Olesia Safronova (UNIAN)
Oleksandr Kotsyuba in an
exclusive interview with UNIAN explained why Ukraine no longer produces
aircraft by a "Soviet" scheme, why Antonov design bureau withdrew
from cooperation with Russia and what opportunities our country can offer to
the market in the segment of commercial and civilian air transportation.
The State-owned Antonov
aircraft manufacturer opens a new chapter in its glorious history. A new team
of managers which strengthened the company a year ago is changing the
production policy. Today, Antonov is betting on new projects, young engineers,
and ambitious marketers who are ready not only to talk about the Ukrainian
aviation industry and its potential, but also to actually sell the Ukrainian
aircraft.
It is symbolic that the
Antonov’s staff chose to have a new say with renewed vigor, using their most
powerful "argument." In early May, the world’s largest aircraft
An-225 Mriya took off from Antonov’s home base, airfield Hostomel near Kyiv, to
Europe, then making a wide leap to Asia and Australia. Major media outlets were
closely following the Queen of Skies on route while every landing was
welcomed by tens of thousands of locals. In Australia, more than 50,000 people
drove to Perth airport to witness a special guest’s arrival. Antonov’s First
Vice President Oleksandr Kotsyuba has told UNIAN what this extraordinary flight
means for the company and what plans lie ahead if the state-owned enterprise.
For the third week in a row, our Mriya has been making
top news around the world. The plane was solemnly welcomed in Europe, then
Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Definitely, Antonov is on top agenda
today...
Mriya is an indisputable aviation
"star," "Queen of skies." That’s how our plane was dubbed
by the Australians. I won’t lie if I state that it is greeted warmly and
enthusiastically in all the airports across the world. For Antonov, Mriya is at
the same time the embodiment of our glorious past and our great future in
aircraft manufacturing. Now, on the eve of the significant date, the 70th
anniversary of Antonov, the hype surrounding her flight to Australia once again
reminded the world that the potential has not been lost, that our wings are
strong and we are able to amaze and surprise the world with our success.
So, is Ukraine finally changing the
strategy of its presence in the aviation market beginning the "aggressive
marketing," as Ukroboronprom’s CEO Roman Romanov announced recently?
Aircraft manufacturing is the area of
national interests of any state. Previously, we were only executors of Soviet
state orders. Accordingly, the role of marketing was performed by the State,
and we did not need to think about the number of aircraft the Soviet Union
sells abroad, and to what customers. Now the situation has changed. We know how
to make good, competitive aircraft. It is necessary to ensure effective
promotion. That is what we are doing now.
For me, the least we can do within the
concept of "aggressive marketing" is pure popularization of our
company. Mriya has given us a great impetus.
Is Antonov ready to make use of this
impetus and satisfy the interest of investors? What are you willing to offer
the world and specific customers?
We can offer the customers a transport
aircraft with a capacity between 2.5 tonnes to 250 tonnes, regional passenger
aircraft in the niche of up to 100 seats, and special purpose planes. Among the
innovations is our An-132, a light cargo plane, a very promising aircraft
that we are creating along with partners from Saudi Arabia.
An-178 cargo aircraft is now undergoing
flight tests, and in its niche has virtually no competitors. Speaking of
commerce, An-178 is generally a unique plane. She has all the characteristics
of Antonov aircraft - simplicity in operation, service, and the ability to take
off and land on unprepared airfields.
Besides, An-178 and An-132 are both
Antonov-made aircraft but equipped with western avionics and engines from
global giant Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Was it a deliberate choice to quit
decades-long cooperation with Russia?
The company is going through a critical
period. We will no longer build planes by a "Soviet" scheme. This is
not only due to geopolitical factors, but also the economic ones. It is more
feasible to build new aircraft with upgraded “guts,” with new partners who have
wider product offers and a service network. A year ago, we launched the process
of import diversification of components we once purchased from Russia, changing
them to the Ukrainian-made western products. Today, this work is 80% complete.
The problem is not in just, say, changing
a toggle switch. We need to change everything and integrate it with the rest of
the airplane systems, make the necessary changes in the documentation, test and
certify it. This is not easy, but it’s our conscious decision. We refused to
cooperate with Russia, and reoriented to work with other countries. And we
should have long done it.
And
what about mass production of An-132 and An-178? Will you be able to set it up
quickly and effectively?
Yes, the new aircraft will be manufactured
in a series. Along with the construction of an An-132 demonstrator and test
flights of An-178, we have been preparing for mass manufacturing.
The current situation is unique as our
aircraft will be different – equipped with new engines, new modern avionics,
but structurally they will be real Antonov aircraft with all their features and
quality that have been highly acclaimed across the world for 70 years.
Can we say that Antonov has overcome the
crisis of 2013-2014, when nothing was being manufactured? What are the financial and
operational indices you can post today?
Perhaps “crisis” is not the right word. If
we pay attention to what's going on in the aircraft market in general, I would
not call our situation a crisis. The plant never halted operations and never
stopped manufacturing planes, even in the most difficult times for the country.
