Mil and Kamov Design Bureaus to team up as National Helicopter Center
LOT’S NEW NON-STOP CONNECTION TO THE UNITED STATES ONBOARD DREAMLINER FROM WARSAW TO SAN FRANCISCO
Euramec broadens horizon with new A320, Piper PA-28/44 Flight Sim Programs at Dubai Airshow 2019
A New Release of LOT’s “Kaleidoscope” On-Board Magazine
LOT TOOK OFF FROM BUDAPEST TO SEOUL
Russian Helicopters present Mi-171A2 and Ka-226T intended for India at EEF
Rostec signed dealership agreements on supplying VRT500 to Malaysia
Russian Helicopters and Gazprombank Leasing signed a contract to supply 10 Mi-8AMT for Norilsk Avia
Mi-38 was issued a certificate for its highly comfortable cabin
Rostec presented the first serial Mi-38 helicopter at MAKS
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Rostec and NAMI presented Ansat Aurus at MAKS-2019
Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) presented the Ansat helicopter with a highly comfortable cabin in Aurus brand style for the first time at the MAKS 2019 International aviation and space salon. The cabin has been designed by specialists of Russian Helicopters and NAMI (Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute). Apart from computer modeling, to create optimum ergonomic design, the design of the cabin was produced using tests in which people with various anthropometric measurements took part. The Ansat helicopter has the largest cabin in its class. Combined with the design, this provides more space for passengers. "Aurus is a premium brand which is becoming Russia's signature. Now it includes both cars and aircraft of the same style that is as comfortable as cars. It is no wonder that Ansat has been chosen as a base: this is a state-of-the-art helicopter whose advantages have already been appreciated both in Russia and abroad. The new version of Ansat confirms that this is a multi-purpose helicopter and that there is great potential for its transformation to meet the requirements of various customers," said Aviation Cluster Industrial Director of the Rostec State Corporation Anatoliy Serdyukov. The helicopter has a light protection system with touch control. This technology has been used for the first time for a helicopter's VIP cabin. Individual lights and gaspers ensure additional comfort for each passenger. Besides, there are jacks for charging devices. "We have managed to implement this project in the shortest possible time in close cooperation with our colleagues from NAMI. We began to develop the interior in April 2019 immediately after the design was approved. I would like to note that this is not just a new cabin, but a completely new approach to corporate transportation services: ten changes to the helicopter's design were made to make it more ergonomic. I am convinced that Ansatwill complement the Aurus range perfectly, and soon, after we finish tests, we will be ready to receive orders for the new machine," said Director General of Russian Helicopters holding company Andrey Boginsky. Chief Executive Officer of NAMI Sergey Gaysin said: "At the suggestion of Russian Helicopters, NAMI specialists eagerly began to work on the luxury version of the Ansat helicopter. The expertise of Russian specialists in engineering, design and marketing gained when Aurus car was created allowed us to make a product meeting the highest international standards within a short time frame. Collaboration with Russian Helicopters holding company is the first step to so expand the Aurus brand that it makes not only cars." The light multi-purpose Ansat helicopter was designed by Kazan Helicopters design office. The machine is equipped with two engines and can be used for normal passenger and VIP transport, cargo delivery, environmental monitoring and as an air medical helicopter. High-altitude tests of Ansat have been successfully completed, which confirmed the possibility of its use in mountainous terrain at altitudes up to 3,500 meters. The helicopter can be operated in a temperature range between -45° and +50°.
