It's funny that when you look into the accident statistics of these Russian made planes, considering the details, it's not bad at all. Nearly all accidents were caused by gross pilot error or involved airframes that had too many flight hours and that had been frequently subjected to harsh conditions (such as ill-prepared airfields and so on). Such circumstances would screw up any plane, regardless of origin. Look at how bad the safety record looks for the B737 series, it's probably the worst of all commercial airliners in operation today. But when you consider the details, you realize that the majority of incidents involved old airframes operated by poor airlines (and thus with insufficient maintenance) in bad conditions and so on. So it bears little relevance to a modern B737-800 in a major European airline.

But reputation is reputation, those things are usually shallow I suppose and subsequently I would call this a good PR move. They (KHL) don't really need to do this but it looks better in the media. I have flown in Russian aircraft (Il-96 and SSJ100), both rather modern and both comparable to Western planes of the same class and age, in terms of comfort and general feel. 

This is treason. If Russian airline carriers are not safe then nobody should use them. Putin must stop this cynical plan and instead make all airline carriers inside Russia safe for all Russian people.

Vasja: A car is an entirely different thing. A modern Lada looks pretty decent but is full of cheap measures inside, much like many modern Chinese vehicles. In order to mass produce high quality vehicles you need experience with the manufacture, experience with the market, experience with the tooling and so on - this is why a manufacturer that for most of its lifetime built cheap commie carriages seldomly produces something worthwile. A cheap BMW is better than an expensive Lada, because BMW has experience in hi-end vehicles and can, with relative ease, get something onto the budget market while still retaining the expertise. The same cannot be said for a low-end vehicle manufacturer trying to suddenly make a name in a different market. It's not impossible, but it will be hard.

A modern UAC aircraft is the result of 80 odd years of aviation experience, has to follow much stricter guidelines to be okayed for traffic than a car and so on. My experience with modern Russian aircraft has been very good, not to mention that the UAC builds some of the best and most capable military aircraft in the world today.

Ladas don't sound like a car I would care to drive. They look kind of cool. 

Airplanes?

Trevor wrote in #1

It's funny that when you look into the accident statistics of these Russian made planes, considering the details, it's not bad at all. Nearly all accidents were caused by gross pilot error or involved airframes that had too many flight hours and that had been frequently subjected to harsh conditions (such as ill-prepared airfields and so on). Such circumstances would screw up any plane, regardless of origin. Look at how bad the safety record looks for the B737 series, it's probably the worst of all commercial airliners in operation today. But when you consider the details, you realize that the majority of incidents involved old airframes operated by poor airlines (and thus with insufficient maintenance) in bad conditions and so on. So it bears little relevance to a modern B737-800 in a major European airline.

But reputation is reputation, those things are usually shallow I suppose and subsequently I would call this a good PR move. They (KHL) don't really need to do this but it looks better in the media. I have flown in Russian aircraft (Il-96 and SSJ100), both rather modern and both comparable to Western planes of the same class and age, in terms of comfort and general feel. 

Boeing 737-100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, and NextGen have a BAD safety record(worst of all commercial airliners?  Really? .........Really?  Tupolev probably has the BEST right?

sierranevada25: I said the "737 series" as a whole You completely missed my point, of course the 600, 700, 800, 900 and NGs have splendid records because they are very modern, but the 737 series as a whole has the worst safety record of any airliner today. Don't believe me? About 140 Boeing 737 airframes have been written off after accidents.

And the reason why? Because the earlier series planes have been sold cheaply to poor airlines with crappy standards, simple as that. As I said. It doesn't have squat to do with any inherent unsafety of the 737.

So this is what I mean, again, This Yak-42 crash was due to pilot error, the plane was operated by a poor airline with dubious standards et cetera. This is what brings planes down. Very, very few aircraft today are unsafe to fly if they are handled properly. Actually, I can't even think of a single type. Mind you, the issues with getting a jet airliner to work properly were sorted out in the 1950's. That's a long time ago.

And where did I say that Tupolev has the best record? Or Russian aircraft at all, for that matter? I haven't even mentioned Tupolev anywere (I have flown Sukhoi and Ilyushin).  Why do you imagine seeing propaganda where there is none, Russophobe much? I just pointed out some obvious things. 

Trevor wrote in #7

sierranevada25: I said the "737 series" as a whole You completely missed my point, of course the 600, 700, 800, 900 and NGs have splendid records because they are very modern, but the 737 series as a whole has the worst safety record of any airliner today. Don't believe me? About 140 Boeing 737 airframes have been written off after accidents.

And the reason why? Because the earlier series planes have been sold cheaply to poor airlines with crappy standards, simple as that. As I said. It doesn't have squat to do with any inherent unsafety of the 737.

So this is what I mean, again, This Yak-42 crash was due to pilot error, the plane was operated by a poor airline with dubious standards et cetera. This is what brings planes down. Very, very few aircraft today are unsafe to fly if they are handled properly. Actually, I can't even think of a single type. Mind you, the issues with getting a jet airliner to work properly were sorted out in the 1950's. That's a long time ago.

And where did I say that Tupolev has the best record? Or Russian aircraft at all, for that matter? I haven't even mentioned Tupolev anywere (I have flown Sukhoi and Ilyushin).  Why do you imagine seeing propaganda where there is none, Russophobe much? I just pointed out some obvious things. 

Trevor,

Russophobe?  Not quite.....  Re-Reading your "original" post, you make the correlation that Russian aircraft manufacturers RELATIVELY are maybe the GREATEST of all time......  My only "statistical" inference is that the Boeing 737 series regardless of where they fly is that the sheer amount of aircraft produced is NOT even comparable to any "Soviet" era made aircraft.  Tupolev 154 I think ranks number 1 as a commercial air frame, however, any number I give you will be "chided" as "Western" propaganda .... so I can't win....

BUT.....I leave you recently with a simple story(however you will NOT believe it) when I talked to a "Russian" diplomat in First Class on a flight to Los Angeles, when he advised me that his granddaughter(s) will NOT fly anything but Boeing aircraft....I asked why, he said because they are my "granddaughters"....  Could you imagine Putin if he heard this?  Russophobe? I think not...