Ansat to be equipped with modules for transporting infants
Mi-171A2 reaches record speed at the Baikal Mile festival
Rostec delivers the first serial produced Mi-38 to a client
Rostec ready to commence Ansat supplies to China
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Held an Urgent Press Conference and Read the Public Apology About "Crew-Only Lavatory"
Russian Helicopters presents new financial products at the Singapore Airshow 2020
Russian Helicopters signs an events roadmap for Ka-226T localization in India
Euramec starts upcycling delisted Airbus A320 airliners for Premier Cabin and Cockpit Training in exclusive agreement with AeroCircular
Russian Helicopters to present its civilian line at Defexpo 2020
LOT Has Launched a Direct Flight From Warsaw to Beijing Daxing
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LOT Announces New Flights Between Warsaw and Washington D.C.
Starting 2nd June 2020, LOT Polish Airlines will launch a direct connection from the Polish capital to Washington D.C. It will be the 10th route of the Poland’s flag carrier connecting Poland and the United States. Flights to the capital of the United States will be operated three times a week by Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The flight, during which LOT’s Dreamliners will cover over 7 thousand km, will take a bit longer than 9 hours. It will therefore be the fastest way to travel from Poland and the entire CEE region to Washington D.C. Flights on this route will be operated as from 2nd June 2020 three times a week, according to the following timetable: LO39 WAW-IAD 16:50-20:30 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays LO40 IAD-WAW 22:25-13:25 (+1) on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays - A direct flight from Warsaw to Washington D.C. has long been on our "short list". In the course of extensive business analyses, we focused not only on the very fact of connecting the capitals of Poland and the U.S., but also on the tourist and business potential offered by this connection which has been growing with each year. Moreover, so far Central and Eastern Europe has lacked such a convenient connection to Washington D.C. New long-haul flights to the USA are the backbone of our strategy and announcing the new connection to Washington now certainly is not our last word - says Rafał Milczarski, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines. Washington is home both to the most important administrative units in the USA and to many of the world's largest companies. 70 companies with annual revenues of over 1 billion dollars have their headquarters or main branches located here: Amazon, Hilton, Discovery, MARS, as well as arms companies (General Dynamics). Moreover, Washington is also an attractive tourist destination. The most popular and frequently visited locations include: The White House, Capitol with an impressive library and Supreme Court as well as numerous magnificent museums along the National Mall, or Georgetown, which is perfect for a leisurely academic strolls. What is more, in Washington D.C. it is worth spending some time exploring the Smithsonian Institute. It is the world's biggest complex of educational and research centers and museums (19 different facilities) open all year round except Christmas. – Our decision to announce yet another connection to the U.S. this year was also influenced by the fact that on 11th November Poland joined the VWP. It is a great success of the President of Poland Mr Andrzej Duda as well as Polish diplomacy and a milestone in Polish-American relationship. I am delighted that our social campaign "Let’s visit USA without visas [#BezWizDoUSA]" that we initiated in 2018 has also contributed to this historic success. Now Poles can easily travel to the USA for tourist and business purposes without a visa. The new connection perfectly complements our offer of direct flights to North America, and of course significantly strengthens our flight network with regard to flights to the United States – adds Rafał Milczarski, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines Flights to Washington D.C. will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of the most advanced wide-body airplanes in the world. Thanks to the use of state-of-the-art technology, they allow to maintain a higher pressure and higher air humidity on board than other passenger aircrafts in this class. All those factors help enhance passengers’ comfort during such a long flight and reduce the so-called jet lag effect. Passengers travelling onboard LOT can choose from three travel classes: LOT Business Class with lie-flat seats and premium restaurant cuisine; LOT Premium Economy Class with larger, individual space and footrests, comfortable thigh support, cocktail tables and extensive menu as well as LOT Economy Class with modern seats and individual on-board entertainment screens as well as USB ports.
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Joint state tests of Mi-26T2V helicopter started
Photo by Slava Stepanov gelio.livejournal.com / Provided from Russian Helicopters holding company for Press Release Russian Helicopters holding company (part of Rostec State Corporation) and representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense started joint state tests of Mi-26T2V heavy-lift military transport helicopter which are to last until the end of 2020. As part of Russian Helicopters' program on upgrading the heavy Mi-26 helicopter for the Russian Aerospace Forces, in 2018 Rostvertol produced a prototype of the modernized Mi-26T2V helicopter. "Currently, Mi-26T2V prototype has successfully completed preliminary tests at the manufacturing facility, allowing us to start the joint state tests program which is to last through the entire year 2020. We have taken into account all preferences of the customer and implemented them in Mi-26T2V helicopter design. The performance of the machine will be considerably improved due to the modernization. I am convinced that Mi-26T2V helicopter will have a rightful place in the Russian armed forces," said Director General of Russian Helicopters holding company Andrey Boginsky. The tests will take place on four proving grounds. The crew of the helicopter will include representatives of the Russian Aerospace Forces and will check the main performance characteristics of the helicopter and operation of new equipment. The modernized Mi-26T2V helicopter which can be used at any time of the day and has modern avionics is a heavy-lift military and transport helicopter which can carry up to 20 tonnes of cargo. The rotorcraft has the modern NPK90-2V integrated avionics which ensures piloting during the day and at night, enabling the helicopter to fly the route in an automatic mode, come to a preset point, perform approach and final approach maneuvers, and return to the main or alternate aerodrome. The onboard defense system of Mi-26T2V ensures protection of the helicopter from being hit by air defense missile systems. Mi-26T2V will be able to make flights in the conditions of any region, including those with complex physical and geographical and adverse climatic conditions, at any time of the day, at equipped and unequipped routes, or even without routes, and on featureless terrain, in conditions of fire and information counteraction of the enemy. The number of crew members of the modernized helicopter (five persons) remained unchanged. Currently, Russian Helicopters holding company produces the entire range of military helicopters for the Russian military agency in accordance with contracts. These machines are necessary for performing the tasks of the Russian armed forces: Ka-52 Alligator, Mi-28NM Night Hunter and military Mi-35M attack helicopters, Mi-38T paratrooper carriers and transport helicopters, Mi-8/17 military transport helicopters, heavy-lift military transport Mi-26 rotorcraft, training and specialized machines.