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Russian Helicopters presented convertible Mi-171A2 at MAKS
Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of RostecState Corporation) presented a convertible Mi-171A2 helicopter at the MAKS-2019 airspace show. Depending on the customer wishes, the helicopter can be used for cargo transportation, as well as to transport up to 20 passengers. This is the first certified rotorcraft of the Mi-8/171 family in a convertible version. The helicopter will take part in the flight program; it will also be demonstrated in a static parking lot featuring a set of optional equipment designed to perform a wide range of tasks. Those include cargo and passenger transportation, search and rescue missions, medical evacuation, and others. The scope of the helicopter usage may further be extended by installing a set of search and rescue equipment, that is, windlass, searchlight, external sling, medical equipment. "This helicopter is going to be transferred to UTair Airlines air company, which already has a positive experience in operating the Mi-171A2: as commercial flights of the new model began past February. In addition, the first Mi-171A2 has already been supplied abroad. Customers appreciated the advanced capabilities of this helicopter; it performs equally well in passenger and cargo transportation," said Andrei Boginsky, Director General of Russian Helicopters Holding Company. The design specifics of the convertible Mi-171A2 make it possible to convert the helicopter's cargo compartment into a passenger cabin at the operator’s facilities within one hour. Mi-171A2 can transport up to 20 passengers on energy-absorbing seats and up to 5 tons of cargo on an external sling. The Mi-171A2 helicopter is the newest representative of the Mi-8/17 family, embodying the best features of these world-famous machines. The helicopter is equipped with KBO-17 integrated onboard digital flight and navigation system ("glass cockpit"), which makes it possible to operate the machine without an engineer on board, thereby reducing its crew to two people. Depending on what the operator needs, Mi-171A2 helicopter can perform search and rescue missions, medical transportation, cargo operations, fight fires or carry passengers day and night, at temperatures from -50°C to + 50°C, at high altitudes, in a desert, in tropical climate, in high humidity conditions, it can also fly over water. The installation of more powerful VK-2500-PS-03 engines featuring a digital control system allowed to improve the cruising and maximum speeds of Mi-171A2 by 10% compared to Mi-8/17-type helicopters and its payload increased by 25%. The Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant JSC is one of the manufacturing facilities owned by the Russian Helicopters Holding Company. The Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant's current industrial and technological potential is instrumental in swiftly arranging production of new aircraft models and combining prototype construction with mass production. Over the course of 80 years in operation, more than 8,000 aircraft have been built on the plant. At present the Plant specializes in manufacturing Mi-8AMT (Mi-171E), Mi-171, and Mi-8AMTSh (Mi-171Sh) helicopters. JSC “Russian Helicopters”, a part of Rostec State Corporation, is a leading player in the global helicopter industry, the sole Russian designer and manufacturer of helicopters. The Holding Company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Moscow. We operate five helicopter assembly plants, two design bureaus, component production and maintenance enterprises, aircraft repair plants and one helicopter service company providing after-sales support in Russia and abroad. The customers of the Holding Company are the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Home Affairs, EMERCOM of Russia, and other state customers, Gazpromavia, UTair Aviation company, large Russian and foreign companies. State Corporation Rostec is one of the largest industrial companies in Russia. It unites more than 800 scientific and industrial organizations in 60 regions of the country. Its key areas of activity are transport engineering, electronics, medical technology, chemistry and innovative materials. Rostec holdings form three clusters: electronics, weapons and aviation. The corporation’s portfolio includes such well-known brands as AvtoVAZ, KAMAZ, Kalashnikov, Russian Helicopters, Uralvagonzavod and others. Rostec is active in the implementation of all 12 national projects. The company is a key provider of Smart City technology, it is engaged in the digitalization of public administration, industry and social sectors, and it is developing plans for the development of 5G wireless technologies, an Industrial Internet of Things, big data and blockchain systems. Rostec partners with leading world manufacturers such as Boeing, Airbus, Daimler, Pirelli and Renault. The corporation’s products are delivered to more than 100 countries worldwide. Almost a third of the company's revenue comes from the export of high-tech products.
