Tupolev discusses Tu-214 production demands as it outlines modernisation plans to suppliers

Future upgrades to twinjet type set to include two-person cockpit.

Russian design bureau Tupolev is continuing to work on a transition to a two-person cockpit on the Tu-214, while it tweaks other systems on the twinjet.

A revised version of the Tu-214 — updated as part of an import-substitution strategy — secured certification in December last year.

State technology firm Rostec notably did not mention twinjet during a recent high-level update on aircraft programmes to president Vladimir Putin.

But Tupolev has just held a supplier conference at the Kazan manufacturing plant to discuss development of the production capacity needed to meet Tu-214 demand.

Over 40 partner companies attended the event.

“We’re not just re-equipping and modernising our plant’s facilities, we’re restructuring our aircraft production technology,” says Tupolev managing director Yuri Abrasimov.

Tupolev presented the production programme and talked about the modernisation of the Tu-214 and the new techniques being introduced for manufacture.

Abrasimov highlighted the plan to move to a two-person cockpit, and also referred to additional ground- and flight-testing of the type during the first quarter of this year to check “minor changes” to five systems.

United Aircraft says Tupolev has certified an ozone converter for the twinjet, designed in co-operation with Moscow-based bureau Kristall.

This component is used to reduce harmful ozone concentrations in the air channelled during cruise to the aircraft’s pressurised passenger cabin.

“Previously the Tu-204 and Tu-214 used an imported ozone converter which had no equivalent in the domestic industry,” says United Aircraft, adding that the new design is half the weight of foreign counterparts.