Antonov An-148 Explained

The Antonov An-148 (Антонов Ан-148) is a regional jet designed and built by Antonov of Ukraine. Development of the aircraft was started in the 1990s, and its maiden flight took place on 17 December 2004. The aircraft completed its certification programme on 26 February 2007. The An-148 has a maximum range of 2100– and is able to carry 68–85 passengers, depending on the configuration.The Antonov An-158 is a stretched fuselage version of the aircraft, accommodating up to 100 passengers.

Following a crash in February 2018, all An-148 and An-158 in Russia were grounded by the Russian Ministry of Transport.[1] [2] In addition, Cubana grounded its An-158 fleet as of May 2018 due to several technical issues with the aircraft.[3] Until late 2018, the Antonov An-148 aircraft was also being produced in Russia by Voronezh Aircraft Production Association; however, due to the souring political relationship between Ukraine and Russia, production in Russia was discontinued.[4] The last Russian-built An-148 was completed in October 2018.[5] [6]

Development

The beginning of the An-148 project dates to the early 1990s, when work on the Antonov An-74 passenger modification started, headed by Petro Balabuev. In 2001, the project was renamed An-148. The An-74 fuselage was extended and the new aircraft's wing design was created from scratch. The developers initially used Motor Sich D-436-148 engines. Other variants with Western-made engines with thrust of 58.86- (such as the General Electric CF34 or Rolls-Royce BR700) are being considered.[7]

In 2002, production of the first three prototypes was begun at AVIANT. On 17 December 2004, the first prototype completed its maiden flight. The second prototype joined the testing programme in April 2005.[8] During the certification programme, the two prototypes performed about 600 flights in total.[9] On 26 February 2007, the aircraft, its D-436-148 engine and the AI-450-МS auxiliary power unit were certified by the Interstate Aviation Committee of Russia and the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine.

The An-148 is manufactured by the Ukrainian Kyiv AVIANT plant (now Antonov Serial Production Plant) and Russia's Voronezh Aircraft Production Association (VASO). On 28 June 2009, the first serially produced An-148, manufactured at VASO in Voronezh, took to the skies.[8] Although numerous companies are involved in the project, at least 70% of the aircraft's hardware is made by Russian manufacturers. The An-148's list price is about $24–30 million. The main problem with the project has been increasing the aircraft's sluggish production rate. The then-independent AVIANT plant initially failed to satisfy to growing orders, leading to VASO's growing involvement in the aircraft's assembly. VASO announced in June 2017 that the two final Russian-assembled An-148s would be delivered, and the project would not see further development.[10] In early 2018, Ukraine affirmatively banned sales of Progress D-436 aircraft engines to Russia as a consequence of the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.[11]

For Siberian operators, Antonov plans a model with a higher gross weight and additional fuel capacity in the center tank, extending the range with 75 passengers from 2198km (1,366miles) to 3598km (2,236miles). An "E" variant is also planned to offer a special 5100km (3,200miles) range, which would serve as a platform for the "E1", capable of non-stop Moscow-Vladivostok 6995km (4,346miles) services carrying 44 passengers.

Design

The An-148 aircraft is a high-wing monoplane with two turbofan jet engines mounted in pods under the wing. This arrangement protects the engines and wing structure against foreign object damage. A built-in autodiagnosis system, auxiliary power unit, and the wing configuration allow the An-148 to be used at poorly equipped airfields. Flight and navigation equipment features five 15by liquid crystal display panels built by Russia's Aviapribor and a fly-by-wire system, which enables the An-148 aircraft to operate day and night, under instrument flight rules and visual flight rules weather conditions on high-density air routes. Similar to the Boeing 737, the main landing gear rotates into the belly of the aircraft when in flight, with partial doors covering the legs, and the sides of the tires remaining exposed. Built-in entrance stairs enable boarding and disembarking the aircraft without extra ground equipment. The manufacturer claims high fuel efficiency of the Motor Sich D-436-148 engines.

