OREANDA-NEWS. October 26, 2012. On 16-18th of October the 4th flight-technical conference devoted to continued airworthiness of Il-96 and Tu-204 aircrafts, operated by Cuban airline "Cubana de Aviacion" was held in Havana (Cuba). Among the organizers of the conference there were OJSC "United Engine Building Corporation", leasing company OJSC   "Ilyushin Finance Co." (IFC), Civil Aviation Institution of the Republic of Cuba, and an airline "Cubana de Aviacion".

All in all 97 representatives of the leading aviation companies of Russia took part in the conference: OJSC "Tupolev", OJSC "Il", OJSC "VASO", OJSC "KAZAN AVIATION PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION N.A. S.P. GORBUNOV", CJSC "Aviastar-SP", and representatives of some enterprises, supplying assembly units for Il-96 and Tu-204 aircrafts.  On behalf of Perm engine builders Alexey Mikhalev, "Perm Engine Company" CEO and Mikhail Kedalo, Deputy Head of Customer Support Department of OJSC "PMZ" addressed the conference.  Cuban party was presented by Ramon Martines Achavarria, the President of Civil Aviation Institution of the Republic of Cuba, Ricardo Santilyan Miranda, the VIce-president, and by the leaders and technical specialists of "Cubana de Aviacion" airline.

On the first day of work the participants divided themselves into three groups - "Il-96 aircrafts", "Tu-20 aircrafts" and "PS-90A" engines - to discuss the current problems of operation of the equipment supplied to Cuba, and also the plan of future measures for its improving. The second day was devoted to the practical work in the air sheds, repair sites and airfield.  The delegates of the conference shared their experience on operation of the equipment and suggested the variants of solving the problems, having demonstrated it directly on the patterns operated. In particular, Mikhail Kedalo, Deputy Head of Customer Support Department of OJSC ‘PMZ", presented special equipment and a new method of checking the PS-90A engine gear box  working capacity. Also, the absence of the defects on these components of the engines, used in Cuba, was confirmed.    

The summary of the conference was done on the third day. The participants signed the protocol, comprising approximately 100 items, 9 of which pertained  to the operation of engines.  Realization of the protocol will be the subject of cooperative work of Cuban operators and Russian developers and manufacturers within the future year.     

Alexey Mikhalev, "Perm Engine Company" CEO:

- The work done during the conference was very fruitful for "Perm Engine Company", and it will allow developing the agreements achieved. Among the main results of the summit we can emphasize signing of the protocol between "Cubana de Aviacion" airline and OJSC "Perm Engine Company".   The subject of the protocol is modernization of the currently operating PS-90A engines to the most modern and reliable modification - PS-90AZu. Furthermore, the terms of payments due to the current contract with "PMZ" up to the end of 2012 were determined and approved, and the effect of the contract was extended for 2013. 

Ricardo Santilyan Miranda, the Vice-president of Civil Aviation Institution of the Republic of Cuba, and the head of "Cubana de Aviacion" airline highly estimated our work on improving PS-90A performance and increasing the efficiency of their maintenance.  We have inspected the repair site of Cuban company and agreed that already in November it would be finally prepared for operational restoration of PS-90A engines by replacement of individual modules. As a whole, the positive experience of arranging the maintenance of Russian aviation equipment, supplied to Cuba, serves as one of the most important factors, influencing the further development of the supply of our national aircrafts to the countries of Latin America.     

"Perm Engine Company" OJSC is a serial manufacturer of aircraft engines for civil and military application and gas turbines for power generation and gas transport.

"PMZ" OJSC is included into "United Engine Building Corporation"- 100% specialized subsidiary of OJSC "UIC "OBORONPROM" for engine building companies assets management. 

"UIC "OBORONPROM" OJSC is a multi-profile machine-building group founded in 2002. It is included into the State Company "Russian Technologies". The primary businesses: helicopter building (OJSC "Russian Helicopters"), engine building (MC "UEC") and others.