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Rostec has completed the delivery of attack helicopters as part of the state defense contract for 2019
Rostec's holding company Russian Helicopters has delivered over 20 attack helicopters to the Russian Defense Ministry, fully completing the state defence contract for 2019. The machines successfully passed acceptance tests and were received by the Aerospace forces. "The enterprises of Rostec are fulfilling the needs of the Ministry of Defense in modern combat helicopters. This year, the forces have received Ka-52 Alligator reconnaissance and strike helicopters, transport and combat helicopters Mi-35M and combat helicopters Mi-28N and Mi-28UB. In addition, we completed the delivery of the first modern Mi-28NM Night Hunter combat helicopters and by 2027 we will produce 98 such machines for the Defense Ministry," said Aviation Cluster Industrial Director of the Rostec State Corporation Anatoly Serdyukov. The production of helicopters delivered under the state defense contract was carried out at the enterprises of the Russian Helicopters holding – Progress AAC and Rostvertol. The Rostov enterprise, in particular, produces Mi-28NM helicopters. The new Night Hunter looks significantly different from the basic version of the Mi-28N helicopter. The Mi-28NM has acquired a new fuselage shape, modernized engines and an auxiliary power unit, a new avionics system, advanced weapons capability, and can be operated in conjunction with unmanned aerial vehicles and ground command posts. "The timely execution of the state defense contract is one of our priorities. This year, we transferred over 20 new combat helicopters to the Russian military. The holding will continue to equip Russian national security agencies with modern helicopter equipment in accordance with both existing and planned contracts," said the Director General of Russian Helicopters Andrey Boginsky. Currently, Progress AAC is already carrying out experimental design and tests to upgrade Ka-52 helicopter on the contract of the Russian Ministry of Defense and under the supervision of specialists form the Kamov Design Bureau. This will considerably improve performance of the helicopter. The work is underway to increase the target detection and recognition range and expanding the range of weapons used.
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LOT Polish Airlines Joins ICCA
The national carrier joins the ICCA, the International Congress & Convention Association, which is a global community for the exchange of knowledge in the international meetings industry. ICCA, which has been operating in the MICE sector since 1963, unites over 1,100 members in almost 100 countries around the world, including key carriers and airline alliances. LOT will be one of the two airlines representing the Central European region. The ICCA is one of the world's leading industry organisations in the sector of international association meetings and events. Membership in the association contributes to the promotion of carriers among the leaders of the MICE industry, and thus among potential business partners – organizers of international events. “We are very happy to welcome LOT Polish Airlines to our global ICCA community. By joining ICCA, they will gain competitive advantage by using our resources and network to partner up with meeting suppliers and associations to win more association meetings business – a market which was worth over 11 billion USD in 2018”, said Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA. For LOT, membership within the association has both a sales and marketing dimension, with a database of over 20,000 international meetings, opportunities for networking with their organizers, extensive reports on the MICE area and educational workshops offered by the ICCA, inter alia during major European meetings and events industry fairs. “According to the ICCA reports, Poland is among the 20 countries most frequently chosen to organize and host international meetings of associations. Our two hubs in Warsaw and Budapest were ranked among the top 30 host cities for congresses. Last year, Poland hosted 211 international meetings and a total of 176 such events were organized in both capitals. This is a genuine business potential for LOT, which enables delegates from over 110 destinations to reach the meeting destinations safely, quickly and comfortably”, said Anna Staszewska, LOT Polish Airlines Sales and Distribution Director. The meetings industry market in Poland is expanding rapidly, as evidenced by analyses and reports presented, inter alia, by the Poland Convention Bureau / Polish Tourism Organisation. They estimate the contribution of the meetings industry (conferences, congresses, fairs) to GDP at the level of 1%. “We are proud to welcome a new European Airlines as an ICCA member. Airlines play a major role in destination marketing and congress bidding. ICCA member airlines work very closely with the Convention Bureaux and Associations and we believe LOT Polish Airlines take a strong role in the regions development as a meeting destination. We are looking forward to collaborating further with LOT on European projects”, said Elif Balci Fisunoglu, ICCA’s Regional Director for Europe.