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Ka-62 to debut in the flight program of the MAKS-2019 air show
Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) presented a prototype of its latest Ka-62 multi-purpose helicopter for the first time at the international aerospace show MAKS-2019. The machine is showcased at the static exposition and takes part in the flight program of the air show. The Ka-62 will be involved in the fly-by of the entire line of the rotorcraft produced by Russian Helicopters Holding Company, and will also perform individually in the aerobatic program of the show. "The Ka-62 project implements a number of fundamental innovations that had not previously been used in Russian helicopter engineering. In particular, it features a non-standard rotor design, and composite materials are widely used in its structure, which increases the maneuverability, flight speed, economic efficiency and load-lifting capacity of the rotorcraft. The helicopter will occupy the niche between the light-weight Ansat, Ka-226 and medium-sized helicopters of Mi-8 type. The multi-purpose nature of the machine, its outstanding technical characteristics, and adaptability to harsh weather conditions should make the helicopter of interest both for the Russian and the international markets," commented Anatoliy Serdyukov, Aviation Cluster Industrial Director of the Rostec State Corporation. The machine is designed to perform a wide range of functions: cargo transportation, rescue missions and emergency medical care, observations and environmental monitoring, as well as to be used in the oil and gas industry and corporate transportation. The resistance of the helicopter to low and high temperatures makes it suitable for use in the Far North and Arctic regions, we well as in countries with a hot climate. The helicopter is being prepared for mass production by Progress Aviation Company (Progress AAC) n.a. Nikolai Sazykin in Arsenyev. At the moment, the company has built three prototypes that are supposed to undergo a flight testing cycle. "Participation in the flight program of one of the world's largest air shows is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate the flight qualities of this outstanding rotorcraft to potential customers and a big step forward in the Ka-62 project, which is getting closer to entering Russian and international markets day by day. We expect to receive a basic certificate for its cargo / passenger version in 2020," stated Andrey Boginsky, Director General of Russian Helicopters Holding Company. The helicopter, which weights up to 6.5 tons, can transport 15 passengers over distances of up to 600 km, and carry cargo inside the cabin and on an external sling. A specific feature of Ka-62 is the use in its structure of polymer composite materials, which account for up to 60% of its weight. This increases the speed, maneuverability and load capacity of the helicopter, and also reduces its fuel consumption. Another distinctive feature of the helicopter is its single-rotor design with a multi-blade anti-torque rotor ducted into the vertical tail fin, which was used on Russian helicopters in Russia for the first time. Ka-62 has a large passenger cabin, which makes it possible to increase both its seat pitch, and seat width. The helicopter's onboard radioelectronic equipment is entirely Russian-made, it features a cutting-edge steering unit to control general helicopter equipment of the next generation. The design of the helicopter is compliant with international safety requirements. In particular, the helicopter is able to fly and land with only one engine running. The injury protection of the pilot and passengers in the event of an emergency landing is increased due to the shock-absorbent design of its chassis and the seats. JSC “Russian Helicopters”, a part of Rostec State Corporation, is a leading player in the global helicopter industry, the sole Russian designer and manufacturer of helicopters. The Holding Company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Moscow. We operate five helicopter assembly plants, two design bureaus, component production and maintenance enterprises, aircraft repair plants and one helicopter service company providing after-sales support in Russia and abroad. The customers of the Holding Company are the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Home Affairs, EMERCOM of Russia, and other state customers, Gazpromavia, UTair Aviation company, large Russian and foreign companies. State Corporation Rostec is one of the largest industrial companies in Russia. It unites more than 800 scientific and industrial organizations in 60 regions of the country. Its key areas of activity are transport engineering, electronics, medical technology, chemistry and innovative materials. Rostec holdings form three clusters: electronics, weapons and aviation. The corporation’s portfolio includes such well-known brands as AvtoVAZ, KAMAZ, Kalashnikov, Russian Helicopters, Uralvagonzavod and others. Rostec is active in the implementation of all 12 national projects. The company is a key provider of Smart City technology, it is engaged in the digitalization of public administration, industry and social sectors, and it is developing plans for the development of 5G wireless technologies, an Industrial Internet of Things, big data and blockchain systems. Rostec partners with leading world manufacturers such as Boeing, Airbus, Daimler, Pirelli and Renault. The corporation’s products are delivered to more than 100 countries worldwide. Almost a third of the company's revenue comes from the export of high-tech products.
