MNA� An official of Iran's Aviation Companies Association said purchasing Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft is no more at stake for it suffers from a technical issue with its empennage.


Maghsoud Asadi-Samani however noted that three private airlines of Iran have conducted negotiations with the Russian side over leasing and not buying the Russian jet since SSJ100 is not widely known among Iranian airlines.

�The aircraft will enter Iran�s space only after necessary permits are issued and the emerged problem with SSJ100�s tail has raised questions even on its hiring unless the Russian firm resolves existing issues,� he added.

The official said purchasing of SSJ100 can be an option only after it demonstrates its capabilities during its tenancy.

�Despite willingness of private firms, state-owned companies have not voiced readiness to charter the Russian commercial jet though its technical issue is likely to have affected decisions made by airlines,� stressed Asadi-Samani noting that aviation companies might abandon the idea of leasing SSJ100 if the technical issue proves to be critical.

He had previously announced that �the Russian company will introduce its product to Iranian airlines during an air show on Tuesday December 13 and negotiations on purchasing the Russian-made aircraft will kick off afterwards.�

Meanwhile, a technical problem appeared in the empennage of the�Russian jet during the air show raising doubts as to suitability of the aircraft for Iran�s aviation fleet.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is a modern fly-by-wire twin-engine regional jet with up to 108 (all economy) passenger seats. With development initiated in 2000, the airliner was designed and spearheaded by Sukhoi, a division of the Russian civil aerospace company (UAC), in co-operation with several foreign partners.