And they already have a name for the would-be joint venture between Boeing and VSMPO-AVISMA: the Ural Boeing Manufacturing (UBM).
Talking about Boeing’s presence in Russia observed in a recent history, it may be said for sure it’s been growing. It is not only about many Boeing-manufactured aircraft, that are now rather common view in Russian airports, in liveries of many Russian air carriers (however, I spotted this Aeroflot’s 767 in Toronto, just a few days ago. They’ve been with the company for many years).
OK, a few images:
So, we were patiently waining in the line of aircraft to the departure RW 23 in Toronto, that was a ‘late afternoon rush-hour’, and everything moved slowly. And then the ‘Aeroflot 303′ came to land on the same runway.
‘A. Pushkin’ - it said on the plane’s ‘cheek’. Sweet, - Boeing manufactured plane named after the famous Russian poet of 19th century 
Which is OK, I think. There are ‘Saint-Petersburg’, ‘Moscow’, ‘Odessa’ in the US too. Oh, - how about ‘Sikorsky’ ?!
To be honest, I’m always getting a bit excited whenever I see one of the Aeroflot’s planes in Toronto. On that day we stood still waiting in the line, as this Russian ‘Boeing the Pushkin’ was slowly taxiing by, and I had a great chance for ’shooting’. Maybe, I’ll find the way how to pass ‘Hello’ to the crews who sat on the flight deck of the plane…
Chris, the captain asked: ‘Hmm, is there any chance you know somebody there on the plane?’ - ‘Quite a chance, Chris..’
It is also not too rare to observe such a picture:
And shortly before moving to Canada I deliberately skipped a chance to fly other Boeing types for another Russian company, the Air Bridge Cargo
(to be continued…)
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Hey Sergey,
Nice photos, especially the ‘past and present’ photo.
To tell you the truth, I was amazed to learn about your transition from Aeroflot to Westjet. It sort of puzzled me. I’m sure the reasons were complicated. Maybe we’ll get a chance to discuss this in person sometime in the future.
p.s. I’m starting my ground school for my CPL next week, can’t wait.
Happy flying!
August 28th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Hi, Evgeni
Glad to hear you liked pics.
Yeah, It took some considerable effort to accomplish such a transition: “from Aeroflot to WJ, straight-in“.
But I make no secret about this. Do away with all ‘Soviet-style secrecy’ - that’s the main secret, though
And I’m sharing these ’secrets’ with all folks who may consider to do the same.
Yesterday we flew from Kelowna (YLW) to Edmonton (YEG), not a longest flight in our WJ system, as you may figure out, but anyway, - we just switched from Vancouver to Edmonton Centre frequency, and I hear an Aeroflot Flight 301 en route from UUEE to KLAX checking in with Edmonton on the same freq. I asked permission from the ATC controller to talk to them. Then we arranged a little chat on 123.45. I left my phone #, maybe the guy I talked to will give me a call some other day.
Have you ever heard about a new initiative Jazz wants to implement soon - with regard to hiring flight college graduates right from the school, and put them onto a training course that would eventually let them fly on line as F/Os with NO previous commercial experience?
I read it in the ‘National Post’ of Aug, 27
Take care,
excel mastering your CPL course
C
August 29th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Yes, I’ve heard about this new initiative by Jazz. It’s really stirring up a lot of debates among the Canadian pilots. My grudge is with the comment by Jazz regarding a ‘pilot shortage’ in Canada. I really don’t see it. I’ve spoken to a few pilots with above average experience and they’re not able to get an interview. In addition, if they really wanted to hire experienced pilots maybe they should reflect on the lousy salary offered.
Needless to say, I’m not interested. ; )
August 31st, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Evgeni,
Maybe, Jazz’s ‘tasting water’, eh?
Seems here in Canada there’s been NO more or less sustainable practice of use this ‘ab-initio’ college thing.
Will see what’s gonna happen in the near future.
- my rough estimate is that 60-70% of the Aeroflot’s pilot work force today are the former graduates of ‘ab-initio’ colleges in Aqtyubinsk and Kirovorgad, and moreover, these programs are still on - there’s an institute in Ulyanovsk that prepare pilot cadre. I know a few young fellows working now for Aeroflot who underwent this type of thing and got into a right seat on Tu-134, 154. In recent years Aeroflot has got a few Tu-154 captains under their 30s too.
If they asked me, I would tell them ‘how it used to be in the USSR’
Dare to dream!
Talk to you,
Clash