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Russian Helicopters to present three civilian novelties at MAKS-2019 air show
Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) will present as many as three new civilian products at the MAKS 2019 International aviation and space salon. The medium-sized multi-purpose Ka-62, the first serial Mi-38 helicopter, and a light-weight Ansat, whose VIP cabin is designed in the Aurus brand style, will be presented at the show for the first time. The Ka-62 medium-sized multi-purpose helicopter will make its debut at MAKS air show. It will be presented as part of the static exposition of the holding company, and will also take part in the fly-by of the entire line of the Russian Helicopters rotorcraft and perform individual aerobatics. A distinctive feature of the helicopter is its single-rotor scheme with a multi-blade antitorque rotor in the annular channel of the vertical tail fin, which was for the first time used on helicopters in Russia. The Ka-62 construction widely applies polymer composite materials. MAX-2019 will also see a debut of the serial civilian Mi-38 helicopter featuring a superior comfort cabin. The 'VIP cabin' version of Mi-38 can take up to 11 passengers on board, while the basic passenger version can carry up to 30 people. The flight range of the new helicopter is up to 1200 kilometers. The static exposition of the Russian Helicopters holding company will also present to visitors and participants of the air show another novelty, that is, the Ansat Aurus helicopter, whose development involved experts from NAMI (Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute). Its interior design features the style of the famous Russian luxury cars brand. In addition, the static exposition will feature a prototype of the VRT500 light single-engine helicopter and the VRT300 unmanned aerial vehicle developed by 'VR-Technology' design bureau. "Mikhail Leontyevich Mil used to say that our country was seemingly created especially for helicopters. It is noteworthy that in the year of the 110th anniversary of his birth, we present a novelty by the design bureau that bears his name, that is, the first serial Mi-38 helicopter. Of equal importance to this event is our Kamov premiere, Ka-62, which is being demonstrated at the air show for the first time, including the flight program," noted Andrey Boginsky, the Director General of the Russian Helicopters holding company. "Our 'junior' design offices, that is, KVZ and VR-Technology, do not fall behind either, they present at MAKS-2019 new modifications of their serial machines and promising projects that will shape the future of domestic rotorcraft engineering." The aerospace show will see the best projects by participants of Sky.Tech contest, which is conducted by Russian Helicopters in order to search for innovative solutions and technological projects in the field of air transport development and its integration into the urban environment. In addition, both the flight program and the static exposition present practically the entire line of military and civilian rotorcraft by Russian Helicopters: the world's heaviest Mi-26T2V, transport assault landing Mi-38T, medium-sized Mi-171A2 and Mi-17V-5, strike support helicopters Mi-24P and Mi-35M, combat scout Ka-52 Alligator, the light helicopters Ansat and Ka-226T. The static exposition will also feature the shipborne Ka-52K helicopter and the export version of the "Night Hunter" Mi-28NE. Multipurpose Ka-32A11BC helicopter will demonstrate airborne fire suppression. The Novosibirsk Aircraft Repair Plant, which is part of the holding company, will present a mobile container-type service center for the maintenance and repair of Mi-8/17 helicopters.
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LOT Polish Airlines and State Forests Together for the Climate
LOT Polish Airlines will support an innovative project on counteracting the adverse effects of climate change implemented by State Forests. This is yet another of many initiatives of the Polish carrier contributing to the improvement of CO2 balance in the atmosphere. Maciej Wilk, Member of the Management Board of the LOT Polish Airlines for Operational Issues, and Andrzej Konieczny, CEO of State Forests, signed today a letter of intent on cooperation in the implementation of the Carbon Forest Project. The assumptions and anticipated effects of the undertaking which aims at increasing the amount of carbon dioxide captured and stored by forests were presented during the international climate conference COP24 in Katowice and attracted a lot of interest. “We respond to the challenges which are today of concern of the entire world. Climate change caused, among others, by greenhouse gases, including CO2, affect forests, as well: trees suffer from ever more frequent droughts and rapid natural disasters. Therefore, we should reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere simultaneously reducing the emissions of the gas and increasing its absorption. In the latter, the role of forests is clear, as they naturally absorb CO2 during photosynthesis,” says Andrzej Konieczny, CEO of State Forests. He adds: “The CFP assumes that by modifying the standard sustainable forest management, we can make the given fragment of a forest absorb even more CO2 than it already does. Considering the number of forests we have in Poland, and the fact that it is continuously growing, such activities applied at a larger scale could positively influence the general carbon balance”. The experimental program covers selected areas in 23 State Forest Districts all over Poland – in total, 12 thousand ha. As part of CFP, foresters will conduct there the so-called additional activities, that is, plant more fast-growing species, introduce the second story of trees and the understory, increase the share of natural regeneration and planting with the Sobanski method. It’s a pilot phase which is accompanied