The An-148-100 regional aircraft is the main model of the An-148. It seats 70 passengers at 864mm or up to 80 passengers at 762mm pitch in a one-class 2+3 seating layout. The aircraft is also configurable in a multiple-class layout which can carry fewer passengers, typically with four abreast business class.[12]

Variants

An-148-100A:main version of the An-148. It has a passenger capacity of 85 in a one-class dense configuration or 68 in a two-class configuration, and a range of 2100km (1,300miles)[13]
  • An-148-100B:extended-range version, up to 3500km (2,200miles)[13]
  • An-148-100E:extended-range version, up to 4400km (2,700miles)[13] and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 43.7tonnes
  • An-148-200:unified with An-158 by the rear part of the fuselage. Hence maximum seating capacity is increased to 89 passengers in dense configuration, comparing to 85 for An-148-100. Planned for production in Kyiv with An-158.[14]
  • An-148-300:previously called An-168, business variant, seating 8-40 passengers, with a range up to 7000km (4,000miles)[15]
  • An-148DRLV:proposed airborne early warning and control variant.
  • An-158:stretched fuselage version for 99 passengers in a one-class standard configuration.[16] [17] [18] Other changes include the installation of wingtip fences. The airplane successfully completed its first flight on 28 April 2010, with flight certification tests planned to be completed before the end of 2010;[19] on 3 March 2011, it was given Russian certification.[20] Nowadays, after flight and land test in night lands airports of Ecuador (Latacunga / Cotopaxi International Airport, 2806 m AMSL) and Bolivia (La Paz / El Alto International Airport, 4061 m AMSL) in November 2013 prepare documentation for obtaining correspondent supplements to the type certificate of this airplane.[21]
  • An-178
  • cargo variant, with a payload capacity of 15tonnes.[16] [22] [23] The wing outer panels (including winglets), front fuselage with cockpit and nosewheel leg come from the An-158. The cargo hold is slightly enlarged, and there is an extra pair of main-wheels on each side.[24] The An-178 was previously known as the An-148T,[25] which would have had the Progress AI-727 turbofan as a potential power plant option.[26]
    HESA IrAn-148:Designation of An-148 aircraft proposed for license production from knocked down kits in Iran.

    Operational history

    In April 2005, the Ilyushin Finance Leasing Company ordered the first series of An-148 for the Krasair airline. Lease agreement calls for ten aircraft with an option for five units valued at $270 million.[27]

    On 2 June 2009, the first An-148 entered commercial service with the Ukrainian carrier Aerosvit.[28] The first passenger flight was from Kharkiv to Kyiv; the aircraft had the civilian registration UR-NTA.[29] By November 2009, Aerosvit was operating the An-148 on the Kyiv–Odesa and Simferopol–Lviv routes, performing two flights a day with the average flight time of 4–5 hours.[30]

    On 21 December 2009, the An-148 was put into service in Russia with Rossiya airline. The first passenger flight was FV135 from Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg to Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow.[8] By 20 May 2010, Rossiya's An-148 fleet had accumulated a total of 915 flight hours and performed 710 landings.[31] Rossiya complained that the aircraft experienced some reliability problems.[32] There were some technical problems with the aircraft, and pilot training could not be ramped up fast enough, leading to pilot shortages.[31] However, by 2011 the situation had improved.[33]

    On 15 February 2010, the An-148 started international flights to the European Union (Poland) with the Aerosvit airline.[34]

    On 18 April 2013, the first serial An-158 version was delivered to the Cuban flagship airline Cubana de Aviación. According to Antonov, Cubana additionally ordered two more aircraft,[35] while other sources report this order to be for ten aircraft.[36] On 28 April 2013, Ukraine's Antonov aircraft maker handed over a third An-158 passenger airliner to Cuba and signed a contract for the delivery of three more.

    In April 2016, Indian company Reliance defense limited and Antonov entered into an agreement to construct an aircraft based on An 148/ An 158 for defense and commercial purposes.[37]

    In April 2017, Cubana de Aviación suspended its flights between Havana and Guantánamo due to "technical problems" with its An-158 fleet. The route from Havana to Holguín also had problems: of 116 planned flights in the first months of 2017, 38 were cancelled and 36 suffered significant delays.[38] Yoanka Acosta, head of Cubana's commercial division, explained that the planes were leased from Ukraine but spare parts were sourced from Russia, so the state of conflict between the two countries had affected the supply of parts, making maintenance difficult. In late April, however, representatives from Antonov and Cubana met and signed a service agreement that extended the aircraft's navigation directives to 3,600 flights and guaranteed the supply of spare parts, although it did not specify a date for normalization.[39]

    In March 2018, Rostransnadzor suspended all flights of An-148 in Russia after the crash on 11 February 2018.[40]

    In May 2018, Cubana de Aviación grounded its An-158 fleet after it received an order from the Cuban National Aviation Authority after "multiple and repeating failures (had) been found in complex systems, built by mechanical, hydraulic and electrical components, as well as computer performance algorithms", in addition to "evidence of design and manufacturing flaws, serious issues in flight control system, cracks in the structure and engine temperature increase above normal parameters".

