Antonov An-140
| Company type | Design bureau |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Headquarters | Kyiv , Ukraine |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Aircraft, including Antonov An-140 |
| Website | www |
The Antonov An-140 is a turboprop regional aircraft created by the Ukrainian design bureau Antonov ASTC as an updated replacement for the Antonov An-24, featuring increased cargo volume and the capability to operate from unprepared runways.
Design and development
The An-140, which accommodates 52 passengers, first took to the skies on 17 September 1997. Its primary manufacturing occurs at the main facility in Kharkiv operated by KHDABP, with additional production carried out in Samara by Aviakor. Furthermore, licensed assembly is performed in Iran by the HESA, where it is known as the IrAn-140.[1] Discussions involving the governments of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Russia have also explored the possibility of assembling the aircraft in Kazakhstan.[2]
Kharkiv-based production ceased in 2005 after producing a total of 11 units.[3] Manufacturing in Isfahan spanned from 2000 until 2015, utilizing components sourced from both Ukraine and Iran.[3] Iran has expressed dissatisfaction regarding Antonov’s fulfillment of parts supply commitments.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
A visually identical An-140 is produced by Aviakor in Samara, Russia. Due to the suspension of Ukrainian-Russian collaboration on aircraft manufacturing, Aviakor's version is assembled exclusively with Russian-made parts. The Pratt & Whitney Canada engine option is omitted from this variant.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Aviakor completed its final An-140 production in 2016 and delivered the aircraft to a client in 2017.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Variants
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- An-140T (Tactical airlifter)
- The An-140T represents a lightweight military transport aircraft derived from the An-140-100 turboprop passenger plane. It is equipped with a rear cargo ramp facilitating the loading and unloading of personnel and materials. A similar military transport model, the An-140S, includes a larger hatch for cargo access. In 2013, Aviakor revealed plans to deliver An-140T/S variants to the Russian Ministry of Defense by 2017, intending to replace the existing fleet of approximately 300 An-24 and An-26 aircraft operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces. However, by 2014, Dmitry Rogozin, then Russian deputy prime minister overseeing the military–industrial complex, declared Russia would discontinue the An-140T/S program amid deteriorating ties with Ukraine and instead focus on developing the Ilyushin Il-112.
- An-140TK (convertible cargo-passenger)
- This variant offers flexibility for transporting both freight and passengers.
- An-140 VIP
- The VIP configuration of the regional An-140 aircraft is tailored to accommodate up to 30 passengers in a comfortable setting. The cabin can be segmented into two or three distinct areas: an exclusive lounge featuring four plush seats with audio-video systems, a business class section, and an economy cabin containing 24 standard seats arranged along a conventional aisle.
- An-140-100
- This version differs from the base model primarily due to its extended wingspan. It is adaptable for various roles including civilian transport, military missions, and specialized tasks such as maritime patrol, medical evacuation, aerial photography, geological surveys, and cargo hauling.
- HESA IrAn-140
- The IrAn-140 is produced under license by HESA in Shahin Shahr, Iran. Assembly is performed using complete knock-down kits supplied by Antonov. As of 2008, production targets aimed for 13 units annually. Plans included developing maritime patrol (IrAn-140MP) and freighter (IrAn-140T) variants. The overall goal was to manufacture 100 aircraft, with 20 intended for use by Iranian border patrol and surveillance services.
- On 9 November 2010, during the Kish air show opening address, Iran’s transport minister announced that 14 IrAn-140 aircraft had been completed to date; the first six entered operational commercial service on 19 February 2011. Nevertheless, following the crash of Sepahan Airlines Flight 5915, Iran's Civil Aviation Organization imposed a ban on An-140 operations within the country, grounding all remaining Iranian-registered aircraft of this type. On 23 August 2014, Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan, Iran's Minister of Defence, affirmed that IrAn-140 airplanes fully comply with ICAO standards and are certified by Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization.
