How. Does the age of aircraft affect their reliability? How often, when news appears about problems on airplanes, their age and supposedly poor condition as a result are mentioned. However, in reality one is not related to the other

Numerous surveys of airline passengers indicate that people enjoy flying on brand new airliners. We became interested in which Russian companies have the most modern aircraft, and found out the following.

First of all, let's figure out how the newness of an aircraft fleet is determined. One way is to compare the average age of airline fleets, but it is more interesting to look at the number of new aircraft for each air carrier.

S7

Famous Russian company fell in love with the A320neo family and purchased 20 aircraft of this series from Airbus. The model came off the assembly line only 3 years ago, so becoming the owner of two dozen brand new Neos is considered prestigious. In general, S7 loves to purchase modern aircraft: it was once the first in Russia to receive two copies of the then fresh Boeing 737 Max 8, but stopped releasing them into the air after two accidents of ships of this type that occurred in different countries.

Already at the stage of booking an S7 ticket, you can determine which airliner you will fly on: the information is visible on the website.

Quiz: find out the airline by the plane. 10 questions for experts:

"Ural Airlines"

This airline is also the proud owner of several A320neo and one A321neo, but they can be counted on one hand.

"Urals" does not indicate the type of aircraft when purchasing air tickets: flight to newest model becomes a surprise before boarding. True, several routes are served only by Neo, one of them is Moscow - Blagoveshchensk.

Other airlines

The average age of Aeroflot's fleet is only 5 years (this is considered a little), and it has not yet purchased new types of airliners. This year, deliveries of the long-haul Airbus A350 are planned, which will fly on foreign routes.

Pobeda has one of the freshest fleets (average age less than 3 years), it consists of modern, but no longer in production Boeing 737-800. Maxas have already been ordered to replace this model, but so far their deliveries have been delayed.

Azimuth flies on Superjet series aircraft, and its fleet is quite young. The remaining major domestic air carriers cannot boast of modern aircraft.

According to numerous surveys of air passengers, it became known that people prefer to fly on new airliners. That's why most Russian airlines purchases modern aircraft of domestic and foreign production, which not only replenish their fleet, but also displace old models from the times of the Soviet Union.

Which airlines are renewing their aircraft fleet?

To attract passengers, each airline tries to constantly update its aircraft fleet by purchasing new comfortable aircraft.

Air carrier S7

This Russian company has new A320neo airliners, which it purchased from Airbus. In total, the air carrier's fleet was replenished with 20 aircraft of this family, which began production only 3 years ago.

These airliners received new, efficient engines, which significantly increased their flight range and load capacity. When purchasing such vessels, airlines can choose models with 2 types of engines - European and American. The basic model A320neo, which can carry from 150 to 180 passengers, covers a distance of 6,800 km, and is therefore used for international air travel.

It should also be noted that S7 was one of the first in the Russian Federation to receive 2 Boeing 737 Max8, but stopped producing them on the line after 2 large-scale plane crashes involving these ships occurred in different countries of the world.

Passengers who choose this carrier can see which aircraft they will be traveling on when booking their tickets.

Ural Airlines Company

This company has several A320neo aircraft and just one A321neo, but it never shows its customers which model of aircraft they will be flying on, because... This information is not indicated on the tickets.

The A321neo aircraft of the A320 family have a slightly elongated fuselage and can carry from 150 to 180 people over long distances (up to 6800 km). They are mainly used for international flights, but 1 airliner operates on the route Moscow - Blagoveshchensk.

Aeroflot company

The average age of the ships in this company's fleet is 5 years, but it has not yet acquired any new aircraft. This year, Aeroflot management plans to buy a large, long-haul airliner, the Airbus A350, which will operate international flights.

This aircraft received a new wide fuselage, efficient engines and flight stabilizers. In addition, passengers will see a new beautiful cabin, in which 9 seats are located in the 1st row. This arrangement will be convenient for those passengers who travel in large groups and want to sit close to each other during the flight.

Air carrier "Aurora"

This is a subsidiary of Aeroflot, whose aircraft mainly fly in the Far East. Aurora's fleet includes a small number of new aircraft, but among them are the Airbus A319, as well as the Bombardier Dash series.

