Indonesia's Sky Aviation takes delivery of first Sukhoi Superjet 100

JAKARTA's Sky Aviation, established in 2010, has taken delivery of its first Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100), and will begin commercial operations by the end of the month.

The delivery - the first of 12 aircraft - comes less than a year after an SSJ100 crashed into an Indonesian mountainside during a demonstration flight in May, reported Maryland-based Air Transport World.

The accident, which has been attributed to human error, killed 45 people including several representatives of Sky Aviation, which operates from Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport.

"Earlier Indonesian aviation authorities validated the Type Certificate for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft," Sukhoi said in a statement. "This validation confirms compliance of the SSJ100 to the certification requirements of the Indonesian Aviation Authority, allowing its exports to Indonesia and operations by Indonesian airlines without restrictions."

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is a regional jet in the 75- to 95-seat category. With development starting in 2000, the airliner was designed by the civil aircraft division of the Russian aerospace company Sukhoi in co-operation with Boeing.

Designed to compete with rivals An-148, Embraer and Bombardier, the Superjet 100 claims lower operating costs at a lower purchase price of US$35 million.