Rosaviatsia allowed the MS-21 aircraft to carry 211 passengers – Kommersant

The Federal Air Transport Agency has cleared the aircraft (MOEX: SMLT) MS-21 to transport 211 passengers, the department reported in Telegram channel. Previously, the liner was allowed to carry no more than 175 passengers at a time.

“Before the approval of the main change to the type certificate was issued, tests were carried out on the emergency evacuation of passengers and crew members of the aircraft. The compliance of the aircraft with modern and future airworthiness standards was confirmed, as well as the functioning of the MS-21 emergency rescue equipment,” the statement said.

The tests were carried out on an aircraft with the most dense layout of the passenger cabin, as indicated in the material. The actual evacuation time for 211 passengers was 81.7 seconds. According to airworthiness standards, it should not exceed 90 seconds.

Aviaregister of Russia and the aviation certification center of the State Research Institute of Civil Aviation took part in the certification work. Deputy head of the department Andrei Dobryakov said that organizations subordinate to the Federal Air Transport Agency are working to further expand the parameters of the aircraft’s operation.

In January 2023, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia Denis Manturov flew on the MS-21, and also examined prototype of the wing of a “promising wide-body long-range aircraft.” Serial production of the MS-21 with a Russian wing and engine should be launched by 2025.

Read about the situation in the Russian aviation market in the material “Fitness and Prejudice” .

Petr Buzlaev