CEO of the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran Mohammad Mohammadibakhsh announced on Saturday that the country is pressing ahead with the production of passenger planes after Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei stressed the need to develop this industry.
While the Ministry of Defense has taken charge of manufacturing a homegrown airplane and the Civil Aviation Organization is overseeing the process, the first phase of production of the new platform of Iran-140 plane has been finalized, he said.
Mohammadibakhsh said the plans to use the Iranian plane for different purposes other than carrying passengers have been finalized, adding, “We guess the new platform of Iran-140 plane will make its maiden flight by the end of this year.”
The current Iranian year will end on March 20.
Mohammadibakhsh also noted that there are 330 passenger planes in Iran, only 175 of which are in service.
Considering that Iran has 90 airports and a population of over 80 million, it needs at least 550 airplanes of different types and classes, he stated.
The CEO of the Civil Aviation Organization further noted that Iranian energy and infrastructure conglomerate MAPNA has embarked on a project to manufacture aircraft engines.
Highlighting the good steps taken in designing a homegrown airplane engine, he expressed hope that the final product would be unveiled in the near future.
After paying a visit to the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) in June 2022, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said he has ordered the experts at the factory to manufacture homegrown passenger planes with at least 72 seats in the near future.
In February 2021, the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran announced plans to launch the production line for Iranian 100-seater passenger aircraft.
According to CAO chief, Iran has become self-sufficient in repairing and supplying aircraft components and spare parts by getting help from domestic knowledge-based companies.