Russia signs initial deals for 85 regional planes to India

Russia's United Aircraft Corporation has signed initial agreements to supply 85 Il-114-300 regional turboprop aircraft to two Indian companies, as Moscow pushes to expand its civil aviation presence in India during the Innoprom.India trade fair in New Delhi. According to Russia's state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec, UAC's parent, a letter of intent was signed on Thursday for 50 aircraft to Pinnacle Air, while a memorandum of understanding with Sleek Aviation covers 35 aircraft plus a training center with a full-flight simulator at the operator's facility. UAC chief executive Vadim Badekha said the company plans to convert the agreements into firm contracts by the end of the year. The deals are not firm orders and formalize the buyers' interest in the aircraft, which seats up to 68 passengers and is positioned as well suited to India's UDAN regional connectivity scheme. Neither Pinnacle Air nor Sleek Aviation currently operates an airline. Pinnacle Air is a charter helicopter operator that also provides aviation consulting and aircraft sales and management services.