HESA Simourgh
On 19 May 2022, Iran introduced a new transport aircraft derived from the An-140/IrAn-140 platform. This aircraft, designated as the HESA Simourgh, is capable of transporting up to 6 tonnes of cargo or personnel. Iranian authorities have stated that this model is an improved variant of the IrAn-140, addressing previous issues encountered in earlier versions. Notable modifications include alterations to the tail, wings, and fuselage, along with the addition of a cargo ramp.
Operators
As of December 2022, a total of 23 An-140 aircraft and an additional 10 HESA IrAn-140 units have been produced for both commercial airlines and governmental use, including prototypes. Out of these 33 airplanes, only 9 currently remain operational. Approximately 20 are kept in storage, while four An-140s have been lost due to accidents.
| Operator | Active Fleet | Orders |
|---|---|---|
| Russia Yakutia Airlines | 2 | — |
| Russia Russian Naval Aviation | 4 | — |
| Total | 9 | 3 |
Accidents and incidents
Since its debut in 2002, the Antonov An-140 has been involved in five significant accidents or incidents, including four that resulted in total loss of the aircraft and caused 111 fatalities among occupants. Among these losses, three involved HESA IrAn-140 planes manufactured in Iran using knock-down kits supplied by Antonov.
- On 23 December 2002, Aeromist-Kharkiv Flight 2137, an An-140 registered UR-14003 carrying prominent Ukrainian aviation engineers and designers, crashed into mountainous terrain while approaching Isfahan Airport in Iran. All 44 individuals aboard perished. The delegation was en route to attend ceremonies marking the first HESA IrAn-140 airframe's completion. The investigation attributed the crash to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) caused by improper use of the cockpit satellite navigation system.
- On 12 August 2005, a HESA IrAn-140 operated by Safiran Airlines experienced an engine failure which forced diversion to Arak Airport. During landing, the aircraft overran the runway and sustained substantial damage; fortunately, no casualties occurred. The engine malfunction was linked to issues within the fuel control unit. This airframe was later repaired in the early 2010s and repurposed by HESA as a test platform for future aircraft variants. Following this event, Safiran Airlines returned its remaining two IrAn-140s to the manufacturer.
- Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 217, an An-140-100 with registration 4K-AZ48, crashed into the Caspian Sea on 23 December 2005 at approximately 22:40 local time. All 23 passengers and crew aboard lost their lives. Investigations revealed that three independent gyroscopes failed to provide reliable heading and attitude data early in the flight. Subsequently, Azerbaijan Airlines grounded its remaining An-140 fleet and cancelled further orders for this model from Ukraine.
- On 15 February 2009, a test flight involving an IrAn-140-100 (registration HESA 90-04) ended tragically near Shahin Shahr in Isfahan province when the aircraft crashed during training operations, resulting in five fatalities among crew members.
- On 10 August 2014, Sepahan Airlines Flight 5915, an IrAn-140-100 registered EP-GPA, crashed shortly after departing from Tehran Mehrabad International Airport on a domestic flight bound for Tabas. Initial reports indicated approximately 40 passengers and eight crew were aboard when the plane broke apart and caught fire following an engine failure shortly after takeoff. Eight survivors were reported. The aircraft was equipped with Klimov TV3-117VMA-SBM1 engines and had been manufactured in 2008. Witnesses stated that engine number two ceased functioning during takeoff. In response to this accident, Iranian authorities grounded all IrAn-140 aircraft pending investigation results. On 23 August 2014, Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan, Iran's Minister of Defence, declared that IrAn-140 planes fully comply with ICAO standards and are certified by Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation—a statement made amidst ongoing inquiries into the Tehran crash.
Specifications (An-140 AI-30 engines)
See also
References
External links
File:Commons-logo.svg Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons
- Overview of the AN-140 Regional Passenger Aircraft – Antonov
- AN-140 – Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company
Template:Portalbar Template:Antonov aircraft Template:Iranian Aircraft
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