The Kazan Helicopter Plant of Russian Helicopters delivered the first Ansat helicopter to the Republic of Turkmenistan, as well as a heavy multirole Mi-17-1B. Both vehicles will be used in the new International Burn Centre for the medical evacuation of injured and seriously ill patients.
The contract for the delivery of the Ansat and Mi-17-1B helicopter was signed between the Kazan Helicopter Plant and Turkmenhovanlara on March 31, 2020. Under the contract, both helicopters are delivered to Turkmenistan in a universal version of performance with medical modules and medical equipment on board, additionally provided anti-burning kits. The car salons are equipped with air conditioning.
The Mi-17-1B helicopter has additional fuel tanks to increase the range of flights. It is also equipped with an on-board arrow SLG-300, landing and search headlight and an external suspension for 4 tons to carry large cargo.
“The delivery of the first Ansat to Turkmenistan is an important milestone in the development of the export potential of the Kazan Helicopter Plant. We hope that the high flight technical characteristics of the Ansat helicopter will be appreciated and this delivery will serve as a starting point for our further cooperation. Both Ansata and Mi-8/17 helicopters have proven themselves in the performance of sanitary aerial work in Russia. We are happy to share our experience with our colleagues from Turkmenistan and to supply them with state-of-the-art equipment,” said Aleksey Belykh, Managing Director of the Kazan Helicopter Plant.
As part of the contract with the Turkmenholaellara agency, 30 pilots and technicians of the operating organization were trained at the aviation training center of the CVS. The program included theoretical and practical training, including classes on the new Ansat helicopter simulator. The cadets successfully completed the training and received certificates.
The Kazan Helicopter Plant has a long history of cooperation with Turkmenistan. From 2009 to 2015, 11 helicopters produced by the CVS were delivered to the country.
Ansat is a light twin-engine multirole helicopter, the serial production of which is deployed at the Kazan Helicopter Plant. The design of the helicopter allows to quickly transform it into both cargo and passenger version with the possibility of carrying up to seven people. Ansat is certified for use in the temperature range from -45 to 50 degrees Celsius, as well as for use in the highlands. In 2019, the Federal Air Transport Agency certified the increase of the ansat fuselage resource to 16,000 flight hours. In 2020, the Russian aviation authorities certified the installation of anat emergency drive system, a complex for transporting neonatal patients, infectious boxes for transporting patients with coronavirus.
The Mi-8/17 multirole helicopters have unique flight and technical and operational characteristics. The design and equipment of the Mi-8/17 helicopters allow them to be operated autonomously at unequipped sites in almost all climatic conditions, which proves the long-term experience of using these machines on different continents.