Russian Helicopters (part of State Corporation Rostec) announces that the new light multirole commercial Ansat with hydro-mechanical controls has received additional certification from the Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee (AR IAC), enabling it to carry out passenger transport operations on the commercial market. Commercial deliveries are due to start in 2015.

The additional certification confirms that the Ansat meets aviation regulations and certifies the changes made to the type model. In particular, the Ansat passenger variant boasts an upgraded stability augmentation system, increased take-off weight to 3,600 kg, and equipment to carry passengers. These changes have made it possible to improve the helicopter’s flight capabilities and make it more attractive and competitive on the international helicopter construction market.

The helicopter received its AR IAC certificate, unrelated to passenger transport, in 2013, allowing the Ansat to enter commercial operation.
“We have decided to offer our customers a comfortable and reliable helicopter in the light segment with a traditional hydro-mechanical control system,” said Kazan Helicopters CEO Vadim Ligai. “Receiving type certification for the passenger Ansat with hydro-mechanical controls opens up new opportunities to promote this helicopter in the global commercial operation market.”

Kazan Helicopters, the Russian Helicopters company that designed and produces the Ansat, began work on certification of the commercial hydro-mechanical version of the helicopter in 2011. Previously Kazan Helicopters produced a fly-by-wire version of the Ansat; however, no commercial fly-by-wire helicopter had obtained certification anywhere in the world, and there were no established requirements for such a helicopter. To bring the helicopter to market more quickly it was decided to adjust the Ansat programme accordingly by switching to a traditional hydro-mechanical system. The adoption of a hydro-mechanical control system has not led to any increase in take-off weight or changes to its technical parameters.

Experts say that the modernised Ansat has a number of important competitive advantages over other models in its class. It is reliable and easy to operate, can tolerate a wide range of climates and temperatures, and is suitable for outdoor storage. Russian Helicopters has already demonstrated the new Ansat in key markets including the CIS, South-East Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The Ansat can be used for transporting cargo and passengers, surveillance, search and rescue operations, fire-fighting, and medevac missions. It has manual and automatic piloting modes and can be used in regular or adverse weather conditions.

Kazan Helicopters produces the Mi-8/17 series of helicopters, in use in more than 100 countries around the world. The plant produces numerous modifications of these helicopters including for transportation, passenger, search and rescue, amphibious transport and many other uses. The Mi-38 is being readied for production. Since 1997 Kazan Helicopters has been a certified helicopter developer. Today the light twin-engined Ansat is in serial production.

Russian Helicopters, (part of State Corporation Rostec), is one of the global leaders in helicopter production and the only helicopter design and production powerhouse in Russia. Russian Helicopters was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Moscow. The company comprises five helicopter production facilities, two design bureaus, a spare parts production and repair facility, as well as an aftersale service branch responsible for maintenance and repair in Russia and all over the world. Its helicopters are popular among Russian ministries and state authorities (Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Emergency Control Ministry), operators (Gazpromavia, UTair), major Russian corporations. In 2013 its IFRS revenues increased 10% to RUB 138.3 billion. Deliveries reached 275 helicopters.

State Corporation Rostec is a Russian corporation founded in 2007 for the purpose of promoting the development, production and export of hi-tech civilian and military industry products. It comprises 700 organisations, nine of which have now been formed as holding companies of the military-industrial complex and five of them are involved in civil industries. Rostec’s organisations are located in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and supply their products to the markets of more than 70 countries. The revenue of Rostec in 2013 amounted to RUB 1, 04 trillion, with net profit of RUB 40 billion. The tax deductions into the treasuries at all levels exceeded RUB 138 billion.