Sukhoi Business Jet - New Horizons

In the beginning of February 2017, the international natural resource mining and processing company — Kazakhmys corporation, based in Kazakhstan, launched the operation of Sukhoi Business Jet — SSJ100 aircraft in business configuration. JSC ‘Sukhoi Civil Aircraft’ (SCAC), at the request of the customer, delivered the long range SSJ100 with basic interior of the passenger cabin in May 2015. Later on, the VIP interior developed and manufactured by Comlux company was installed in Comlux customization center (Indianapolis, USA), with the support of SCAC specialists.

The aircraft is designed to carry 19 passengers. There is a VIP cabin in the forward area, consisting of four passenger seats, a table and a sofa, as well as a service zone with a new additional lavatory and a wardrobe. The second cabin is equipped with fifteen business class seats in 2-1 layout, three in a row. Comlux KZ airline operates this SBJ to the benefit of Kazakhmys corporation.

‘This replenishment of the aircraft fleet will allow both our employees and top management to travel with comfort. This is the right and necessary business tool for our company,” — said Eduard Ogai, head of Kazakhmys in Kazakhstan.

SCAC fully shares the opinion that successful people should be able to travel to any location in the world and knows that often the decision to take a trip is taken quickly. Wherever they go, they should have a comfortable means of transportation, internet and communication on board, and Sukhoi Business Jet (SBJ) was created to complete such tasks.

The level of comfort on board the SBJ is comparable to that offered by the famous giants of business aviation to their passengers. So, the cross section of the passenger cabin is 2.12m in the passage, which allows tall passengers to stand in full size in the cabin, and the aircraft's onboard systems maintain ideal conditions at all stages of flight.

Evaluation of Prospects
The dynamic development of the air transportation market in the early 2000s greatly influenced the decision to create a business version of Sukhoi Superjet 100. According to the estimates of JSC ‘Sukhoi Civil Aircraft’, the volume of demand of the world market in the period of 2015-2034 in the segment of administrative aircraft created on the platform of Liners, could reach 400 aircraft, while the share of SBJ could reach up to 10% of the market in this segment. The main regions where Sukhoi Business Jet is most actively promoted today are Russia and the CIS, Asia and the Middle East.

The profile of business liners operators is as follows: 60% are airlines engaged in business transportation, 25-27% are corporate clients (national and transnational corporations), private individuals, professional and sports teams, 13-15% are state customers (federal governments, ministries and departments). On average, the volume of world's supply in the Liners segment is up to 10 aircraft per year. If there is a demand for SBJ, the production program can be up to 3-4 aircraft per year.

SBJ in Operation
Currently, nine SBJs are being operated in different configurations and perform flights both in Russia and abroad: Among SBJ operators at the moment there are: RusJet airline, special flight detachment “Russia” of Administrative Department of the President of the Russian Federation, flight detachment of EMERCOM of Russia, Royal Thai Air Force, Kazakhmys corporation and others.

In total, nine aircraft of SBJ version have performed more than 1.5 thousand commercial flights, having spent over 2.5 thousand hours in the air from the beginning of operation of the first aircraft in December 2014.

From the Mockup to the First Commercial Flight
The layout of SSJ100 business version cabin, made on the platform of basic version of the aircraft was first introduced at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS in 2013 in Zhukovsky. The interior of the cabin was designed to accommodate up to 19 passengers on board, and it was divided into several zones.

The first and second cabins were intended for business meetings. They were equipped with comfortable furniture, a modern multimedia system, working tables and rotary-reclining chairs which could be transformed into horizontal position - almost all passengers in this configuration had the opportunity to relax lying down on the chair. The main passenger's cabin was equipped with a full-fledged workplace and a place for rest, as well as a wardrobe. There was a separate lavatory in the tail of the aircraft, just behind the main passenger's cabin. The service zone included the seats for two flight attendants, a galley with modern equipment, a lavatory for the crew and accompanying persons, as well as a closet for placement of passengers’ belongings.

Following the interest which was raised by the new product of SCAC within the framework of MAKS 2013, Sukhoi Business Jet was presented at JetExpo-2014 air show, where only business liners are being demonstrated.

By that time, the interior was substantially refined, in particular, composite materials were actively used, which is important both from the point of view of aircraft weight efficiency, since the composite materials have low specific gravity, and its reliability. They have an exceptionally high specific strength and rigidity. Another advantage of using the composite materials is manufacturability of the interior elements of any size, as well as structures of complex and unusual shape, for example, as far as furniture is concerned.

The first cabin, intended for business meetings, was equipped with comfortable furniture, a monitor, a modern multimedia system, rotary-reclining chairs. The cabin of the main passenger was equipped with a full-fledged workplace, a monitor, a sofa, which can be transformed into a bed, a wardrobe and a lavatory, as well as a LED lighting system. Currently the aircraft which was presented at JetExpo in 2014 is operated by RusJet.

