Bye bye remaining Polish VIP Tu-154M...

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... sport.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

DATE:08/06/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Poland snaps up Embraer E175s for VIP transport

By Olivier Bonnassies

The Polish government is purchasing two Embraer E175-200LR airliners from LOT Polish Airlines to replace its Tupolev Tu-154M fleet.

Both aircraft, MSN 283 and MSN 285, are equipped with GE CF34-8E5 engines. They were delivered to LOT Polish Airlines in 2009.

Flightglobal understands that the E175s will be initially crewed by LOT and the Polish air force presidential division (36th Special Air Transport Regiment) will operate the aircraft on VIP duties on behalf of the ministry of defence.

The Polish air force owns two Tu-154M aircraft, one of which crashed in Russia in April.

LOT Polish Airlines took delivery of two additional E175s (MSN 306 and MSN 311) aircraft at the end of May. Its backlog now stands at two more aircraft of the type after it converted four E175s to the E195 model.

[ehusmann]

The Polish air force owns two Tu-154M aircraft, one of which crashed in Russia in April.

I find this a rather peculiar way of saying things... I think most people would agree they own only one at this moment.

Erwin

[Stratofreighter]

The first Embraer 175: http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/viewpho ... picid=6501" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But I guess it is only now "official"....

[Arjan]

Apparently allready arrived in Brussel today:
Also arrived

SP-LIG E170 PolAF ( Full PLF colours )

[Steve_Scramble]

""SP-LIG E170 PolAF ( Full PLF colours )""


Note that the E175 does NOT carry the PWL Pol AF military white/red check square on the tail.

Flown by a LOT flight crew, using a LOT flight number.

Maybe in time LOT will train air force flight crew to fly it and maybe at that time it *might* take on a military serial - time will tell.

Regards


Steve

http://polishaircraftblog.blogspot.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[corran]

This aircraft is not owned by Pol AF (as you have noticed it has no insignia) but only leased from LOT to fill the gap. The deal was made (not officialy) even before the Tu-154 crash and the whole case of E175 has not much to do with thecrash - E175 was intended to replace Jak-40 (not Tu-154).

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... g-lot.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

DATE:17/06/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Polish state considers Tu-154 fate after chartering LOT jets

By David Kaminski-Morrow

Poland's defence ministry is considering the future of its second Tupolev Tu-154M after opting to charter two LOT Embraer 175s for government transport.

The ministry had a pair of Tu-154s, one of which was the aircraft lost in the fatal landing accident at Smolensk on 10 April, which killed all 96 people on board, including President Lech Kaczynski. It has contracted with LOT to use two Embraer jets - which are being repainted in the presidential wing colour scheme - up to 2013. Both are being put into operation this month.

The cost of the four-year charter contract, says the defence ministry, amounts to 25 million zlotys ($7.5 million) per year.

Undersecretary of state for defence Marcin Idzik says there are three scenarios under consideration for the second Tu-154, which is due to return to the fleet in July. The government could continue to use it for VIP transport, convert the jet to a military transport, or sell it to the country's military property agency.

Last year the ministry had been looking at acquiring new medium-sized aircraft but says it was prevented from proceeding by the global economic crisis.

As a result of the Tu-154 accident, says Idzik, the ministry will have to look at the possibility of acquiring larger types.