by a wide-ranging scientific research. Scientists calculate that within 30 years, each hectare of forest currently covered by the CFP will absorb additional 37 ton of CO2 – in total, 1 million ton more than what they would absorb without the conducting the said activities. Initial estimations indicate that even around 1 million ha from 7.6 million ha of forests managed by SF would be suitable for the purposes of the project. With this scale, the effects in the form of CO2 absorbed would be many times greater. Additionally, the amounts of gas absorbed are already sold by State Forests on auctions in the form of Carbon Dioxide Units and they enjoy high interest among leaders of all sectors of Polish economy. The funds acquired this way are fully allocated by SF to specific pro-environmental undertakings indicated by the purchaser – from endangered species protection programs, construction of forest tourist infrastructure (lookout towers, educational pathways, cycling paths) to the purchase of land for afforestation. “LOT is consistent in its involvement in the fight for the green planet. We introduce a series of operational changes which during only two recent years have enabled the reduction of CO2 emission by around 10 g of CO2 per passenger / 1 km of flight. The numbers differ depending on the type of the route, however, in the case of all of them, we observed a significant improvement of the performance,” notes Maciej Wilk, Member of the Management Board of LOT Polish Airlines for Operational Issues. He adds: “It is worth pointing out that the airline industry is responsible for 2 per cent of global CO2 emission. Further reduction of emissions is, however, possible, that is why we engage not only in the Carbon Forest Project but also in consistent optimisation of our ongoing business operation”. The activities undertaken by LOT include, among others, minimisation of the number of engines used by aircraft while taxiing after landing, optimisation of the air routes based on modern software, verification of speed of aircraft take-off and landing or reducing the weight of the aircraft. Whenever possible, LOT will apply external electrical power supply instead of fuel supply in the airports. The company supports also European initiatives which are aimed at reduction of CO2 emissions. “The improvement of capacity of the European airspace and airports would allow for significant optimisation of routes and shortening the flight time. This, in turn, according to the estimations, would be connected with the reduction of CO2 by approximately 16 million ton annually on a European scale. Therefore, we actively support the activities aimed at launching, as fast as possible, a uniform system for managing the European Airspace. We also support four pillars of the Emissions Reduction Policy, that is, development of technology, improvement of airport infrastructure, operational improvements and economic mechanisms, but we believe that the latter should be introduced on a global scale,” says Maciej Wilk. It is worth adding that State Forests, as an organisation, apart from implementing a pro-climate, sustainable forest management, strives to limit its carbon footprint. As part of “Forest Of Energy” and “Thermomodarnization” projects, they increase the share of renewable energy sources in the structure of energy consumption, by installing in the SF buildings photovoltaic cells, heat pumps, biomass boilers and other RES (they will perform in total 140 such micro-installations with the total power of 2 MW), introduce integrated electricity purchase, and took their first steps in developing their own, low-carbon transport, by purchasing 16 fully electric cars. Foresters promote also wooden construction and general use of wood in every-day life, because it is an ecological raw material, fully renewable and eco-friendly, and wooden products bind CO2.
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Solidarity Transport Hub Poland invites stakeholders to the strategic consultation for the new airport
Starting today, Solidarity Transport Hub (STH) calls on stakeholders to consult the Strategic Brief for the new airport planned in Central and Eastern Europe. The proposal is addressed to entities operating or possessing expert knowledge in the scope of consultation. This is the next step in the consultation process which involves a vast representation of stakeholders including numerous air carriers. The consultation started this morning. The condition for participation is registration and signing a confidentiality agreement (NDA). Comments on the STH Strategic Brief can be submitted by October 31. Entities, that will undergo a positive verification, will be given access to the 350-page Strategic Brief of the new airport and the remarks submission form. Using the form, it will be possible to enter proposals for changes and additions in regard to the planned airport infrastructure. “We deliberately started consultations at the initial stage of preparation for the design and construction. It is impossible to plan a modern airport wisely without asking for the opinion of its users, i.e. air carriers,handling, maintenance and courier companies, cargo operators and suppliers of numerous media and services” emphasizes Mikołaj Wild, Government Plenipotentiary for Solidarity Transport Hub. “Our goal is to verify the STH conceptual assumptions, reconcile them with the needs of future users and make necessary adjustments. The aim is to ensure that the planned technical, operational and financial solutions are optimal. In this way, we are also building a knowledge base that will be used for the Airport’s Master Plan”says Dariusz Sawicki, STH Board Member and Managing Director Airport Development. The April preliminary consultation meeting was attended by over 60 representatives of companies such as LOT Polish Airlines, LOT AMS, LS Airport Services, Polish Air Navigation Services Agency, Poczta