TEHRAN - An Iranian knowledge-based company has acquired the technical know-how to manufacture jet engine turbine blades, allowing for 28 McDonnell Douglas passenger planes to return to service after being grounded because of the sanctions.

Speaking to Tasnim, the CEO of the knowledge-based company, a subsidiary of the Iran Power Plant Projects Management Company (MAPNA) Group, said local scientists have succeeded in manufacturing high-tech jet engine blades, a main component that makes up the turbine section of an aircraft engine.

Mani Rezvani said the foreign sanctions have impeded domestic airlines’ access to jet engine blades, which are sold at exorbitant prices, resulting in 28 out of the 40 McDonnell Douglas passenger planes in Iran being grounded.

He noted that the Iranian experts manufactured a prototype of the JT8D engine blades via reverse engineering two months ago, saying the homegrown product is expected to get approval from the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran.

The first JT8D engine of a Boeing MD passenger plane equipped with Iranian engine blades will be switched on by June 20, Rezvani said, adding that the product will be mass produced afterwards and used in other engines after permission from the authorized organizations.

The homegrown jet engine blades cost the manufacturer around $8,000, while the foreign products have a price tag of $22,000, he said.

He also unveiled long-term plans for the export of the Iranian jet engine blades to Russia and the Caucasus nations.

EF/