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LOT Ranks the Best Airline in Eastern Europe
LOT Polish Airlines has once again won the title of 'Best Airline in Eastern Europe' awarded by the American Global Traveler magazine. The prestigious award is a proof of the international recognition of the LOT brand and appreciation of the development of the airline in this part of Europe. Global Traveler is an American magazine for managers who travel frequently in the USA and around the world. These are the Global Traveler readers who, together with experts, choose best hotels, airlines and loyalty programs every year. During a gala event held in Los Angeles, prizes were awarded in 38 different air industry categories. For the third time in a row, LOT has proved to be the leader of air transport in the region. – The award, granted for the third time in a row by the American Global Traveler magazine, is a proof of the growing popularity of LOT not only in Europe but also in the United States. Over the past four years, we have more than doubled in growth, launching more than 70 new destinations and acquiring 40 aircraft. We are constantly improving our product and increasing the offer of available connections, including to the USA. Last year we had 8.9 million passengers travelling with us, and this year we will break the record of 10 million passengers carried onboard our aircraft. This is yet another token of LOT's ability to leverage the region's potential through the development of two hubs in Warsaw and Budapest and to become the leader in Central and Eastern European transport – says Rafał Milczarski, LOT Polish Airlines CEO. The LOT offer comprises as many as 110 scheduled flights all over the globe. Since the beginning of 2016, the Polish carrier has announced the launch of more than 70 direct flights, including from Warsaw to Miami, Los Angeles, Newark, Seoul, Tokyo and Singapore, from Cracow to Chicago and New York, and from Rzeszow to Newark. In 2020, LOT is going to launch a number of new connections, including, inter alia, from Warsaw. The already announced destinations include: Beijing-Daxing from 15th January and San Francisco from 5th August. Today, LOT operates flights from Budapest to New York, Seoul, London-City airport, Warsaw and Cracow. Next year, as part of the development of the hub in the capital of Hungary, passengers from Hungary will be able to choose from a total of 13 connections, including, inter alia, to: Brussels, Belgrade, Stuttgart, Bucharest, Prague, Sofia, Dubrovnik and Varna. Moreover, the number of flights to Seoul will also be increased from 3 to 4 per week, and flights to New York will be operated at a frequency of 7 flights per week, which is an excellent option for passengers travelling for tourism and business.
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Mi-171A2 helicopter certified in India and Colombia
Mi-171A2 helicopter was certified in India and Colombia. It allows Russian Helicopters (part of Rostec State Corporation) to start exporting the latest modification of the multirole civilian helicopter. The Civil Aviation Department of India confirmed that the standard design of Mi-171A2 complied with Indian civilian aviation requirements (CAR). The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation had previously approved a type certificate for VK-2500PS-03 helicopter turboshaft engine installed in Mi-171A2 helicopters for JSC “UEC-Klimov”. The validated Mi-171A2 type certificate was also issued by the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics of Colombia (UAEAC). The decision of the Colombian authorities gives Russian Helicopters an opportunity to supply machines of this type to Colombia. "Mi-171A2 is the latest modification of Mi-8/17, the most common twin-engine helicopter in the world. Companies from Rostec's Aviation Cluster made a great effort to receive an opportunity to operate the machines in India and Colombia: the type certificates were confirmed for the helicopter itself and for UEC's VK-2500PS-03 engines that the helicopters were equipped with. Mi-171A2 has the A type certificate of the Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia. It means that the highest flight safety requirements for civilian helicopters are met," said Director General of Russian Helicopters holding company Andrey Boginsky. The first Mi-171A2 for an Indian customer has already been produced by Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant. It was demonstrated to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Eastern Economic Forum. It is planned to validate the Mi-171A2 type certificate in China, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and other countries. With the most advanced modification of the improved engine, the helicopters have absolutely new capabilities for operation in high-mountain and high-temperature areas. Due to its more efficient X-shaped tail rotor, the new main rotor with all-composite blades, and improved aerodynamic profile, the cruising and maximum speed of Mi-171A2 helicopter are 10 percent higher and the load capacity is 25 percent greater than those of serial Mi-8/17 helicopters. The digital onboard equipment set KBO-17-1 ("glass cabin"), including the navigation instrumentation and the system of general helicopter equipment with display data indication, allowed the company to reduce the crew to only two people. Video cameras provide a better view during external load operations. Modern terrain awareness and warning systems, airborne and obstacle collision avoidance systems improved safety. The helicopter can carry passengers and is available in the transport, passenger and VIP versions.