Polska, Orlen, LOTOS, PERN, Polski Holding Hotelowy, FedEx, DHL, UPS and TNT Express. The investor acquainted partners with the stages of investment, presented a working block diagram of the project implementation and assumptions regarding the formula and scope of cooperation. Already then - by the end of May - STH received over half a thousand comments and proposals regarding the infrastructure of the planned airport, including passenger, luggage, cargo infrastructure, technical facilities, etc. Next, in cooperation with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), STH established the Airport Consultative Committee (ACC) for the new airport. The inaugural ACC meeting, which took place on July 18 in Warsaw, was attended by, among others representatives of LOT, El Al, Emirates, Enter Air, Qatar Airways, SAS and Wizz Air and the following airline groups: IAG (which includes British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Level and Vueling), Lufthansa Group (including Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings). Star Alliance also took part in it, i.e. in addition to LOT, Air China, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, Turkish Airlines and South African Airways. Simultaneously with the airport part of the investment, preparations are underway for the design and construction of new railway lines leading to STH and Warsaw. In July, the first stage of the Regional Strategic Consultation for the Railways ended. So far, they have taken place in five voivodships: Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Greater Poland, Masovian, Łódź and Lower Silesian. Consultations in another seven regions are scheduled for September. A Local Community Consultancy Council for the Airport Investment has been operating B, representing the residents of Teresin, Wiskitki and Baranów communes, in which the investment will be located. The Council enables ongoing exchange of information between residents and the local governments with the Office of The Government Plenipotentiary for Solidarity Transport Hub and the STH Company itself. In July, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki, has approved a 300 million, PLN cash injection for the STH as a result of the acquisition of new shares by the State Treasury. The government recognized CPK not only as a strategic project for the development of Poland, but also as a profitable investment. According to the Pricewaterhouse Coopers report from April this year, the Polish aviation market has one of the largest growth potentials throughout Europe, and the construction of the hub near Warsaw is justified by both traffic forecasts and assumed rate of return. According to a study by Baker McKenzie from May this year, the creation of STH could grow Poland's GDP by 4 to 7 percent.
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LOT Develops Its Hub in Budapest – New Flights to Be Launched in September
Budapest, 31 July 2019 - LOT has been consistently expanding its network of connections from Budapest. On 22 September 2019 LOT is going to launch non-stop long-haul flights to Seoul and on 30 March next year LOT is going to launch six new destinations - Sofia, Prague, Belgrade, Stuttgart, Bucharest and Brussels, thereby operating 12 routes from Budapest. The launch of new international flights from Hungary marks another stage of market consolidation in Central and Eastern Europe, of which LOT is currently becoming an undisputed leader. The strategy of LOT’s network development in Budapest which was announced last year, becomes a fact today. Starting from 30 March 2020, i.e. in less than two years from the launch of non-stop long-haul flight to the US, the number of flights operated by LOT from the capital of Hungary will total 12 – passengers will fly directly to Warsaw, Kraków, London City, Bucharest, Brussels, Stuttgart, Prague, Belgrade, Sofia as well as New York City, Chicago and Seoul. To operate its newly announced European flights, three LOT’s Embraer 195s will be permanently stationed in Budapest. Starting from the next summer season, carrier’s fleet in Budapest will amount to four short-distance aircraft and one Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Flights from Budapest to Seoul will be operated three times a week with Boeing 787 Dreamliners based on the following timetable: LO2001 11:25 – 6:05 (+1) BUD-ICN Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays LO2002 07:35 – 12:20 ICN-BUD Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays “Today we are announcing another stage of the development of LOT’s hub in Budapest - in less than two months we are going to inaugurate the flight to LOT’s first destination in Asia - from Hungary to Seoul. It is yet another milestone in LOT’s history. I am certain that our services will meet the expectations of Hungarians and Koreans alike as well as passengers from the entire region of Central and Eastern Europe. Tourism and business potential between Budapest and Seoul is huge - the annual passenger traffic on that route reaches 70,000, and the number of passengers travelling annually between the CEE region and Seoul exceeds 750,000,” says Rafał Milczarski, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines. Jost Lammers, CEO of Budapest Airport commented: “We are delighted that yet another long-awaited route from Budapest is launched by LOT Polish Airlines. Seoul – and South Korea – is a significant economic partner for Hungary, and passenger traffic quadrupled between the two countries over the past four years and will reach almost 100,000 in 2019. This development of the route network of LOT’s base in Budapest will further strengthen Hungarian ties in business and tourism both within and outside Europe”. Budapest-Seoul schedule was designed to ensure convenient transfers in Budapest starting at one hour to connecting flights to other European cities, including to Stuttgart, Prague and also Warsaw. Budapest-Seoul flight