Committee. He stressed that the concept is an important part of the specialisation centre project. According to the plans, by 2025 it is expected to produce 32 sets of pylons, and by 2027 – 72 sets, which will completely cover the Irkutsk aircraft plant’s demand for this unit for the assembly of MC-21 aircraft.

Now VASO engineers have a task to work out the concept in detail as part of the development of the project’s terms of reference. Members of the UAC Technical Committee noted that the requirement to produce pylon sets for 72 aircraft with a cycle time of three working days will be achieved through the implementation of measures to reduce the labour intensity of technological operations at workplaces.
Simultaneously with this project, UAC’s Pylons Specialisation Centre in Voronezh is addressing similar issues of modernising the production of pylons for IL-96, IL-76 and their modifications. This will allow the company to improve production processes and increase efficiency.

Realisation of the concept of in-line assembly line for MC-21 pylons will reduce production time, improve product quality and increase productivity. Thus, UAC will be able to meet the step-by-step expansion of MC-21 aircraft production and fulfil its obligations under the Comprehensive Programme for the Development of the Aviation Industry until 2030.

The MC-21 development programme is carried out in a broad cooperation of Russian enterprises. Back in 2015, VASO manufactured the first pylon and nacelle for testing the PD-14 engine on the IL-76 flying laboratory by order of ODK-Perm Motors. Now Voronezh produces hatches from polymer-composite materials, flap rail fairing, pylons, nacelles for PD-14 engines, landing gear flaps, wing-fuselage fairing, composite parts of nose and tail parts of vertical and horizontal plumage. Overall, the share of Voronezh parts in the MC-21 jetliner reaches 12 per cent.