DUSHANBE, February 16, Asia-Plus — Specialists from China’s Xian Aircraft Company (XAC) are expected to arrive in Tajikistan next week to present their feeder liner MA-60, according to Tajik national air carrier TajikAir.
We will recall that Firouz Hamroyev, first deputy TajikAir director general, told journalists in Dushanbe on January 23 that XAC has offered Tajik national air two MA-60s for leasing. According to him, this issue was considered during the recent President Rahmonov’s visit to China.
TajikAir specialists are currently considering this proposal. If experts find this type plane economically efficient, TajikAir will lease two MA-60. According to experts, MA-60s could replace Russian type An-24s on the domestic flights and air routes from Dushanbe to Kabul and Bishkek.
MA-60 had its demonstration flight in Beijing in March 2000. MA-60 was developed and manufactured by XAC subordinated to China’s First Group of Aviation Industry in order to meet China’s market call for feeder liners. Designed with upper single wings, dual turbine engines, the short and medium haul feeder liner is the first of its kind in China. The liner is 24.708 meters long, 8.853 meters high, with a wingspan of 29.2 meters and 56 seats. According to information posted on XAC website, MA-60 has been proved to be safe, economical and comfortable. The price of the MA-60 stands only about two thirds of the aircraft of the same kind made by foreign manufactures. And the direct operation cost is 10 to 20 % lower. According to XAC, it is predicted that China will have a domestic market demand for 400 feeder liners in next 2 decades and great market perspectives are expected in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.
At present TajikAir has Soviet-era four TU-154Ms, one TU-154B, three TU-134s, three AN-24s, three AN-28s, two AN-26s and seven Yak-40s, as well as four helicopters Mi-8. TU-154B has outlived its service life and will be written off on February 21. According to specialists, the majority of the company’s planes will have outlived their usefulness by 2015.
