The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) took delivery Wednesday of the first two of three Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100LR aircraft it has ordered.

Air force commander ACM Tritos Sonchaeng said more than 300 aircraft of this model are being used by several countries and they are unlikely to cause the air force any logistics problems.

The new aircraft are assigned to Squadron 603 of Wing 6 in Don Muang while the other Sukhoi Superjet is scheduled to arrive in the next two years, ACM Tritos said.

The air force aims to use the 1.1-billion-baht aircraft for transportation purposes.

The same model is used elsewhere for commercial flights, he said.

"This won't be a problem for us in terms of logistics as the air force has already sent its Airbus pilots to train on the Sukhoi Superjet," ACM Tritos said.

The fact this is the first time the air force has turned to a Russian-made aircraft "wouldn't be a problem either" because this model of aircraft is similar to the Airbus, he said.

Ninety per cent of pilots flying Airbus 320 and 319 aircraft can switch to flying the Sukhoi Superjet 100 because these particular models of Airbus aircraft are almost identical to the Sukhoi Superjet 100, he said.

Airbus pilots would still be required to undergo a proper training course using flight simulators, he said, adding it is standard air force practice for getting its pilots familiar with new aircraft.

He also downplayed concerns over a recent accident in Indonesia in which a Sukhoi Superjet crashed into a mountain, saying such accidents can stem from several factors and cannot be blamed on the aircraft model alone. 

The air force also wants to replace six Avro aircraft that have been in use for almost 50 years with Sukhoi Superjets, he said.

The air force's C-130 aircraft have only five years until they are decommissioned for safety reasons, ACM Tritos said, adding that although the C-130 aircraft have always been well maintained, they have been in service for more than 40 years. 

A study is being conducted to find out what aircraft should replace the old C-130 and the C-130J model could be an option; the problem is its high price tag, he said.

Asked if the air force is considering buying fighter jets from Russia as well, he said the air force now mainly relies on the Gripen as the F-16 jets are being upgraded.

He said T-50TH aircraft, which are made by South Korea, will arrive next.

Any new fighter jet procurement plan will be considered when a budget is available, he said.

Meanwhile, ACM Tritos said the Prime Minister's Office has set aside 1.7 billion baht to fund its plan to purchase an Airbus 340 from Thai Airways International to be used as a VIP aircraft for long-haul flight.

The aircraft is expected to be delivered to the office in October.

 ACM Tritos said the air force will maintain and operate the Airbus for the PM's Office.

Some seats of the Airbus will be converted to first-class standards for VIP travel, he said.

The purchase of this aircraft is part of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's policy for the PM's Office to have aircraft at its disposal that can handle flights covering all ranges from short-haul to long-haul, ACM Tritos said. 

Source:
courtesy of BANGKOK POST

by WASSANA NANUAM

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