Wedoany.com Report on Feb 12th, United Aircraft Corporation recently conducted ground tests on the Ilyushin Il-114-300 turboprop aircraft at Yakutsk Airport to evaluate its operational performance in extreme cold conditions. The tests were carried out in mid-February, when temperatures in the Siberian region typically drop to between minus 35 and 45 degrees Celsius.

The company stated that Ilyushin specialists aimed to find the "lowest possible" temperature conditions for testing, simulating the severe cold scenarios that could be encountered during flight missions in northern Russia. The operator of Yakutsk Airport commented, "The Il-114-300 is the answer to the need for reliable aircraft to maintain regional connectivity." This aircraft model is designed to replace the aging Antonov An-24 and some foreign-made models, such as the ATR 72, and is expected to become a core component of Russia's regional aviation network.

Certification work for this 68-seat twin-engine aircraft is currently ongoing. The Il-114-300 prototype began flight tests in December 2020, with the second and third airframes joining the test sequence in March 2024 and March 2025, respectively. Through the extreme weather tests at Yakutsk Airport, the Il-114-300 has demonstrated its adaptability to harsh climates, laying the groundwork for future operations across Russia's vast territories.