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LOT Announces New Routes from Budapest as of Summer 2020
Budapest, 27th November 2019 – In Summer 2020 LOT will add new holiday destinations to its growing flight network from Budapest. Starting from June, passengers will be able to fly directly from Hungary to Dubrovnik and Varna. But that’s not all. From May 6th, the number of frequencies between Budapest and Seoul will be increased to four per week. The additional frequency will ensure even more convenient flight schedule for passengers travelling between Hungary and South Korea both for leisure and in business. From now on, passengers travelling from Budapest can choose new attractive destinations for their summer holidays. From June 7th, LOT will start operating to one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia - to Dubrovnik and to the popular Black Sea resort of Bulgaria – to Varna. Flights will be operated by comfortable Embraers once a week, according to the following schedule: BUD-DBV 07:00-08:15 Sundays DBV-BUD 08:55-10:10 Sundays BUD-VAR 12:30-15:05 Sundays VAR-BUD 15:45-16:20 Sundays Furthermore, after just two months of operations, LOT has decided to extend the number of frequencies on its first regular Asian route from Budapest. Starting from May 6th, LOT’s Dreamliners will operate to Seoul four times a week. Flights to the capital city of one of the Asian Tigers will be operated according to the following schedule: BUD-ICN 12:25-06:05 (+1), Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays ICN-BUD 07:40-13:25, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays - I’m very pleased to announce today new flights from Budapest to Dubrovnik and Varna coming this summer. We continuously expand our offer of flights from Hungary while building here LOT’s second hub. In a few months time, not only we will increase the number of frequencies on Budapest-New York route up to 7 flights per week – already in May, we will add another weekly frequency on our first route from Budapest to Asia. Launched in September this year, flights between Budapest and Seoul have been a huge success. Until today, the route have recorded an average load factor of 85%, which is the best evidence that passengers both from South Korea and Hungary recognize the convenience of the just started direct connections offered by LOT. I am sure that extended offer for oncoming summer will help our passengers to better plan their journeys - said Michał Fijoł, Chief Commercial Officer of LOT Polish Airlines. Tourism and business potential between Budapest and Seoul is huge - the annual passenger traffic on that route reaches over 77,000 passengers while the overall annual number of passengers between the CEE region and Seoul exceeds 590,000. The new services will provide Korean passengers with additional opportunities to transfer to selected LOT flights operating out of Budapest: Prague and Warsaw in Summer 2020 and many more in the near future. In the coming summer season, LOT also adjusts selected flights’ timelines. Due to Boeing 737 MAXs being still grounded and consequent lack of aircraft, LOT had to temporarily adjust frequencies on some of its short-haul flights between March 30th until May 26th 2020 (Stuttgart, Sofia, Bucharest will be lowered to 6 flights per week; Brussels – to 7 times per week). The flights to Prague and Belgrade will be launched on 27th May. Thus, in the summer season, passengers from Hungary will be able to fly in total to as many as 13 destinations. - We have been constantly implementing our strategy of dual hub growth: both in Warsaw and in Budapest. At the same time, we continue to adjust our services to meet changing passenger needs. This is the proof of how much we actually value the market and our clients. In the summer peak we will be able to offer the full schedule of frequencies on all flights according to the highest LOT quality standards guaranteed by modern Dreamliners and comfortable Embraers operating in convenient schedules. We just have introduced a brand new business lounge at Budapest Airport and I would like to encourage passengers to take advantage of it before their journeys – adds Michał Fijoł. In summer season, the number of flights operated by LOT from the capital of Hungary will total 13 – passengers will fly directly to Warsaw, Krakow, London City (LCY), Bucharest, Brussels, Stuttgart, Prague, Belgrade, Sofia, Dubrovnik and Varna as well as New York City (JFK) and Seoul Incheon (ICN). To operate its newly announced European flights, additional LOT’s Embraer 195s will be permanently based in Budapest. The carrier’s fleet base in Budapest will amount to four short-haul aircraft and two Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Currently, LOT’s cabin crew operating non-stop flights from Budapest totals 80 flight attendants and a dozen Hungarian pilots. LOT has also opened the first Star Alliance Gold business lounge operated by an airline at the Budapest Airport. The expansion of flights from Budapest is part of the airline’s profitable growth strategy, which LOT Polish Airlines has been implementing since early 2016. As a result, over the recent three years LOT has become one of the fastest growing airlines in Europe, doubled its fleet size and launched over 70 new routes worldwide. The additional B787-9 Dreamliner has joined the fleet early November, increasing the total number of LOT wide-body aircraft to 15. In 2018, LOT carried more than 8.9 million passengers aboard its flights, an increase of 2 million versus 2017. For 2019, it plans to welcome 10 million guests. LOT Polish Airlines is a fully integrated member of the Miles & More frequent flyer program and a member of Star Alliance since 2003.
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Rostec to supply ten VRT500 to Scandinavia
Rostec State Corporation will supply ten light VRT500helicopters to Scandinavian countries. At the Dubai International Airshow 2019, VR-Technologies, a daughter company of Russian Helicopters, and the Swedish companyRotorcraft Nordic AB signed a corresponding dealership agreement. The agreement with Rotorcraft Nordic AB reflects the company's intentions to acquire ten VRT500 helicopters in a basic configuration before the year 2023. The optional equipment, as well as interior detail and exterior paint scheme of VRT500 will be determined after the helicopter receives a type certificate and a certificate of airworthiness according to the standards of European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). An application for certification is scheduled for this year. "Our Russian Helicopters Holding Company enters the international market in a new segment of lightweight single-engine civil helicopters. The VRT500 project is certainly competitive and of great interest to foreign customers, which is confirmed by the agreements reached on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow with the Emirati Tawazun holding company and Swedish partners from Rotorcraft Nordic AB. I am confident that our new machine will be appreciated in many regions of the world," commented General Director of Rostec Sergey Chemezov. The technical project of the VRT500 program was successfully completed in early 2019, and the development of working design documentation has begun. Tests of the first flight model will start in 2020. "Europe is one of the potential markets for VRT500. With its flight and technical performance, the helicopter will compete with rotorcraft of the same class operating in the region. Considering today's agreement, the order portfolio for VRT500 already includes 15 machines," said Director General of VR-TechnologiesAlexander Okhonko. It was reported earlier that in August 2019, at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2019, a dealership agreement on the promotion and sales of VRT500 was signed with the Malaysian company Ludev Aviation. The company intends to purchase five helicopters. VRT500 is a lightweight single-engine helicopter with coaxial arrangement of propellers and take-off power of 1,650 kg. The machine has the most spacious passenger-and-freight cabin in its class with a capacity of up to 5 passengers and is equipped with a modern system of interactive avionics. The design solutions of the helicopter will allow it to reach the speed of up to 250 km/h, fly to a range of up to 860 km and hold up to 730 kg of payload. The helicopter has been created in passenger, multi-purpose, cargo, training, VIP and medical evacuation configurations. VR-Technologies is an innovation design office of Russian Helicopters Holding Company established in 2014 to offer competitive research and technical solutions in the helicopter industry.
