Iran Denies Russian Tupolev Order

An Iranian aviation official has denied claims by a Russian corporation that Iranian carriers have requested to purchase Tupolev's new Tu-204SM twin-jet passenger aircraft.

“We have so far received no requests from Iranian carriers regarding the utilization of this type of passenger aircraft, and the issue of Iran's request to purchase the plane is not true,” says Iran's Civil Aviation Organization's Deputy Head for Flight Standards Hossein Habibi Ahzoon.

On Tuesday, a senior Russian aviation official said Iranian carriers are taking interest in Tupolev's new Tu-204SM twin-jet passenger aircraft and are among the potential customers of the plane.

Vice President of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Alexander Tulyakov said Monday that Iranian airliners have raised the total purchase order for the Tupolev Tu-204SM jets to 20.

The Iranian aviation official further said that Iran's Civil Aviation Organization considers the technical record of every plane before issuing authorization for the plane to enter Iran's aviation fleet. He stressed that the security of the aircraft is the most significant index of evaluating the planes. The technical facilities of the planes are other elements considered in evaluating aircrafts before they enter Iran's aviation fleet, he said.

Habibi Ahzoon pointed out that Tupolev's new Tu-204SM twin-jet passenger aircraft has been criticized by Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev.

The Tupolev Tu-204SM, a significant upgrade of Tupolev Tu-204, is a twin-engine medium range Russian airliner capable of carrying 210 passengers. The aircraft is equipped with the latest navigation and radio communication equipment, as well as state-of-the-art hardware. It is controlled by two pilots instead of three crew members required to navigate the basic Tu-204 version. The Tupolev Tu-204SM performed its maiden flight from Russia's Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport on December 29, 2010.  - Press TV