Laotian aviation authorities green-light use of SSJ-100
MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) - The Russian-built Sukhoi SuperJet-100, or SSJ-100, has been certified by Laos, allowing the aircraft to be flown by the country's airlines without restriction, a press release issued by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCA) says.
"On December 19, 2012, the civil aviation department of the Laotian Ministry of Public Works and Transport validated a certificate of a type for the Sukhoi SuperJet-100 (model RRJ-95B) aircraft," the release says.
"We are pleased that the Sukhoi SuperJet-100 is receiving recognition in the countries of Southeast Asia. CJSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft is now fully ready to deliver the plane to the Lao People's Democratic Republic," SCA First Vice President for design and certification Igor Vinogradov is quoted in the release as saying.
In March of last year, the Laotian airline Lao Central (formerly Phongsavanh) and SCA inked a contract for three SSJ-100s. The first airliner is expected to be delivered early next year.
The aircraft received AP MAK certification in January of 2011 and EASA certification this past February. In April, the Mexican aviation authorities validated SSJ-100 certification, as did their counterparts in Indonesia last month.