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The Helicopter Service Company obtained anauthorization for servicing Ansat helicopter engines in Russia and the CIS
The Helicopter Service Company of 'Russian Helicopters'(part of Rostec) has become a designated maintenance facility for PW207K Ansat helicopter engines in Russia and the CIS countries. The relevant agreement was signed with Pratt & Whitney company during the Dubai Airshow 2019. The validity of the signed document is 5 years and it can be extended for 5 more years upon the agreement between the parties. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement, HSC will perform the maintenance of power units,provide mobile repair teams and engine maintenance training. In addition, to ensure timely and quality service, HSC will form an inventory of new spare parts from Pratt & Whitney. 'Pratt & Whitney company has been supporting the development of the Ansat project for many years; to date, about 70 such rotorcrafts have been delivered to customers. The agreement we signed today will bring the maintenance of this fleet to a new level and lay the foundation for expanded supply to the Russian and the CIS markets', said Director General of Russian Helicopters holding company Andrey Boginsky. “Listening to the needs of our customers and bringing them the right solutions is of the utmost importance to Pratt & Whitney,” said Satheeshkumar Kumarasingam, vice president of customer service at Pratt & Whitney. “With the rapid growth of civil helicopters in Russia, we want to ensure our customers have more local and personalized service. Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) is a growing priority in the region. This is one way we are supporting HEMS and other critical missions.” The light multi-purpose Ansat helicopter is equipped with two engines and can be used for passenger transportation, cargo delivery, environmental monitoring and as an ambulance aircraft. Ansat has successfully passed high-altitude tests, which proved that it is suitable for use in mountainous terrain at up to 3,500 meters of altitude, as well as climatic tests, which confirmed its operability in a temperature range between -45° and +50° С.
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Russian Helicopters jointly with Tawazun first introduced the VRT500 project abroad
During the International Dubai Air Show, Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of the Rostec State Corporation), presented the project of its light VRT500 helicopter abroad for the first time. The rotorcraft model is showcased at the joint exposition of Russian Helicopters and Tawazun, an Emirati holding company. The Russian debut of the light single-engine VRT500 helicopter developed by VR-Technologies, part of the Russian Helicopters Holding Company, took place in 2018 during HeliRussia international show. Dubai Airshow became the first foreign site, where the rotorcraft model is available to potential customers for viewing. In addition to that, the Russian Helicopters booth will showcase another development by VR-Technologies, that is, VRT300 UAV, which is also presented abroad for the first time. Both aircraft feature coaxial rotors, which ensures high side wind resistance and small dimensions making them suitable for use in the restrained urban conditions. 'Today we not only debut our joint exposition with our strategic partner Tawazun but we also present the light multipurpose VRT500 helicopter model abroad for the first time. The rotorcraft is showcased as part of the city air transportation program, which is interesting to our partners as a platform for ground-breaking solutions and technologies. We have a common vision of the future, where the key factors will be security, mobility, and comfort, which we will be able to ensure. The next very important step for us is to manufacture an experimental VRT500 prototype in the 2nd quarter 2020', stated VR-Technologies Director General Alexander Okhonko. The rotorcraft features the largest cargo and passenger cabin in its class with a capacity of up to 5 people; at the same time, the outline dimensions of the rotorcraft are limited due to coaxial rotor placement, which permits to use the helicopter in a restrained space. The VRT500 is equipped with a modern avionics complex based on the 'glass cockpit' principle, and its key systems were developed by the best international manufacturers. The VRT500 helicopter can be produced in several configurations: passenger, multipurpose, cargo, training, VIP, and medevac. It will be the world's first medical helicopter in its segment that allows loading and unloading of the unified medical equipment through the rear cabin doors. The VRT300 complex is developed in two configurations: cargo version (for commercial operation as part of automated logistical systems) and an extended flight range version (for monitoring land and water surface and distance sounding). Work is underway to equip VRT300 with a precise automatic seacraft landing system.