    Production! Total !! 2018 !! 2017 !! 2016 !! 2015 !! 2014 !! 2013 !! 2012 !! 2011 !! 2010 !! 2009 !! 2008 !! 2007 !! 2006 !! 2005 !! 2004
    47323559466200011

    On 18 September 2023, the Ukrainian military intelligence claimed a raid against Chkalovsky Air Base, near Moscow, occurred. During which they claimed damaged an An-148.[41]

    Orders and deliveries

    The following sheet depicts all known orders and deliveries of An-148 aircraft. However it is unclear if all of them are currently operational:

    AirlineOrderDeliveredRefs
    Air Koryo22[42] [43]
    Angara Airlines55[44]
    Ministry of Defence1515[45]
    Ministry of Emergency Situations22[46]
    Russian Presidential Administration53[47]
    Ukraine Air Enterprise22[48]
    Border Guard Service of Russia32[49]
    Cubana de Aviación66[50] [51]
    Total4037

    Incidents and accidents

    Specifications

    Antonov An-148 specifications[54] [55] [56] ! Variant!148-100E!158 *
    Cockpit crew2
    Seats68–8586–99
    Seat pitch30–35 in30–34 in
    Cargo–
    Length
    Wingspan
    Wing area
    Height
    width × height
    MTOW
    Max. payload
    OEW
    Max. fuel
    Turbofan (x 2)Progress D-436-148D-436
    Thrust (x 2)
    Ceiling
    Cruise
    Range (75 pax/max PL)
    Fuel burn
    Takeoff (MTOW)

