In Russia, there is a risk that Superjet 100 (SSJ100) flights will be terminated due to a shortage of spark plugs from the USA for Russian-French SaM146 engines. The information that appeared earlier in Telegram channels was confirmed to RBC by employees of six airlines operating such aircraft.
The shortage of American spark plugs arose after the cessation of supplies to Russia against the backdrop of the imposition of sanctions. Rostec, in turn, promises to supply Russian candles as early as 2023.
In a letter from IrAero First Deputy General Director Vladimir Panfilov, which he sent to the Ministry of Industry and Trade on February 16, it is said that part of the Superjet fleet "in the near future" is threatened with a gradual complete cessation of flights. The authenticity of the letter, a copy of which RBC has, was confirmed by a source close to the carrier. IrAero General Director Yuri Lapin says that now everything is in order, there are several spare candles, so the intensity of flights is not decreasing. However, he confirmed that there could be problems in the future.
A serious shortage of new spark plugs on the market was also confirmed by Pavel Udod, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azimut Airlines, and two sources in Yakutia Airlines.
Earlier, the Aviatorshchina Telegram channel, which specializes in aviation news, reported that part of the Russian fleet of Superjet 100 aircraft could stop due to the fact that the country ran out of American spark plugs for Russian-French SaM-146 engines.
The threat of operation of the SSJ100 was reported even after the French manufacturer of SaM146 engines, Safran, left Russia. Replacing engines with domestic PD-8s, including the cost of turbines, is comparable to the residual value of the entire aircraft or will cost even more, Yury Slyusar, head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), admitted in an interview with Vedomosti. Aircraft repairs are not possible due to the high dependence on imported parts. Since mid-2022, the number of accidents and aircraft breakdowns has increased in Russia, and in January they were publicly reported almost every day, The Insider drew attention .