Bombardier’s Q400 became the largest Western-manufactured turboprop aircraft to gain approval to operate in Russia and the CIS last month, when the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC)–commonly known by its Russian acronym, MAK–awarded the airplane AP-25 type certification.

“Russian carriers have been using Bombardier regional aircraft since 2003,” said Steven Aliment, vice president sales, Europe, Russia and CIS, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “Currently, more than 80 Bombardier Dash 8/Q-Series turboprops and CRJ regional jets are in service in Russia and the CIS and we’re pleased that the Q400 turboprops will soon be joining the local fleet, and deepening our commitment to the Russia and CIS markets.”

Bombardier gained type approval from the IAC for the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ100/200 in 2006. Since then, the number of Q Series/Dash 8s and CRJ100/200s operated by Russian and CIS airlines located in Belarus, Georgia, Armenia and Kazakhstan has grown “significantly,” said Bombardier.

Already flying some 800 commercial aircraft in the 20- to 149-seat category, carriers in Russia and the CIS will take 460 more (one-fifth of Europe’s total requirement) through the end of next year, according to Bombardier’s 20-year commercial aviation market forecast.