10:39 18.03.2026
Testing three new Russian aircraft in the Arkhangelsk Region
© Courtesy of the press service of the Governor and the Government of the Arkhangelsk Region
Two medium-range aircraft, a Sukhoi Superjet 100 and an MC-21, as well as a short-range Ilyushin Il-114-300, arrived at Talagi airport where their de-icing systems will be tested, as per the regional press service.
“The severe Arctic environment is the best way to test the reliability of equipment and its readiness to operate in adverse climatic zones. Russian engineers are proud of the Il-114-300 whose capabilities were evaluated last week. The custom-made regional airliner is fully made of Russian components and comes as an ideal solution for the North,” Arkhangelsk Region Governor Alexander Tsibulsky noted in his social media posts.
According to Ilyushin Co. Chief Designer Mikhail Alekseyev, the tests involve technicians, engineers and test pilots.
“The aircraft features additional specialized equipment, and specialists will accumulate and remove ice layers. Our objective is to confirm once again that the plane can operate successfully in the severe Arctic conditions,” he explained.
Earlier, a similar aircraft performed brilliantly in conditions of India and Yakutsk; experts had no misgivings about servicing the airliner in subzero temperatures there, Mikhail Alekseyev noted.
“This purely regional aircraft has its own power-plant and ramp. Actually, it does not have to be maintained by airport personnel. Minimal runway requirements are also stipulated, and it can even operate from dirt runway surface of airfields,” the chief designer said.
Minister of Transport of the Arkhangelsk Region Sergei Rodnev noted that the region was interested in these aircraft.
“We have been waiting for such an aircraft for quite a while. It boasts a good performance and specifications and accommodates up to 66 passengers. All three aircraft types are fuel-efficient, and this will positively influence air ticket prices. These aircraft will be expected to replace Antonov An-26 and An-24 and L-410 airliners on intra-regional routes; they will fly to Kotlas, Solovki and Novaya Zemlya,” Sergei Rodnev noted.
There are also plans to deploy the Il-114-300 passenger airliner on inter-regional routes; it will fly to Murmansk, St. Petersburg and Petrozavodsk.
