OREANDA-NEWS The first five new Russian light multipurpose Baikal aircraft are planned to be handed over to Aurora Airlines at the end of next year, Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov said, speaking at the government hour in the Federation Council.

The nine-seat Baikal is being created for regional air lines and is intended to replace the An-2 Corncob. Leonid Luzgin, CEO of the aircraft's developer and manufacturer, Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA), said at the end of May that there was already a firm contract for the supply of 10 aircraft with Aurora Airlines and preliminary agreements with KrasAvia and Aeroservice.

"At the end of next year, we must deliver the first five aircraft to Aurora Airlines. This work has been funded by the Ministry of Industry and will be completed within the time frame I mentioned," Alikhanov said, describing the progress of work on the Baikal aircraft. According to him, the certification of the new VK-800 engine and the new Russian-made propeller is expected this year.