Moscow. December 16. INTERFAX - The Mi-171A3 helicopter, designed for offshore operations and maintenance of offshore drilling platforms, has started flight tests, the Rostec press service reported.
"During the flight, the crew performed a series of short vertical maneuvers, as well as turns and movement of the helicopter in all directions at various speeds," the state corporation said in a statement. The flight lasted 15 minutes and passed normally, "all systems demonstrated stable operation."
"The market volume for a new offshore helicopter is estimated at about 100 cars by 2035, but there are prerequisites for improving this forecast - after the premiere at MAKS-2021, interest in the Mi-171A3 from potential customers has grown markedly," said Sergey Chemezov, the head of Rostec, whose words are quoted in the message.
The Mi-171A3 is the first Russian-made helicopter designed to perform offshore operations (transportation of passengers and cargo over the sea). It has been developed since 2018 in accordance with the standards of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP). The maximum take-off weight of the vessel is 13 tons, the flight range is 1 thousand km, passenger capacity is up to 24 people. The helicopter is designed for all-weather operation at temperatures from -50 C to +50 C.
Serial production of the Mi-171A3 will be established at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (part of Rostec Russian Helicopters). Gazprom (MOEX: GAZP) is expected to be the first recipient of the machine: for MAKS-2021, the company signed an agreement with Russian Helicopters on the supply of 16 Mi-171A3 until 2030. Gazprom expects the start of deliveries of these helicopters in 2023.