will last less than 12 hours. “We are also going to launch four new European destinations, namely, Sofia, Prague, Belgrade and Stuttgart in the next summer season, thus delivering on our promise made to Hungary to become the only airlines offering non-stop and most comfortable connections from Budapest to USA, Asia and Europe. We also operate flights to each of those destinations from Warsaw and are very pleased with the results. Our analyses showed that those destinations have a huge potential to become successful in Hungary, too,” adds Rafał Milczarski. Flights to Prague and Stuttgart will be operated twice a day (except on weekends). Routes to Sofia and Belgrade will be operated daily, seven days per week. Besides launching new destinations from Budapest, LOT also adjusts selected flights. For the upcoming winter season LOT will reduce frequency of flights to New York City from 4 to 3 flights per week, whereas the flights to Chicago will be seasonal and will be operated only in summer. Also, due to Boeing 737 MAXs being grounded, LOT decided to postpone launch of previously announced flights to Brussels and Bucharest for 30 March 2020. Thus in the next summer season passengers from Hungary will be able to fly to as many as six new European destinations. “We have been consistently implementing our strategy of growth in Budapest adjusting our services to meet passenger needs and current operational conditions. Demand for flights to/from USA is highly seasonal which highly affects profitability of flights. Another factor was not sufficient feeder network. That is why we decided to inaugurate as many as six new European routes from Hungary on 30 March. Apart from their large business and tourism potential of the so-called point-to-point traffic, they will also feed our long-haul connections to USA and South Korea,” adds Rafał Milczarski. Currently, LOT’s cabin crew operating non-stop flights from Budapest totals 80 flight attendants and a dozen or so Hungarian pilots. It has been recruiting new candidates on a current basis and plans to have employed approx. 150 new pilots until the end of 2019 to work at its bases in Warsaw and Budapest. Launchof new flights from Budapest is another element in the implementation of the profitable growth strategy of LOT Polish Airlines, the purpose of which is to build the position of leading airlines in Central and Eastern Europe. Tickets for the flights between Budapest and Seoul can be purchased through all sale channels, including the lot.com website, the LOT Contact Center, LOT Travel offices, and travel agents. Tickets for the flights to new European destinations, i.e. from Budapest to Belgrade, Stuttgart, Sofia and Prague, will be available starting from 7 August 2019.
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Ka-32 helicopters to be used in firefighting in Turkey
Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) has delivered three Ka-32A11BC multipurpose helicopters to Turkey. The machines will be used in firefighting. In July 2018 contracts were signed with KAAN Air (Turkey) for delivery of three Ka-32A11BC multipurpose helicopters. Currently all three are handed over to the customer. The rotorcraft were purchased primarily for firefighting purposes. “Ka-3232A11BC is the helicopter with the best technical equipment for firefighting missions”, noted Andrey Boginskiy, CEO of Russian Helicopters Holding Company. “This rotorcraft is an admitted leader in its class, and it is capable of solving a wide range of tasks. We are looking forward to further fruitful cooperation with our Turkish partners as far as delivery and after-sales support of helicopters are concerned.” “Russia has top-tier competence in civil helicopter industry. Depending on the types of tasks and missions, we are ready to deliver a variety of helicopters to our Turkish partners”, said Viktor Kladov, Director for International Cooperation and Regional Policy at Rostec. “Right now Turkey is interested in expanding its fleet of firefighting aircraft, and Rostec intends to continue developing its cooperation with Ankara in this field. We estimate the current Turkish market for this type of helicopters as several dozens of machines.” The Ka-32A11BC multipurpose helicopter is designed to perform complex firefighting operations, special search-and-rescue and high altitude construction operations, to transport cargo inside the fuselage and on the external sling, to log forest, transport patients and evacuate injured persons. The co-axial scheme and absence of the tail rotor ensure compactness, high power-to-weight ratio and maneuverability, as well as exceptional controllability of the helicopter. Ka-32A11BC has a high load lifting capacity up to 5 tons of cargo on the external sling. The assigned service life of Ka-32A11BC is extended to 32,000 hours which guarantees lower operating costs. The firefighting version of Ka-32A11BC can be equipped with various fire extinguishing systems, including Bambi Bucket and Simplex type, as well as a horizontal firefighting system. The helicopter is capable of extinguishing flames on the highest floors of high rise buildings and on oil-and-gas industrial facilities. The Ka-32A11BC has been acknowledged by experts as one of the world’s best firefighting helicopters; it is a symbol of the Global Helicopter Firefighting Initiative (GHFI) – a program intended to improve the operating efficiency of specialized firefighting helicopters. The Ka-32A11BC helicopter is EASA certified and meets FAR-29 and AP-29 standards. It is being successfully used in Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Spain, Canada, Kazakhstan, China, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, South Korea and Japan. The main field activity of KAAN AIR is delivery and after-sales support of helicopters as well as a wide range of transportation services from air taxi and VIP transport to environmental monitoring and fire extinguishing.