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Ространснадзор предписал приостановить полеты Ан-148 после катастрофы. РБК. 20 March 2018 . 2018-03-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20180529135109/https://www.rbc.ru/society/20/03/2018/5ab0f8e99a7947133994cdf4. 29 May 2018. live.
    2. News: Russia Grounds All AN-148 Planes Over Safety Fears After Plane Crash. 2018-03-20. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20181229235053/https://themoscowtimes.com/news/russia-grounds-all-an-148-planes-over-safety-fears-after-plane-crash-60882. 29 December 2018. live.
    3. Web site: Cubana de Aviación Grounds Antonov 158 Fleet. Diaz. Pablo. 17 May 2018. Airline Geeks. en. 18 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180518215115/https://airlinegeeks.com/2018/05/17/cubana-de-aviacion-grounds-its-antonov-158-fleet/. 18 May 2018. live.
    4. News: Flight International, World Airliner directory - special report. 2018-11-14. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323192416/https://www.flightglobal.com/asset/25573. 23 March 2019. live.
    5. Web site: Появились фото испытаний последнего АН-148, собранного в Воронеже для Минобороны. 36on.ru. ru. 19 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190120095428/http://36on.ru/news/people/79813-v-voronezhe-ispytyvayut-posledniy-layner-an-148-sobrannyy-dlya-minoborony-foto. 20 January 2019. live.
    6. Web site: Russia curtails production of the Antonov An-148 regional jet. Russian Aviation Insider. 19 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190120093929/http://www.rusaviainsider.com/russia-curtails-production-antonov-148-regional-jet/. 20 January 2019. live. 24 October 2018.
    7. Web site: An-148 . Antonov ASTC . 27 June 2006 . 2004 . https://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/2011/http://www.antonov.com/products/air/air-liner/AN-148/index.xml . 25 January 2018 . dead.
    8. Web site: History of An-148 . United Aircraft Corporation . 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111003132913/http://www.uacrussia.ru/en/models/civil/an-148/an-148_history/ . 3 October 2011 .
    9. Web site: AN-148 . Antonov Design Bureau . 2010 . dead . https://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/2011/http://www.antonov.com/products/air/air-liner/AN-148/index.xml . 25 January 2018 .
    10. Web site: Russia will finish the production of the An-148 after completing the assembly of two aircraft – News – Russian Aviation – RUAVIATION.COM. www.ruaviation.com. 15 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170816020736/https://www.ruaviation.com/news/2017/6/26/9063/. 16 August 2017. live.
    11. Web site: Ukraine bans deliveries of D-436 civil aircraft engines to Russia . TASS, February 19, 2018. September 19, 2022.
    12. Web site: Aircraft fleet . polet.ru . 27 May 2013. https://archive.today/20130616034447/http://www.polet.ru/en/passengers/fleet. 16 June 2013.
    13. Web site: [Actu] Variantes militaires de l'Antonov An-148 ]. Red Samovar . 9 May 2017.
    14. Web site: "Антонов" готовит новую модификацию Ан-148. АвиаПорт.Ru. 26 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141226182907/http://www.aviaport.ru/news/2012/12/07/245210.html. 26 December 2014. live.
    15. News: New customer of ANTONOV-148. Deagel. 16 June 2009. 8 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110116052849/http://www.deagel.com/news/Atlant-Soyuz-Airlines-Signs-MoU-for-the-Purchase-of-30-An-148s-and-15-Tu-204SMs_n000006333.aspx. 16 January 2011. live.
    16. News: Francis. Leithen. Antonov discloses An-158 specifications. 17 March 2010. Flightglobal. Flight International. 28 September 2009. Beijing. https://web.archive.org/web/20111006002819/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/antonov-discloses-an-158-specifications-332823/. 6 October 2011. live.
    17. News: Zaitsev. Tom. Antonov points to 9 May for An-158 first flight. 17 March 2010. Flightglobal. 16 March 2010. Moscow. https://web.archive.org/web/20121231230409/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/antonov-points-to-9-may-for-an-158-first-flight-339542/. 31 December 2012. live.
    18. Karnozov. Vladimir. An-148 First Revenue Flight. 17 March 2010. Air Fleet. 3. A4 Press. 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090715182412/http://www.airfleet.ru/arhiv/n3_2009/an-148_first_revenue_flight. 15 July 2009.
    19. Web site: Maiden Flight of AN-158 Has Been Fulfilled without Problems. 26 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193324/http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?shop=dae&modele=release&prod=114634&cat=3. 3 March 2016. live.
    20. News: Kaminski-Morrow. David. Russian authorities certificate An-158. 3 March 2011. Flightglobal. Flight International. 3 March 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121104122927/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/russian-authorities-certificate-an-158-353833/. 4 November 2012. live.
    21. . ANTONOV−158 completed tests in high mountains. Antonov. 22 November 2013. 7 January 2014. bot: unknown. https://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/2011/http://www.antonov.com/news/285?. 25 January 2018.
    22. News: Antonov Design Bureau begins to design An-178 transport aircraft. 17 March 2010. Radio Ukraine International. 24 February 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110220040508/http://nrcu.gov.ua/index.php?id=148&listid=112297. 20 February 2011.
    23. Web site: На базе пассажирских Ан-158 намерены создавать грузовые самолеты. 23 February 2010 . 26 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007104632/http://delo.ua/biznes/ukraina/na-baze-an-158-namereny-sozdavat-gruzovye-samolety-137706/. 7 October 2011. live.
    24. News: Latest Antonov Cargo Jet on Show. 15 June 2015. 15 June 2015. Aviation Week. https://web.archive.org/web/20150623102645/http://aviationweek.com/paris-air-show-2015/latest-antonov-cargo-jet-show. 23 June 2015. live.
    25. News: . Antonov flies new airlifter; seeks civil and military orders . Vladimir . Karnazov . May 8, 2015 . Defense.
    26. Image.UA . Advanced aeroengines designed at SE Ivchenko Progress . Ukraine Aviation . 65–67 . 2009 . 2 . March 27, 2009.
    27. News: Ryzhkin . Sergey . Aircraft for the Provinces . 7 June 2005 . 26 June 2006 . Kommersant . https://web.archive.org/web/20060708221055/http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=583456. 8 July 2006 . live.
    28. News: Antonov Design Bureau developing new aircraft on base of An-148, industrial ministry says . . 9 June 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222143333/http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/15291.html . 22 December 2015 . live .
