The Aviation Register of Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC AR) issued a Supplemental Type Certificate for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100), permitting the usage of Vertical Navigation (VNAV) functionality at all stages of flight. The Sukhoi Superjet 100 represents the first Russian built aircraft to achieve VNAV certification at all stages of flight.

IAC AR confirmed that VNAV functionality can be used on Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft in its Basic version. The VNAV will be possible at all stages of the SSJ100 flight, as well as in the airports with non-precision approach.

The VNAV or vertical navigation is an aircraft function that calculates a vertical profile of the flight in accordance with the assigned path, considering aircraft performance, as well as all speed and height restrictions applied to a specific path.

VNAV functionality provides vertical profile keeping recommendations to pilots during climb and cruising. It also ensures a fully automatic control during descend and approach.

VNAV functionality of Sukhoi Superjet 100 significantly decreases crew workload and ensures compliance with all applicable restrictions.

“At the moment, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company is working on VNAV certification at IAC AR for the SSJ100 Long Range version. Moreover, the Company plans to achieve validation by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) of the VNAV functionality, certified by IAC AR, for the SSJ100 Basic and Long Range versions”, — stated Mr. Igor Vinogradov, the First Vice-President for Quality and Certification.

The SSJ100 VNAV functionality was tested on both “Electronic Bird” integration bench designed to test new equipment, software and aircraft systems, and during the real flights at SSJ100 prototype 95003 at Ramenskoe airfield in Zhukovskiy, near Moscow. There were 58 test flights on the “Electronic Bird” integration bench and 24 flights performed by the test aircraft.

During the bench running and ground tests, the VNAV was successfully demonstrated on the SSJ100 at all stages of flight: take-off, climb, cruising, descending, approach and missed approach. The tests also confirmed the accuracy of the assigned vertical profile-keeping performance, in accordance with the applicable rules of IAC AR, EASA and FAA.

Sukhoi Superjet press release