Russian-French manufacturer halts SSJ100 engine servicing and repair - source
MOSCOW. March 30 (Interfax) - PowerJet, the Russian-French company that produces the produces the SaM146 for the Superjet 100, has stopped servicing and repairs for the engines due to sanctions, a source close to the aviation industry told Interfax.
PowerJet, which is registered in France and is half-owned by Safran Aircraft Engines and half by the state Rostec corporation's UEC-Saturn, informed partners in Russia about the suspension of contractual obligations back in February, after restrictions imposed by the European Union and the United States went into effect, the source said. Deliveries of spare parts for the SaM146, maintenance and repair of the engines, including the return engines repaired previously, and their lease came to a complete stop.
To keep the SSJ100 flying in Russia, the Industry and Trade Ministry proposed using a spare parts warehouse and a pool of replacement SaM146 engines that PowerJet had formed in Russian territory before the sanctions, the source said. To do this, the ministry proposes to legalize the transfer of property of foreign companies that have stopped business in Russia to the temporary management of Russian specialized enterprises.
Interfax has asked the ministry, UEC-Saturn and Safran to comment.
The Wall Street Journal said earlier in March that Safran had halted operations in Russia due to Western sanctions. It was clarified that this concerned two French joint ventures with UEC-Saturn - PowerJet and Volgaero, which produces parts for engines, some of which are sold abroad.
Imported spare parts for servicing the SSJ100, despite sanctions restrictions, will last for "quite a while," Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said earlier in March. "We stockpiled them in advance, and these are so-called hubs that will service the equipment both in the country and abroad," he said in an interview with the Rossiya 1 TV channel.
Russia will be able to supply at least 19 new and white tail SSJ-100 aircraft fitted entirely with foreign components to customers in 2022, Manturov said. An import-free version should be certified in 2023. United Engine Corporation will supply the PD-8 engine for this modification.