    29. News: Karnozov. Vladimir. Supporting An-148. 12 February 2011. Russian Aviation. 1 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110222023833/http://www.ruaviation.com/docs/3/2010/11/1/2/. 22 February 2011. live.
    30. News: Синицкий. Алексей. 1 November 2009. Antonov-148 jet enters in service in Russia. Air Transport Observer. A.B.E Media. 12 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110307211501/http://www.ato.ru/content/antonov-148-jet-enters-service-russia. 7 March 2011. live.
    31. News: Karnozov. Vladimir. An-148 proves worthy of airline service. 12 February 2011. Russian Aviation. 1 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110221052833/http://www.ruaviation.com/docs/2/2010/11/1/6/. 21 February 2011. live.
    32. News: Rossiya slams An-148 reliability. 2 October 2010. Flightglobal. Flight International. 1 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20170324085142/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/rossiya-slams-an-148-reliability-347983/. 24 March 2017. live.
    33. News: An-148 monthly utilization rose to 270 flight hours. 19 January 2011. Russian Aviation. 19 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110123171300/http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2011/1/19/110/. 23 January 2011. live.
    34. Web site: A wing to EU. Kyiv Weekly. 1 April 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120314115301/http://kyivweekly.com.ua/style/etno/2010/04/01/112045.html. 14 March 2012.
    35. Web site: The First AN−158 Has Entered into Operation. 18 April 2013. 27 May 2013. bot: unknown. https://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/2011/http://www.antonov.com/news/253?lang=en. 25 January 2018.
    36. News: An-158 gearing up for new orders . Take-off Magazine . https://web.archive.org/web/20140726003417/http://en.take-off.ru/news/102/598 . 26 July 2014 . 27 May 2013 . dead .
    37. News: Antonov and Reliance signed MoC for India's Multi-role Transport Aircraft program . 2 May 2016 . Air Recognition .
    38. News: 'Problemas técnicos' de los An-158 provocan retrasos y suspensiones en vuelos nacionales . es . 'Technical problems' with the Antonov An-158 cause domestic flight delays and suspensions . Diario de Cuba . Havana . 21 April 2017 . 16 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170527055032/http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/1492781209_30551.html . 27 May 2017 . live .
    39. News: Empresa ucraniana Antonov y Cubana de Aviación firman acuerdo . es . Ukrainian company Antonov and Cubana de Aviación sign an agreement . CiberCuba . Havana . 28 April 2017 . 16 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083556/https://www.cibercuba.com/noticias/2017-04-28-u1-e186450-empresa-ucraniana-antonov-y-cubana-aviacion-firman-acuerdo . 12 February 2018 . live .
    40. Web site: ВЗГЛЯД / Ространснадзор приостановил эксплуатацию Ан-148 . 15 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181116001158/https://vz.ru/news/2018/3/20/913437.html . 16 November 2018 . live .
    41. News: 2023-09-20 . Jake Epstein . Saboteurs 'blew up' aircraft at a Russian base in the latest in a string of attacks, causing 'hysteria,' Ukrainian military intelligence reports . en-US . Business Insider . 2023-09-21. }
    42. News: Air Koryo to rejuvenate fleet with Antonov An-148. 21 November 2012. 25 May 2013. ch-aviation.ch.
    43. Web site: ✈ наша авиация . 26 December 2022 . Russianplanes.net . ru.
    44. Web site: Новый самолет АН-148 авиакомпании "Ангара" совершил посадку в Иркутске . Новости . Angara Airlines . 31 October 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121130223742/http://angara.aero/about/news/205/ . 30 November 2012 .
    45. Web site: The Russian Ministry of Defence buys 15 passenger airplanes Antonov AN-148.. Air Recognition. 11 June 2013. 17 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130622231555/http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/2013-global-news-worldwide-world-international-air-force-aviation-/june-2013-global-news-worldwide-world-international-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-defence-military-industry-technology-/721-the-russian-ministry-of-defence-buys-15-passenger-airplanes-antonov-an-148-1106131.html. 22 June 2013. live.
    46. News: Karnozov. Vladimir. Emercom orders two An-148s. 16 January 2011. Russian Aviation. 24 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101229071653/http://www.ruaviation.com/docs/3/2010/11/24/15. 29 December 2010. live.
    47. Web site: The AN−158 and AN−148 enter market of Latin America . bot: unknown . https://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/2011/http://www.antonov.com/news/209 . 25 January 2018 .
    48. Web site: Второй самолет Ан-148 для государственной авиакомпании "Украина". 8 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141003061802/http://vk.com/antonov_148. 3 October 2014. live. dmy-all.
    49. News: UAC will deliver three An-148 aircraft to the Federal Security Service. 25 May 2014. Russian Aviation. 7 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140525201447/http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2014/5/7/2314/. 25 May 2014. live.
    50. News: Gusarov. Roman. Welcoming An-158 in Cuba. 27 May 2015. Russian Aviation. 15 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150527144101/http://www.ruaviation.com/docs/5/2013/5/15/68/. 27 May 2015. live.
    51. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article211426019.html Miami Herald
    52. News: Hradecky. Simon. Crash: Antonov A148 near Voronezh on Mar 5th 2011, in flight break up. 5 March 2011. The Aviation Herald. 5 March 2011.
    53. Web site: RA-61704 Accident description . Aviation Safety Network . 11 February 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180211173053/https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20180211-0 . 11 February 2018 . dmy-all .
    54. Web site: AN-148. 26 December 2014. bot: unknown. https://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/2011/http://www.antonov.com/aircraft/passenger-aircraft/an-148. 25 January 2018.
    55. Web site: An-148 Flight Performance . . 15 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100428042805/http://www.uacrussia.ru/ru/models/civil/an_148/data/ . 28 April 2010 . ru . dead .
    56. Web site: AN-148-200 Specifications . 17 March 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070715210134/http://www.aviant.ua/eng/an-148_1_2.html . 15 July 2007 . dead .

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