In addition to writing for Aviation Week Network, Maxim holds a key position at Russia's Air Transport Observer magazine (www.ato.ru). In the past he was in charge of several ATO sister aerospace publications and earlier worked for the Moscow-based CAST defense think-tank.
Maxim has a degree on international relations from MGIMO University, Moscow, Russia, and for several years worked at the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Aeroflot has firmed up its order for 50 Irkut MC-21-300 narrowbody airliners. The aircraft will be procured through Avia Capital Services, a leasing arm of the Russian government-owned conglomerate Rostec Corp.
The production of this Cold War-era aircraft was suspended in 2008, but on Jan. 25 the defense ministry placed a new order with United Aircraft Corp. for 10 more airframes.
