Iran to produce 8 and 14-seat helicopters by 2015
By Sara Rajabova
Iran unveiled the new technological achievements it has made in recent years.
The country is developing its aviation sphere with a new generation of passenger planes and helicopters.
Head of Iranian Civil Aviation Organization Manouchehr Manteghi announced that Iran is working on building two new 8- and 14-seat home-made helicopters, ISNA news agency reported.
Manteghi said the helicopters have already been designed, and the project will be completed by March 2015.
Earlier in 2012, Iran presented two domestic helicopters called "Panha 1" and "Panha 2."
Panha 1 is a medium-class helicopter capable of carrying 14 people, and is suitable for both military and non-military use. Panha 2 is smaller, of a light-weight class, capable of carrying 8 passengers.
Manteghi noted that Iran is currently developing a new generation of Iran-141 aircraft and the new plane will be completed by March 2015.
He also said the country is pursuing the project of developing a new generation of Iran-140 passenger air planes for export, adding that the project will be completed in 12-16 months.
Iran is currently cooperating with Ukraine and Russia in the production and operation of the Antonov An-140 aircrafts which can carry 52 passengers.
After purchasing the production license for the An-140 from Ukraine in 2000, Iran built its first Iran-140 passenger plane in 2003.
Manteghi also predicted that Iran will finalize plans on building an airplane capable of carrying 150 passengers in the next five years.
Three international companies have expressed readiness to get involved in the project, he said without further details.
Iran has several private and public airline companies in operation, the oldest one being the state-run Iran Air.
The growth of Iran's civil aircraft fleet is happening in spite of the U.S.-engineered sanctions against the country's civil aviation industry.