Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 30 / Trend, S. Isayev, T. Jafarov
Iran's 150-seat passenger plane - the first of its kind manufactured in the Middle East - to be ready by 2017, deputy head of Organization of Aviation industry of Iran, Mohammad Mehdi Hadevi said, ISNA reported.
He added that Iran already held talks with China and Russia for cooperation in manufacturing one such plane, and in 2017 it will have its test flight.
Head of Iran Civil Aviation Organisation Hamidreza Pahlevani in July 2013 said that the plane will be designed in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, the Plane Manufacturing Company of Iran (HESA), Sharif,Amirkabir, Elm-o Sanat, and Isfahan universities, he added. It will be equipped with turbojet engines.
Hadevi also said that Iran will be cooperating with its partners to establish manufacturing line of commercial planes.
He added that Iran already discussed the issue with Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade, for joint designing MC-21 plane, and also discussed the manufacturing of C919 plane with Chinese companies.
Hadevi also went on to add that Iran has been holding negotiations with several foreign companies regarding plane engine manufacturing.
Iran has several private and public airline companies in operation. The oldest is state-run Iran Air. Due to imposed sanction on Iran, international companies are banned from selling aircraft or their spare parts to the country.
Iran is currently cooperating with Ukraine and Russia in the production and operation of the Antonov An-140 airliner which can carry 52 passengers.
After purchasing the production licence for the An-140 from Ukraine in 2000, Iran built its first Iran-140 passenger plane in 2003.