Story ID: 
Willis Signs for Superjets
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: Novato, Calif.-based Willis Lease Finance, a leading lessor of  commercial jet engines, last month signaled its intention to enter the  regional jet leasin
Word Count: 189
Novato, Calif.-based Willis Lease Finance, a leading lessor of  commercial jet engines, last month signaled its intention to enter the  regional jet leasing business by signing an MOU with Superjet  International covering the purchase of six Sukhoi Superjet 100s and  options for four more. The agreement, valued at some $300 million if  Willis exercises all its options, specifies 98-seat SSJ 100-95s, the  first of which the parties have scheduled for delivery in September  2012.   The contract marks the first commitment for Superjets involving a U.S.-based company.  “In addition to the strong potential we see for developing new regional  markets throughout the world, we believe the transaction is a strategic  one for us,” said Willis Lease president and CEO Charles Willis. “The  international consortium of companies involved in the launch of this  aircraft includes Powerjet, which is composed of NPO Saturn–the major  Russian engine manufacturer–and [France’s] Snecma, whose [CFMI] engines  make up a significant portion of our current portfolio.”  Sukhoi expects the Superjet to receive Russian certification in time for  delivery of the first production examples to Aeroflot and Armenian flag  carrier Armavia by year-end.