Ilyushin Aviation Announces 2015 Servicing Program for Seven Large Aircraft

Ilyushin Aviation Complex said on Monday that it plans to service seven series IL-76 and IL-78 aircraft, as part of a series of repairs which can prolong the working life of the aircraft by an additional 20 years.

"In accordance with the conditions of the delivery of IL-76 aircraft to clients, and their specifications, major servicing work on the aircraft is necessary after 5,000 flying hours, or 2,500 flights, or five years, whichever is first," explained the company in a press release.

"The intended lifetime of the plane at production was 30,000 flying hours, 10,000 flights, or 20 years. However, when the aircraft are serviced, their working life can be extended to as many as 40 years."

In May two planes, one IL-76 and one IL-78, took off from the Ilyushin Aviation base in the town of Zhukovsky, in the Moscow region, increasing the number of aircraft repaired to date in 2014-2015 to nine. The company plans for another seven aircraft to undergo the necessary repair work by the end of 2015.

The IL-76 aircraft, also known by its NATO codename 'Candid,' is a multi-purpose four-engine military transport plane which is able to operate from short and unpaved runways. The aircraft was introduced in 1974 and has seen extensive service in Europe, Asia and Africa delivering troops and combat material, providing disaster relief efforts and as a commercial freighter.  

The IL-78, also known by the NATO reporting name 'Midas,' is a four-engine air-to-air refueling tanker, which is capable of refueling a maximum of four planes simultaneously on the ground. The aircraft, which entered into service in 1984, is based on the IL-76 and can be used as a military transport aircraft for airdrops and for delivering passengers and cargo.