The Airbus A319 is a shortened version of the A320, with a flight range of 6,800 km at maximum load. The economy class cabin can accommodate 156 people, and the business class cabin can accommodate 124 passengers.

Pobeda Company

This air carrier boasts its new fleet of aircraft, the average age of which does not exceed 3 years. It includes fairly new narrow-body airliners Boeing 737-800, which at the moment have already been removed from the production line.

The aircraft cabin has 189 seats for economy class passengers and 160 for business class clients. At maximum load, it can cover a distance of 5,400 km, so it is used both for domestic flights and for international communications.

The company will soon receive new and improved Boeing 737MAX aircraft:

1. The 737MAX 7 will be able to carry from 130 to 170 people over a distance of 700 km.
2. The 737MAX 8 model with a flight range of 6,500 km is designed for 160-200 passengers.
3. Model 737MAX 9 with a stretched fuselage and a flight range of 6,500 km. Can take on board from 180 to 200 people.
4. The 737MAX 10 is the airliner with the longest fuselage. Accommodates 230 people. The aircraft is capable of delivering passengers to a destination located 6,000 km from the point of departure.

Air carrier "Azimuth"

The fleet is dominated by new Sukhoi Superjet-100 aircraft. This is the first airliner that was developed by Russian designers after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the first passenger aircraft created using innovative digital technologies. The development of the vessel was carried out by a subsidiary of the Sukhoi aviation concern - “ Civil aircraft Sukhoi."

These vehicles are designed to transport a small number of people over a distance of 3,000 to 4,500 km.

Air carrier Azur Air

He makes international charter flights from Russia to various resort destinations. The fleet of this company consists mainly of aircraft of the American company Boeing, the newest of which are:

1. The 737-900 can carry from 189 to 215 passengers over a distance of 5,900 km.
2. Model 757-200 with a flight range of 5,550 km, 224 seats in economy class and 201 in business class.
3. The 767-300, with 328 seats in economy class and 269 seats in business class, has a range of 9,700 km.
4. The 777-300 can carry up to 550 passengers in economy class and 479 passengers in business class over a range of 11,000 km at maximum load.

The rest of the major Russian air carriers cannot boast of new comfortable airliners, because... their fleet consists mainly of older An-24 models, with an average age of 25-30 years. In the future, they plan to purchase new aircraft of domestic and foreign production, which will replace Soviet aircraft that have expired their service life.

"Izhavia"

Average age of the aircraft fleet: 30 years

The Izhavia fleet contains only domestically assembled aircraft: An-24, An-26, Tu-134, Yak-42. The oldest aircraft are An-24. One board is almost 34.5 years old, the other two are almost 37 years old. These planes fly from Izhevsk to Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novy Urengoy. A relatively “fresh” model in the Izhavia fleet is the Yak-42. The youngest aircraft was produced in 1996.

PA "Cosmos" RSC "Energia"

Average fleet age: 29.8 years

In the park passenger aircraft only one model - Tu-134. The age of the liners is also uniform - not a single board is under 25 years old. However, age is not an obstacle to comfort: on forums, passengers note in surprise that the planes are in almost perfect condition.

Mirny aviation enterprise AK "Alrosa"

Average fleet age: 27.4 years

Another air carrier whose fleet contains only Soviet or Russian-made aircraft. The set is standard for a regional airline: An-24, An-26, Tu-134 and Tu-154. The oldest are An-24, which are used on flights from Mirny (Yakutia) to Lensk, Yakutsk and Polyarny. The youngest are Tu-154, flying from Mirny to largest cities Russia and to resorts. Three out of six Tu-154 aircraft were produced in the early 90s.

ATK "Yamal"

Average age of the fleet: 24 years

The first company on the list with foreign-made aircraft. ATK Yamal has five Boeing 737-500 aircraft in its fleet, ranging in age from 12 to 19 years. The carrier uses them on flights from Salekhard to Tyumen, Moscow, Sochi, Anapa and Krasnodar. In addition, the airline has old Tu-134 (average age - 28 years) and An-26 (27 years).