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Russian Helicopters and Pratt & Whitney Canada sign contract for powering VRT500 by PW207V engines
At Dubai Airshow, VR-Technologies (part of Russian Helicopters Holding Company) and Pratt & Whitney signed a contract for fitting the cutting-edge light VRT500 helicopter with gas-turbine PW207V engines. PW207V is the advanced modification of PW200 family engines with the capacity of up to 700 hp designed for light-class rotorcraft. All in all, over 5 thousand powerplants of this type have been produced by now. They clocked more than 11 mln flight hours. “PW200 family engines have shown excellent performance as reliable powerplants for helicopters. Currently they are being operated in more than 80 countries worldwide which should considerably simplify the certification of VRT500 and render its after-sales support more accessible and efficient. Russian Helicopters have a successful experience of cooperation with Pratt & Whitney Canada and I am sure that VRT500 project shall strengthen the partnership between the companies,” noted Andrey Boginsky, Director General of Russian Helicopters Holding Company. 'The main component of any operating system is the engine. We are thrilled to announce VRT500 will be powered by PW200 engines, an engine and brand with a proven track record in safety, reliability, economy and ease of maintenance which of course is key for our helicopter operators' - said Alexander Okhonko, CEO of VR Technologies. “Congratulations to VR Technologies for launching the VRT500 helicopter. We are proud that they have selected the PW207V engine. We look forward to working together to make this innovative platform a global success.” — Anthony Rossi, vice president, business development and commercial services, Pratt & Whitney. In order to be installed on VRT500 helicopter PW207V shall be adapted for powering single-engine rotorcraft with corresponding amendment of Type certificate. VRT500 is a light single-engine helicopter with coaxial rotor scheme and takeoff weight of 1,650 kg. The helicopter features the most spacious transport and cargo cabin in its class with a capacity of up to 5 passengers and is equipped with the state-of-the-art interactive avionics suite. Due to the embodied design solutions, this helicopter will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 250 km/h, have a flight range of up to 860 km and take up to 730 kg of payload on board. The helicopter is developed in the following configurations: passenger, utility, cargo, training, VIP and EMS.
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Mi-38 launched in the international market
During the Dubai Airshow 2019, the Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) will make the first foreign presentation of its newest Mi-38 civilian helicopter. The rotorcraft featuring a luxury cabin will be showcased at the static exposition, and will also take part in the flight program. The civilian version of the first serial Mi-38 helicopter was introduced last August at MAKS-2019 Moscow air show, where it was demonstrated to the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Cutting-edge technical solutions in the field of safety and comfort were used in the development of the helicopter interior. The engines of Mi-38 are located behind the main rotor transmission, instead of their traditional forward placement, which ensures the reduction in aerodynamic resistance and noise level in the cockpit, as well as increased the rotorcraft safety. In addition to its excellent flight performance, the competitive advantage of Mi-38 is its cost, which is lower than that of its foreign same-class peers. The flight range of the transport version of the new Mi-38 helicopter is up to 1,000 kilometers (with additional fuel tanks). With its maximum takeoff weight of 15.6 tonnes, the helicopter can carry 5 tons of payload on board or on an external sling. Another novelty of the Dubai Airshow will be the light Ansat helicopter, which, following its European debut in Le Bourget, will be introduced to the Middle East. The corporate version of the rotorcraft will also take part in the flight program of the show. In this configuration, the helicopter can comfortably transport up to 5 passengers. “Research and development effort, as well as experimental designing activity within the Mi-38 project was financed by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. The helicopter was originally designed to meet the toughest existing and potential standards of safety, environmental friendliness, land noise. The closest attention was paid to meeting the customers' needs in terms of flight performance, operational and economic parameters. Our engineers have performed a range of activities aimed at further expanding the operational capabilities and ensuring maximum versatility of the helicopter use. The improvements aimed at ensuring reliable and comfortable operation of the new rotorcraft in the conditions of hot climate and desert terrain should be of particular interest to operators in the Middle East,” noted the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov. "It is the first time in Russia's newest history that our civilian helicopters will be presented at a Middle East air show. The format and content of the participation of Russian Helicopters Holding Company in the Dubai Airshow demonstrate the new approaches of Rostec State Corporation to promoting Russian high-tech civilian products on foreign markets, which involves the support from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Russian Export Center, and leasing companies. We are confident that, in terms of its price and quality, Russian-made helicopters can be quite competitive in the world market and we expect that their demonstration will result in more actual contracts," said Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov. "Dubai Airshow will be the first foreign site for us to demonstrate our latest Mi-38, so we say that we are making the world premiere of this rotorcraft, as well as the debut of Ansat in the Middle East. The UAE sees the rapid development of its urban mobility sector, therefore, in addition to flight models, at our booth, we will present the VRT300 UAV, and a model of a light single-engine VRT500 helicopter will be showcased at our joint exposition with Tawazun, an Emirati Holding Company. It is no secret that UAE investors are interested in joining the project, and we expect to take the first actual steps in this area during the exhibition', said Director General of Russian Helicopters holding company Andrey Boginsky. Mi-38 can be operated in a wide range of climatic conditions including maritime, tropical and cold climates. The use of unparalleled technical solutions makes Mi-38 superior to other similar-class helicopters in terms of load capacity, seating capacity and main performance characteristics. Light multi-purpose Ansat helicopter is equipped with two engines and can be used for passenger transportation, cargo delivery, environmental monitoring and as an ambulance aircraft. Ansat has successfully passed high-altitude tests, which proved that it is suitable for use in mountainous terrain at up to 3,500 meters of altitude, as well as climatic tests, which confirmed its operability in a temperature range between -45° and +50° С. Light VRT500 helicopter and VRT300 UAV were developed by VR-Technologies Design Bureau and feature coaxial rotors, which ensure their high side wind resistance and small dimensions making them suitable for use in the restrained urban conditions. VRT500 features the largest passenger/cargo cabin in its class, with a total seating capacity of up to 5 people. The flight and technical parameters of the helicopter will allow it to speed up to 250 km/h, have a flight range of up to 860 km and carry on board up to 730 kg of payload.
