The Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft successfully went through additional certification trials on expanding operational conditions in the high north latitude area. Trials involved SSJ100 flight prototype MSN95005 and took place in the airport Tiksi, Yakutiya, Russia, from 12 to 19 April 2012. The airport is located at the 71.7 degree of the north latitude.

According to the test program the aircraft performed 11 flights including a nonstop flight from Zhukovsky, Moscow Region to Tiksi (4,380 km), eight flights from Tiksi and a final flight on the route Tiksi — Krasnoyarsk — Zhukovsky. The crew consisted of the SCAC test pilot Sergey Korostiev, GosNII GA test pilot & IAC AR expert Mikhail Torokhov, SCAC test navigator Oleg Shvetsov and representatives of the Certification centers.

The flight tests proved the proper functioning of the aircraft avionics, most notably the inertial reference system and the satellite navigation systems GPS and Glonass, in flights in high north latitude area (up to 78 degree).

The report on the additional high north latitude trials is being prepared. It will be submitted to the Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC AR) to get Supplement to the SSJ100 Type Certificate.

This enhancement of operational conditions is of particular importance for the Russian carrier Yakutiya Airlines, which plans to receive two SSJ100 aircraft this year to fly to Arctic airports.

Sukhoi press release