Saratov Airlines

Average fleet age: 23.2 years

Saravia (this is the abbreviated name the airline uses) has one model of aircraft in its fleet - the Yak-42. They fly from Saratov to Moscow, Surgut, Sochi, Hanover and Frankfurt. Aircraft age: from 15.5 to 28 years.

"Sakhalin Air Routes"

Average fleet age: 23.1 years

One of the most reliable air carriers in terms of following the schedule, most flights are carried out on foreign-made aircraft. Sakhalin Airways has seven aircraft from two manufacturers: Boeing and Bombardier. The oldest are two Boeing 737-200 aircraft, 26 and 27 years old. The rest of the models are younger - from 10 to 13 years old. In addition, An-24 flies on domestic routes: each aircraft is at least 30 years old.

Average fleet age: 22.7 years

UTair has one of the largest fleets of passenger aircraft in Russia, but it is very diverse: a dozen models from six different manufacturers. There is also a significant range in the age of the aircraft: from 8 to 37 years. The oldest are Tu-134, the average age of which exceeds 30 years. The youngest are two Boeing 757-200 (8 and 11 years old).

"Nordavia"

Average fleet age: 22.3 years

While the parent company (Aeroflot) flies Airbus aircraft, Nordavia's fleet mainly consists of Boeing-737-500 aircraft. The average age of these aircraft is 18.7 years. Also in the park there are An-24s, used on domestic flights like Arkhangelsk - Kotlas. These aircraft are at least 35 years old.

"Kuban Airlines"

Average fleet age: 21.6 years

The air carrier has two aircraft models in its fleet: Boeing 737 and Yak-42. Foreigners are fresher: their average age is 15.5 years. And for the “Yakovlevs” there is a range: from 17 to 30 years.

"Airlines of Dagestan"

Average fleet age: 21.4 years

The carrier's fleet is equipped with two Tupolev models: Tu-134 and Tu-154, which fly from Makhachkala to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Istanbul. The age of the Tu-134 is 29-30 years, the Tu-154 is younger, from 11 to 23 years.

"Kogalymavia"

Average age of the fleet: 21 years

The regional carrier has in its fleet the “standard” Tu-134 and Tu-154, as well as the Airbus A320 and Bombardier CRJ200. The oldest are Tu-134 (29 and 26 years old). And the Airbuses, one might say, are completely new: they are only seven years old.

"Yakutia"

Average age of the aircraft fleet: 20.5 years

"Kavminvodyavia"

Average age of the aircraft fleet: 20.5 years

The carrier has only domestically produced models: Tu-154 and Tu-204, designed to replace the Tu-154 on airlines. The age of the old “carcasses” ranges from 17 to 30 years. True, the Tu-204 cannot be called completely new: one aircraft is 11 years old, the second is almost 15 years old.

The venerable age of aircraft is one of the most common versions of plane crashes. However, experts argue that there is simply no such thing as an “old aircraft”, since civil aircraft are designed to last 25-30 years. Moreover, both new and “old” aircraft have completely identical flight performance and economic characteristics.

Throughout their service life, aircraft constantly undergo maintenance procedures, repairs and large-scale upgrades of operating systems.

After passing all the necessary procedures, even old aircraft approved for operation have absolutely functional systems. At the same time, they are practically no different from aircraft that have just rolled off the factory assembly line. For reference: the Russian airworthiness maintenance system is considered one of the most stringent and uncompromising technical control systems in the world.

The replacement of older aircraft is carried out by carriers in order to keep costs to a minimum. Modern aircraft consume less fuel, require less maintenance and look more attractive. Airliners that are between 12 and 17 years old are considered to be of the highest quality, since it is at this age that they acquire the best operating conditions.

Dangerous age of aircraft

According to international standards, the aircraft can be safely used for 30, 40 and even 50 years. However, most experts recommend refraining from further purchasing used aircraft, since their equipment and systems may be in poor condition if they are not properly maintained and maintained.

Each type of aircraft has a service life limit - they can be guaranteed to be 60 thousand flight hours and 12 thousand successful landings.

Thus, airliners that have been flying for more than 30 years can be considered dangerous aircraft, but they have their own, very important feature. An aircraft cannot be young or old - its unsuitability is determined solely by its service life. In this regard, you can even fly on an old airliner, the resource of which is constantly updated by the air carrier.