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Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup tournament arrives in Belek, ANTALYA
Turkish Airlines brings the much-anticipated Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup for the seventh time on November 4–5, 2019 to Antalya. As well as offering corporate teams exceptional networking opportunities, tournament entrants receive first-class Turkish Airlines hospitality and golf at the finest golf courses around the world. Over eight thousand players from around the world – all VIPs invited by Turkish Airlines - have competed in more than 100 tournaments across the globe with the winners securing places in the Grand Finals in Antalya. Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup was established in 2013 by Turkey’s national flag carrier as part of its commitment to sport and golf, which includes support for the Turkish Airlines Open European Tour, and the Turkish Airlines Challenge Tour. The Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup that played on world-class courses is one of the most popular events on golfing calendars today. This year the competition have been played out in 101 destinations across 70 countries. Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı said; “The Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup is an event that we are very proud of and it continues to grow and improve year on year. We are delighted to be holding this event, which has already become a key date in all golfers’ diaries, in Antalya, one of the favorite tourist destinations of Turkey that globally known with its turquoise coast and natural beauties.” This year has seen Turkish Airlines moved to its new home at Istanbul Airport, a state-of-the-art structure from which the global carrier will continue on its path of expansion. The Star Alliance member airline currently operates to 316 destinations across 126 countries, and from its hub at the center of global aviation, Turkish Airlines allows its valued guests to explore more of the world, as well as Turkey’s impressive golf courses.
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LOT Polish Airlines Launched Flights Between Colombo and Warsaw
Warsaw, 4 November 2019 – LOT Polish Airlines’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed in Colombo inaugurating LOT’s first regular, seasonal winter flights to Asia. The flight, during which the airplane flew 7,283 km lasted 9 hours. From now until March 28th flights to Ceylon Island will be operated three times a week. This way LOT boosts the tourism traffic from Poland and other European countries to Sri Lanka TLOT Polish Airlines, the fastest growing airline in Europe and Star Alliance Member has launched today regular seasonal flights between Warsaw and Colombo. Until March 28th Boeing B787-8 and B787-9 will be operating this route three times weekly according to the following schedule: LO69 WAW-CMB 14:25-04:15(+1) Fridays, Wednesdays, Sundays LO70 CMB-WAW 08:05-14:00 Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays - Colombo is already the seventh LOT’s flight destination in Asia and the first launched regular seasonal winter flight to the region. We fully benefit from our modern and long-distance fleet and we select destinations that have the biggest potential. For many years, Southern Asia has been one of the most frequently chosen alternative to more traditional travel destinations during winter by the growing number of tourists. Almost two million passengers travel from Europe to Colombo annually. This winter, thanks to our offer, passengers will be able to travel to the paradise island of Ceylon, - says Rafał Milczarski, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines. The schedule of flights between Warsaw and Colombo has been planned in a way that provides passengers with the shortest flight with one short transfer (50 minutes) at the Chopin Airport in Warsaw, from most of the cities using LOT services in Poland, Western Europe and Scandinavia, Baltic countries, Prague, Budapest or Zagreb. Ceylon, which is located in the Indian Ocean, attracts tourists with its endless sandy beaches, rich fauna, ancient architecture and distinctive cuisine. The country itself is one of the largest supplier of tea in the world, which explains why its vast majority is covered with tea plantations. From November to March, the average temperature on Sri Lanka reaches 30 C, which makes it a perfect destination for those who long for the sun during winter. -Thanks to the cooperation between LOT and travel agencies, every year, our Dreamliners fly to many exotic destinations which are chosen by our passengers as their holiday destinations. I am happy that we took a step forward by introducing first regular seasonal flights to Asia. This will be also a great offer for Sri Lankans who plan to visit Europe or the US or Canada during winter,- Rafał Milczarski adds. The newly introduced flights will be carried out with modern wide-body aircraft – Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Each will provide three classes: LOT Business Class with seats reclining to a position of a flat bed and a kitchen that could rival the best restaurants; LOT Premium Economy Class with larger individual space, comfortable seats with footrests and thighs support, cocktail tables and a rich menu, and LOT Economy Class with modern seats equipped with individual screens, USB ports as well as freshly prepared and diverse dishes from the region. The introduction of flights between Warsaw and Colombo is an element of the profitable growth strategy which LOT has been implementing since 2016. Most of that strategy has been implemented ahead of time. Poland's flag carrier is constantly developing its fleet. LOT just received its 15 Boieing 787 Dreamliner. Two additional and larger Dreamliners will be added in the spring of 2020. Last year, over 8.9 million passengers chose LOT, which is 2 million more passengers than in the previous year. In December, the Polish air carrier plans to provide services to 10 million passengers. Currently, LOT uses 90 modern aircraft on a daily basis. In its offer, the carrier provides offer of over 110 flights, including 17 long-haul flights. Tickets for the new LOT flights to Colombo are available in all sales channels, including the website lot.com, Lot Contact Center, LOT Travel offices and travel agents.
