Azat Khakim’s pupil from Boeing will fly Superjets
On 7 September, one of the top managers of American Boeing Kamil Gainutdinov officially headed Sukhoi Civil Aircraft CJSC that manufactures Superjets. In his new post, Gainutdinov is expected to use the experience he gained abroad and arrange after sale service of planes. As Realnoe Vremya found out, the appointment is connected with Tatarstan – the new head's work history began in Azat Khakim's Tulpar. Very Gainutdinov regularly visits his family in Kazan. In an interview with Realnoe Vremya, Azat Khakim remembers how the acting head of one of the large aviation enterprises of Russia was given a job as a pilot.
Who is Mr Gainutdinov?
The appointment that federal mass media announced at the end of August took place on 7 August. Sukhoi Civil Aircraft CJSC, which is a part of the United Aviation Corporation, was chaired by Kamil Gainutdinov who is a former top manager of American Boeing. Experts think Gainutdinov will be allotted an uneasy task that is to build a system of after sale service of the so-called Superjets – Russian medium-haul jets SSJ 100.
Kommersant cites its own sources and says the president of the United Aviation Corporation Yury Slyusar personally chose candidates for the management of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft. It is known that Kamil Gainutdinov worked at Utair from 2003 where he was responsible for helicopter carriages abroad. In 2005, he headed Commercial Aviation Services at Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Russia and CIS countries that deals with material and technical support, engineering and design and maintenance of planes in the summertime.
As Realnoe Vremya knew, Kamil Gainutdinov is directly connected with Kazan. He started his career at Tulpar. And his family members – his mother and sister – are still living in Kazan.
'As for the interests of Tatarstan, I think it will be beneficial'
We talked to the head of Tulpar Azat Khakim to know about the Kazan pages in the bio of the new head of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft more.
Could you tell us who Kamil Gainutdinov is?
A specialist and a professional. As he was appointed as the head, it means the level of his professionalism corresponds to it. He started his work history here at Tulpar. Kamil graduated simultaneously from two faculties and got two professions by the Kyiv Aviation Institute as a pilot-engineer. He also learnt English during this time. The fact that he managed to become a pilot, navigator and learn English illustrates that he is no mean expert. As far as I remember, he comes from Middle Asia, from Osh city. They moved to Kazan. As far as I'm concerned, his sister and mother are living here.
It was difficult to find a job at that time. Now I can't tell for sure but it was in 1998 or 1999, that is to say, in the late 90s. He came to me, but I did not need pilots at that time. During the talk, he told he had a navigation licence and spoke English. It interested me – I understood because he managed to get two specialities during this time, this person liked to work and was smart. I hired him. Initially, he started to fly a helicopter. During his work with us, we sent him to study to Melbourne. He studied there for 1,5 year and came back. But the volume of works in our company did not comply with the knowledge he got. Having worked a bit, he came and told me: 'Can I go further because here I can't use the knowledge I got during this time?' I gave him the green light. And he went to Utair where he had an important position and was responsible for helicopters.
'A specialist and a professional. As he was appointed as the head, it means the level of his professionalism corresponds to it. He started his work history here at Tulpar.' Photo: ato.ru
Then Boeing informed it had a vacancy of a representative of technical maintenance in Russia and CIS countries. As far as I remember, it was something like this. He was chosen out of 26 candidates. So he joined Boeing and worked in Seattle for a long time. He learnt much about aviation during this time and was invited to work here.
In your opinion, has this appointment been good or bad for Tatarstan?
It is good, of course, if our Tatar man from Kazan occupies this post. As for the interests of Tatarstan, I think it will be beneficial. He remembers his Tatar roots. He has relatives here. His mother is here. Sure, we will have advantages from it.
When did you see him the last time?
He came to visit his mother, and we met about a year ago. When he comes to Kazan, he always visits us, Tulpar. In general, we communicate and continue keeping in touch.
'I can't bear the thought of working in favour of Boeing'
Nevertheless, he was a top manager at Boeing. It turns out that Sukhoi is its rival. Is not there any contradiction?
But you know that Boeing participated in the creation of Superjets. And then he is not American, he is Russian. He has Russian citizenship. It is clear he is a patriot of our country. Are you simply asking whether he might work for Boeing?
Yes.
I don't think so because we have services that check it all before the appointment. Knowing him, his decency, I can't bear the thought of working in favour of Boeing.
'Then he is not American, he is Russian. He has Russian citizenship. It is clear he is a patriot of our country. Are you simply asking whether he might work for Boeing?' Photo: Roman Khasaev
What can you say about the state of affairs of Superjets?
Unfortunately, the project is unprofitable at the moment. There are several serious gaps in sales organisation, sales after service. It seems he was invited to use the experience of Boeing, which is one of the most advanced aviation corporations in the world. Probably he was invited in order to try to adapt positive experience to our Russian reality. I think it explains the decision.
From your point of view, isn't it an irony of fate that a person from Tatarstan will promote Superjet that is also a rival of our Tu-334?
First of all, it is not ours. Secondly, it was not produced, there was not any copy . It was decided a long time ago that it wouldn't be produced. This is why, in this case, this comparison is irrelevant. This plane almost exists because it had not a mass production.
Why did it happen?
It is difficult to say it now. Probably it was a result of some political intrigues. Pogasyan maybe was more welcomed in the top. It is difficult to find those people who were responsible for it. It is what we have. Today it is late to return to the Tu-334 production. If it was created almost 30 years ago, nowadays this plane has been obsolete. Moreover, it was presupposed to have Ukrainian engines.