In 2005, JSC “Aeroflot” and JSC “Sukhoi Civil Aircraft” (SCAC) signed a contract for delivery of 30 Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft in standard specification – single class arrangement for 98 passenger seats. Later, the airline decided to improve the aircraft specifications including the arrangement, passenger cabin equipment, and avionics.
Some changes requested by Aeroflot required further aircraft modifications. In order to avoid delivery delays, the parties agreed that the first 10 SSJ100 would be delivered to Aeroflot in “light” specification and later replaced by aircraft in “full” contract specification (“full”).
The delivery of the first ten SJ100 aircraft is financed by VEB-leasing JSC as part of the financial lease agreement concluded with Aeroflot in 2009. The first Sukhoi Superjet 100 was delivered to Aeroflot by the Ulyanovsk branch of VEB-leasing JSC.
Full and light specifications differ in several respects. The full specification aircraft includes an upgraded Flight Management System (FMS) and a weather radar equipped with a wind direction detection function. Further, the full specification features additional video control cameras, separate lighting controls for both economy and business class and an additional working position for a flight attendant at the wall of option galley at the back of the aircraft. Individual gaspers over each passenger seat were also installed, thus improving passenger comfort. The full aircraft is equipped with three lavatories with diaper boards, and each three-seat-block in the cabin has an additional oxygen mask. Instead of three galleys, the aircraft contains four, one of which is equipped with two ovens. There is additional space to fit a flight baby cot.
There are several foreign and Russian airlines interested in buying Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft in light specification. Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC) is planning to conclude, in the near future, contracts for delivery of this aircraft to new customers.
Sukhoi Superjet 100 with manufacture serial number 95025, delivered to Aeroflot, now has tail number RA-89014. Following a long-standing Aeroflot tradition, the aircraft was given a name – “Valery Sysovsky”. Sysovsky Valery Borisovich was part of the flight crew that operated the first IL-96 passenger flight–SU31– from Moscow to New York. He was a flight engineer, head of the flight standards department at Aeroflot-Russian Airlines, and was honored by the Russian Federation for his work in the transportation sector.