Sukhoi Business Jet was certified in November 2014. The Interstate Aviation Committee Aviation Register confirmed the possibility of installation of the enhanced comfort passenger cabin interior on Sukhoi Superjet 100, as well as the possibility of safe flight operations of this aircraft type with the enhanced comfort layout which was submitted for certification.

Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft was presented in a new configuration as early as December 12, 2014, within the framework of the Russian-Indian summit in New Delhi, that was aimed at strengthening and development of bilateral relations between the countries.

The Russian delegation arrived to Russian-Indian summit by Sukhoi Superjet 100 VIP, which performed a non-stop flight on Moscow-New Delhi route. The flight lasted 6 hours 05 minutes with a range of 4,738 km. Thus, this flight became the longest passenger flight performed by Sukhoi Superjet 100 serial aircraft.

Passengers were able to accommodate comfortably in a cozy cabin of Sukhoi Superjet 100, its the equipment allowed not only to solve the work issues during the flight, but also to relax and concentrate before business meetings. It should be noted that a sofa with the possibility of side accommodation of passengers at all flight stages was for the first time created and certified by the Russian developers on this aircraft.

Royal Thai Air Force - the First Foreign SBJ Customer
In July 2016, JSC ‘Sukhoi Civil Aircraft’ transferred two Sukhoi Business Jets to Royal Thai Air Force. The delivery was carried out basing on the results of the tender that was won in 2014. The aircraft are used to transport the top officials of the state and the high command of Thailand. The supplied SBJs are the first SSJ100 in business version purchased by a foreign customer.

Treetod Sonjance, Air Chief Marshal of the Thai Air Force, mentioned the following at the aircraft delivery ceremony: ‘Since September 2014, from the moment of the contract for purchase of Sukhoi Business Jet aircraft was signed, SCAC employees have made every effort to deliver a high-quality product that exactly meets our requirements specifications and is equipped with everything necessary for ground handling. The delivery of aircraft, like all previous stages of cooperation, went in strict accordance with the schedule.’

SBJ for the Royal Thai Air Force fleet is divided into three zones: a four-seat VIP zone, a business zone with six seats and an additional lavatory, a standard zone accommodating 50 passengers. The aircraft are equipped with the state-of-the-art passenger comfort systems, including various types of communication and a multimedia entertainment system on board. The SBJ flight range is more than 4,500 km for eight passengers. The assembly of the aircraft, including the interior, is performed in Russia.

Special Purpose Aircraft for EMERCOM
In September 2014, the United Aircraft Corporation concluded the contract with the EMERCOM of Russia for delivery of two airborne command posts on the basis of SSJ100 aircraft and the aircraft were transferred to the customer as early as the end of 2015.

One of them, having medical-evacuation functions, was designed and manufactured in such a way as to provide transportation of up to 58 passengers in a passenger version or up to four injured persons on medical modules and a group of accompanying doctors in a medical evacuation version. One of the medical modules can be equipped with a newborn infant intensive care nursery — it is a unique modern option that is available on few special purpose aircraft.

Embarkation and disembarkation of the injured can be carried out both on stretchers and on a lifting device specially designed for these aircraft.

The second aircraft, with its multiple functions, is to be used as a command post, but the requirements specifications also provided for the installation of two medical modules for the evacuation of the injured. In the passenger version, this aircraft can have 19 passenger seats, however, it provides more comfortable conditions for the work of the emergency operations center.

In addition to special convertible cabins and medical equipment, both aircraft are equipped with special search equipment, satellite telephony, wi-fi and internet on board, internal and external videoconferencing, radiation monitoring equipment, as well as the operator's seat for monitoring all special systems on board.

VEMINA Aviaprestige company was selected for the development, delivery and installation of the interior elements. The aircraft created in the course of the project are unique. The aircraft are the mobile command post, providing uninterrupted communication for the control, coordination and interaction of special reaction forces.

Sukhoi Business Jet for Athletes
A mockup model of SportJet by Sukhoi, an aircraft designed specifically for professional athletes was presented in summer of 2016. The aircraft cabin is divided into four functional zones: a recovery zone with multifunctional physiotherapy equipment, a recreation zone with comfortable sleeping places and biometric data control devices built into SMARTseats, a zone for the coaching staff, where they can analyze the team's actions in the inviting atmosphere, as well as a convenient zone for administrative staff.

Development Course
Thus, SBJ is a unique aircraft that can not only meet, but also exceed the expectations of the most demanding customers. It can also be a flying office both for regular employees and for top management of the company and its guests, and a meeting-room for high-level negotiating parties, a command post in an emergency situation, a transport for quick evacuation from the disaster zone, a communication point and a means of maintaining the physical strength for the Olympic champions.

The development of SBJ project goes on and currently the aircraft is being continuously improved: it is planned to gradually introduce individual technical solutions in accordance with the wishes of the customers, for example, a shower booth, integral airstairs, satellite communications, in-flight entertainment systems and other options. In addition, it is planned to install auxiliary fuel tanks and wing tips which will significantly increase the flight range. After all, the goal is to ensure a non-stop flight over a distance of more than 7000 km.