The Russian Helicopters Holding Company of Rostec State Corporation has handed over four new Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters to the Russian Emergencies Ministry. They are equipped with the latest on-board electronic equipment and a modern automatic flight control system, which allows them to be used at any time of the day and in bad weather. The improved Mi-8MTV-1 are adapted to the use of night vision goggles.
In addition, the helicopter is equipped with a modern satellite navigation system with a twelve-inch multifunction indicator, which displays the meteorological and navigation situation, as well as the image from CCTV cameras.
"Our aviation is actively used to perform tasks of varying complexity and on different terrain. This year alone, the total flight time was about 12 thousand hours and more than 15 thousand flights were performed. All this confirms the need for constant replenishment of special units with aircraft adapted to the tasks of the department, taking into account modern realities and technologies. The machines of the Kazan Helicopter Plant have proven themselves to be multi–purpose, reliable and efficient," stressed the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia Alexander Kurenkov.
The helicopters are equipped with a rescue winch with a lifting capacity of 300 kg, as well as an external suspension that allows transporting bulky loads weighing up to 4 tons. The installation of two additional internal fuel tanks increases the range from 620 to 1050 kilometers, depending on flight conditions.
"All the transferred helicopters are equipped with a new type of onboard equipment for the first time. Advanced radio electronics reduces the load on the crew during piloting and significantly increases flight safety. The Mi-8MTV-1 of the Kazan Helicopter Plant is designed for rescue and search of victims, medical evacuation, firefighting, transportation of cargo and personnel at any time of the day and in almost any weather conditions. In total, under the contract with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Kazan Helicopter Plant supplies five Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters. Four vehicles were handed over in December, and another helicopter will be handed over in 2023," said Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec State Corporation.
In addition, the upgraded Mi-8MTV-1 used a domestic auxiliary power plant TA-14 with a capacity of 30 kW. Thanks to it, the maximum duration of continuous operation in generator mode has increased from 30 minutes to 5 hours. In other words, the time of autonomous helicopter basing has multiplied, when the auxiliary power plant can be used as a source of autonomous power supply to energy-intensive consumers on the ground (for generator engine start, helicopter cabin heating, air conditioning system use and other purposes).
"Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters manufactured by Kazan Helicopter Plant have long been operated by the flight personnel of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia and receive high ratings from the crews. At the same time, the company continuously improves rotorcraft. according to the customer's wishes. They have a new flight and navigation system installed on them. It expands the possibilities of performing rescue operations and greatly facilitates the piloting process by automating all flight modes and creating a digital information field. For the first time, helicopters are equipped with a video surveillance system with two cameras – above the sliding door – in the area of operation of the rescue winch and on the tail boom – to monitor the external suspension. The first one provides increased safety during parachute–free landing and performing work with an external suspension, the second one allows you to control the position of the cargo on the external suspension," said Vladislav Saveliev, Deputy General Director of the Russian Helicopters Holding.
The "Eights" of the Kazan Helicopter Plant will replenish the fleets of aviation rescue centers of the Russian Emergencies Ministry throughout the country. The transferred vehicles went to Zhukovsky, Krasnoyarsk, Yuzhny and Khabarovsk aviation rescue centers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia.
