SuperJet International Opens North America Office

Regional jet marketing, customization and support company SuperJet International opened its North American sales and customer support office in Washington DC.  

 

SuperJet International’s North American office will be run by Mr. John Buckley, vice president, business development. Mr. Buckley joined SuperJet International from ATR North America, bringing with him significant experience in the regional transport aircraft market segment. Also joining SuperJet International’s North American office is Mr. Patrick Sullivan, head of customer service Americas. Patrick’s unit will provide an early product support presence in North America and assist Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company’s in its FAA certification activities.

 

“North America is an important market segment for an efficient and modern 100 seat jets as the Sukhoi SuperJet 100,” said Alessandro Franzoni, Chief Executive Officer of SuperJet International. “The establishment of a permanent North American sales and customer support office is a clear indication of our belief in the significant market potential of the region for our aircraft.”

 

 

SuperJet International, based in Venice, Italy, is a joint venture between Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica Company (51%) and Sukhoi Holding (49%), is in charge of marketing, sales, customization and delivery of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jet in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, Africa and Japan, as well as of worldwide after-sales support.

SuperJet International is also responsible for the design and development of VIP and cargo variants.

A SuperJet International branch is already active in Moscow, together with sales offices in Toulouse, France and Washington, DC, USA.

Designed, developed and built by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC), the Sukhoi Superjet 100 family is comprised of 78- and 98-seaters in basic (SSJ100/95B and SSJ100/75B) and long-range (SSJ100/95LR and SSJ100/75LR) configuration. The SSJ100 is the most advanced and environmentally friendly new generation regional jet. Superior technical and operational characteristics make SSJ100 a fully marketable and competitive product – cost-effective, easy to operate and maintain. SSJ100 is a conceptually new platform designed specifically for a 100-seat segment offering the most efficient combination of regional efficiency with mainline capabilities.

The first SSJ100 was rolled out from SCAC’s final assembly shop at Komsomolsk-on Amur on September 26, 2007. First flight was successfully accomplished last May 19, 2008.

With two aircraft in the air since December 24, 2008, the programme scored almost 100 flights for a total of over 300 hours.

The first two aircraft are currently in test flight with a third aircraft scheduled to joint the flight test program in spring 2009. The certification plan calls for Russia civil certification by November 2009, followed by EASA certification in 2010 and FAA certification thereafter.