DUSHANBE, January 23, Asia-Plus – China’s State Aircraft Industry Company has offered Tajikistan’s State Air Company TajikAir two MA-60s for leasing, Firouz Hamroyev, first deputy TajikAir director general, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 23.
According to him, this issue was considered during the recent President Rahmonov’s visit to China. “Tajik air carrier director general Hokimsho Tilloyev visited the plant of China’s State Aircraft Industry Company in Beijing and held talks with the company’s tom managers,” Hamroyev said, noting that Tajik specialists are currently considering this proposal.
“If our exerts find this type plane economically efficient, we will accept the proposal,” the air carrier official said.
Speaking to journalists, the TajikAir technical director Valery Sharipov said, “MA-60s could replace Russian type An-24s on the domestic flights and air routes from Dushanbe to Kabul and Bishkek.”
According to information posted on CHINAdaily site, MA-60, a regional aircraft, is newly developed and manufactured by China”s Xi”an Aircraft Industry Company. The company fully owns the Intellectual Property Right of the aircraft. With 60 seats, the regional plane has been proved to be safe, economical and comfortable. China hopes the new type of aircraft can find its place in the international market.
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. Zimbabwe is the first to buy the China-made regional aircraft. The country signed the purchase agreement with China National Aero-Tech import & Export Corporation to buy two MA-60s in last November and is confident in the performance and operation of the airplane.
During the news conference it was noted that 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.
According to Valery Sharipov, TU-154B will outlive its service life already in February. “The aircraft will be written off because major repair to it may come to $1 million,” Sharipov said, adding that the majority of the company’s planes will have outlived their usefulness by 2015.