Salaries were paid, production was maintained, and orders were received.
Take Russia… Only the Sukhoi bureau
remains afloat, and that’s only due to the military contracts. Despite all
obstacles, we have managed to keep the entire intellectual potential, about
13,000 people still work at the plant.
Undoubtedly, the company saw better times.
But this day is full of both complexities and opportunities. With the proper
attention of the state, we have every opportunity to promote our product.
Does your company face reorganization or
staff optimization?
Businessmen often say: “If you don’t know
what to do, grab a calculator.” Global restructuring is not expected. We
are loaded, we have a leader appointed, there’s a team of key managers for different
directions of our business, we understand that company needs and where we
need to focus our main effort. The decisions on reorganization will be made
based on this.
Ahead of the May holidays, Antonov and
Ukroboronprom signed several important memorandums with the Indian company
Reliance ADA Group to participate in the tender for the production and sale of
200 civilian aircraft for India. At what stage is this project today?
Our cooperation with India dates back to
the 1970s when Indira Gandhi’s government purchased over 100 An-32’s. These
aircraft have been operating in India ever since.
With Reliance Defence Ltd. We have signed
memorandums on cooperation in providing for the tender the projects of An-148
and An-158 passenger planes. The tender will be held by an Indian corporation
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. They are interested in the production of
passenger aircraft, and in the future – of cargo planes (here we can offer our
An-178). Our strong side is the planes with different functions on a single
platform. The distribution will be determined by an agreement between the
parties.
When
is the tender expected to be held?
The procedures will begin this summer.
Reliance ADA Group was also interested in
our military cargo planes. In particular, they admired An-178...
Yes, this is true. But at the moment, we
are talking about cooperation on the An 148/158 program. In the future, we will
also discuss An-178.
At the same time, I’d also like to remind
you of a well-known fact that the sale of aircraft is traditionally the
business of presidents. Why? Because the plane is an expensive, high-tech
product, this means broad international cooperation. The conclusion of the
contract is a project that involves the use of various financial instruments;
it is a long negotiation process. To sell the plane, you need to take certain
steps - sign memorandums, letters of intent, harmonize technical
specifications, and only then you come to the conclusion of contracts.
In other words, Antonov needs state
support...
We are already feeling this support. It is
clear that today, the main resources are used to help the army. However, at the
state level, there is an understanding that the aviation industry should be
maintained and developed. The president of Ukraine flies on our An-148. This
aircraft is part of the Presidential Squadron and is being used rather
actively.
We are working closely with the Ministry
of Defense on the modernization of the military aircraft and forming orders for
new aircraft.
Today, Antonov is actively restoring its
transport aircraft, which for years has stood idle. Is this your new word in
using the transport capacity of your company, the second breath of Antonov
Airlines?
Our planes are not idle – they work. We
constantly upgrade and maintain airworthiness of aircraft of Antonov Airlines.
Restoration of the legendary An-22 Antey, the world's first wide-body aircraft,
is dictated by the request of commercial transport market. There is a real
demand for this aircraft, and it is going to stand in line next to An-124
Ruslan and An-225 Mriya.
How
high is the demand for the services of Antonov Airlines in air transportation?
We were and still are the world leaders in
the transportation of super heavy and oversized cargo. No wonder the motto of
our airline is "No one can carry more."
It can be anything when you want to carry
cargo in containers or pallets, but when it comes to the transport of tanks,
helicopters, cars, turbines, generators - this is only An's. For example, Mriya
has delivered to Australia a generator weighing 130 tonnes. No other air
carrier would tackle this challenge.
That is, Boeing and Airbus with their
cargo planes Dreamlifter and Beluga are not your competitors, are they?
No, they have never been our competitors.
In the segment of heavy and oversized cargo we have no equals. And that is an
objective statement. The features that were laid in the design of Ruslan and
Mriya have not yet been surpassed by anyone. So many years have passed, but no
one has made anything better.
How do you see Antonov in five years?
I see a company as a mass manufacturer of
modern aircraft of the family of An-148/An-158, An-178, and An-132.
Is An-70 project included in this list?
An-70 is a unique aircraft; that’s our
pride. She is in many ways superior to its competitors, including the European
A400M. It is recognized by many international experts. An-70 must be mass
manufactured. The aircraft are adopted by the Ukrainian armed forces –
Antonov’s legendary “Seventy” is yet to show its skills!
In July, you plan to visit London’s
Farnborough Air Show, and you'll bring along your An-178. What do you plan to
bring back from the UK?
The whole aviation world is focused on the
participants of such airshows as Farnborough (UK) and Le Bourget (France). This
is no exaggeration. As soon as the British announced participation and demo
flights of An-178, we already saw a new wave of interest in our aircraft.
Participation in exhibitions of such level is another important element in our
marketing plan and sales concept. The world is already familiar with the
An-178, so we are expecting to sign specific deals at Farnborough. We remain very optimistic.
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