EMERCOM, which takes its name from the words “Emergency Control Ministry”, is planning on expanding its aircraft fleet to 200 by the year 2020 according to BFM.ru which was quoting the organisation’s aviation boss Sergey Fedorov.

The current fleet is 18 fixed wing and 40 helicopters.  In the remainder of 2011, EMERCOM is reportedly adding 2 Beriev Be200 multipurpose amphibious aircraft along with three general-purpose Mil Mi-8s and five Kamov KA32s for firefighting work.  In 2012 they expect to add a further two Antonov An148 transport aircraft, three more Mi-8s and four Ka32s.

To make a total of 200 in the expected timescale would thus need an increased acquisition rate of 18 aircraft a year average from 2013 to 2020.

Nikolai Vanesev – HeliHub.com Moscow correspondent