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Russian Helicopters present Mi-35P and Ansat helicopters at Russia-Africa Economic Forum
Russian Helicopters holding company (part of Rostec State Corporation) takes part in the Russia-Africa Economic Forum held in Sochi on October 23-24, 2019. In the 'Industry' zone the holding company showcases a modernized Mi-35P attack helicopter, a corporate version of the civilian multipurpose Ansat helicopter and a mobile service center for overhaul of Mi-8/17 helicopters. "Over 900 helicopters made by Russian Helicopters' enterprises are registered in African countries. This is almost one in four helicopters on the continent, and the share of our military rotorcraft is almost 40%. This certainly provides for huge potential for cooperation in servicing, modernizing and renovating the fleet. We also offer our partners civilian helicopters, such as Ansat and Mi-171A2 multipurpose rotorcraft, and a military modernized Mi-35P attack helicopter. This is the evolution of the Mi-24/35 family which proved to be very effective in Africa" said Director General of Russian Helicopters holding company Andrey Boginsky. African countries operate over 250 helicopters of Mi-24/35 type. The holding company offers the modernized version of the Mi-35P helicopter to all African partners who are interested in it. The helicopter has new engines, the new sighting and navigation system, and more weapons. Mi-35P helicopter is made by Rostvertol, an enterprise of Russian Helicopters. It can be used as a military helicopter for destroying tanks and armored vehicles, and as a troop-carrying helicopter transporting eight military men. It also has sanitary and transport modifications. Control of the helicopter has been significantly improved, and its weapons system has been optimized. The Mi-35P helicopter can be used in high mountains, in hot and humid climate, day and night. More than a half of helicopters in Africa made in the USSR and in Russia are machines of the world-famous Мi-8/17 family in various versions. To ease the maintenance of the fleet, the holding company offers container type mobile service centers. They are designed for overhaul of Mi-8/17 type helicopters and their versions at customers' air bases. They may be deployed at any place even without using electricity: they have diesel generators. Such a mobile service center is also presented at the exposition during the Russia-Africa Economic Forum. Russian Helicopters's civilian rotorcraft is also presented. Thus, the company presents Ansat multipurpose helicopter in its corporate version with a highly comfortable cabin. In Russia this twin-engine helicopter is actively operated as a "flying ambulance". It has one of the largest cabins in its class and can be used for transporting cargo, passengers and medical supplies, search and rescue operations and patrolling. Ansat helicopter came onto the international market in 2018 at Airshow China, where Russian Helicopters signed a contract for delivering 20 helicopters of this type to the Chinese Emergency and Disaster Relief Association.
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Euramec to supply Dornier 228 Flight Training Device for Cockpitand Ground crew training for KASAS Ltd in Kenya
HAMME. Belgium/NAIROBI, Kenya, October21, 2019 – Euramec, the European flight simulation solution providers, is proud to announce its first Flight Training contract in Africa to provide air charter company KASAS with a Dornier 228 flight training device to conduct cockpit and ground crew training. KASAS, formed in 2016 in Nairobi, operates 13 Dornier Do228 aircraft and also provides four Dornier 228 for third-party operators. KASAS is considered a critical flying partner for NGOs such as the International Red Cross, Medecins sans Frontieres, Save the Children – UK, GOAL Ireland and the UN World Food Program, operating in many Central and East African hotspots. EURAMEC is contracted to provide a certifiable Flight Training Device for training new and existing KASAS cockpit and ground crews. The Do-228 FTD will be mounted on a compact full-motion platform for full reality integration. Training is to commence early 2020. The motion platform will be supplied by Belgium-based Motion for Simulators. With this project EURAMEC is adding full-motion simulation to its existing catalogue of Flight Training. The full-motion will become an option in devices that are also used in Upset Recognition and Recovery Training, further improving pilot skills and maintain proficiency at the highest level of the profession. The commercial partnership with Motion for Simulators will further enhance the value of selected Euramec simulators.
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Mil and Kamov Design Bureaus to team up as National Helicopter Center
The Board of Directors of Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) has taken a decision to unite JSC “Mil Moscow Helicopter plant” and JSC “Kamov” to establish JSC “National Helicopter Center named after Mikhail Mil and Nikolay Kamov” (NHC). National Helicopter Center shall combine the potential of two helicopter design schools for more efficient and higher-quality rotorcraft design and upgrade. The consolidation is aimed at the upgrowth of two design bureaus, Mil and Kamov; at the same time their brands shall be preserved as freestanding and the personnel of both bureaus shall make part of NHC. Also, the creation of NHC shall assist in getting rid of administrative, legal and economic barriers currently in the way of cooperation between the two design teams. Working as a united team shall optimize the activities of a number of back-office and administrative units. Such an approach will set up the environment for smooth exchange of technical solutions and achievements, efficient distribution of workload between the subdivisions and unification of technical standards. Among the expected benefits are reduced labor costs, improved managerial and production efficiency, enhanced quality of design and less time before release for serial production. “According to our estimates, distribution of tasks between the two design bureaus, and serial and aircraft repair plants of the Holding Company should cumulatively free up around 15-20% of annual working capacity of two design bureaus which can be allocated to the creation of technical groundwork and development of new helicopters,” highlighted Mikhail Korotkevich, Deputy Director General for science and technology policy and helicopter development at JSC “Russian Helicopters”, who presented the roadmap for consolidating design bureaus at the Board meeting. “Earlier, there was certain competitiveness between the companies; the same types of rotorcraft were being developed in parallel. Our common objective is to compete with foreign manufacturers, not with each other. Consolidation of two schools shall advance the objective.” Economic effect from design bureau consolidation is expected due to optimization of the use of common ground infrastructure and reduction of expenses for performing same-type tests. At the same time, a part of freed resources shall be channeled towards enhancing scientific and technical potential and engaging new designers. The roadmap for establishing NHC on the basis of two design bureau was approved by the Board of Directors of Russian Helicopters Holding Company. The first stage when two design bureaus are scheduled to make one company shall be completed by mid-2020. Further integration processes aimed at optimization of the two design bureaus’ activity within one company shall take up until 2022.