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Carriers from around the world actively engaged in consultation for the Solidarity Airport in Poland
The inaugural meeting of the Airport Consultative Committee, established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Solidarity Transport Hub Poland, was held today. Airlines representatives came to Warsaw to get to know plans of the new airport in Central Europe The meeting of the Airport Consultative Committee (ACC), organised by the Solidarity Transport Hub Poland, was attended by representatives of LOT Polish Airlines, El Al, Emirates, Enter Air, Qatar Airways, SAS and Wizz Air as well as aviation groups from IAG (including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Level and Vueling). The Lufthansa Group (and associates Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings) were also present. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Star Alliance, which includes airlines such as Air China, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, Turkish Airlines and South African Airways. Representatives of the IATA, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency, Board of Airlines Representatives in Poland (BARIP) and courier companies such as DHL and FedEx also took part in the talks. ACC participants were familiarised with the initial concept of Solidarity Airport. The aim of the ACC is to verify the conceptual assumptions of the investment, review strategic options, assess operational and passenger impacts, and provide ideas that lead to better informed decision-making. The point is that the planned solutions - technical, operational and financial - should be in line with the expectations and needs of carriers. “To plan an airport which meets the expectations of future travellers and airport users, it is imperative that consultation with carriers and companies both operating and providing services to the port is the first step. It is for that reason we are pleased about the high turnout and the interest of airline representatives” says Mikołaj Wild, Government Plenipotentiary for the STH Poland. “Today's ACC is only the first of a planned series of meetings. There are indications that the number of individuals interested and participants of the next meetings will be even greater” he predicts. “We welcome Poland’s STH initiative, and we are very pleased to be working closely on this key project for transport in Europe. With European demand for travel set to grow by around 50% by 2037 it is crucial that new infrastructure being planned is ready. Today’s ACC meeting in Warsaw shows that we are aware of predicted lack of capacity in Europe and are working on solutions that passenger’s need” says Anca Apahidean, Area Manager Eastern Europe at IATA. “Meetings with experts attending the ACC are a great opportunity to talk about the needs of carriers in terms of a broadly defined airport infrastructure - including requirements for passenger terminals, aprons and cargo infrastructure. In this way, we consistently build a knowledge base that will help us prepare a master plan of Solidarity Airport” says Dariusz Sawicki, STH board member for the airport investment part. ACC participants will be in regular contact with one another via teleconferences and electronic correspondence. The assumption is that plenary meetings, similar to today's, will usually take place between two and four times per year. On each occasion, the host will be the STH Poland i.e. the main investor of the planned airport. Consultative Committees at the IATA took place for major investment projects, including airports in Bangkok, Beijing Daxing, Hong Kong International, London Heathrow, Kuala Lumpur, Manchester, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Stockholm Arlanda. ACC meetings are another step in consultation with partners of the STH. In mid-April, the STH Poland began the process of strategic reconciliation with business partners. The inaugural meeting was attended by over 60 representatives from companies such as LOT Polish Airlines, Polish Air Navigation Services, Poczta Polska, Orlen, LOTOS, LOT AMS, LS Airport Services, PHH, FedEx, DHL, UPS and TNT Express. The investor, the STH Poland, familiarised the aforementioned stakeholders with the planned stages of the investment, presented a working block diagram of the project’s implementation and the establishment of the STH regarding the formula and scope of cooperation. Thanks to these consultations, the company received almost five hundred comments and proposals regarding the infrastructure of the planned airport including aircraft, passenger, baggage, cargo, technical support etc. This year, the STH Poland plans to appoint a strategic and technical advisor, an international entity with investment experience in the design, construction and management of hubs. In the coming months, the STH will also commission a master plan for Solidarity Airport. It will include air traffic forecasts, dimensioning the planned infrastructure and the initial plan for its location, the construction stage and a detailed business model for the new airport.
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Russian Helicopters to start additive manufacturing of parts in2020
Moscow / July 15, 2019 In 2019, Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec) is planning to re-engineer approximately 30 different helicopter parts to be manufactured using 3D printing technology and integrate them to serial production starting from 2020. "This year we are finishing the re-engineering of around 30 different parts and details that will be manufactured using additive technologies. These parts are currently manufactured with various methods, like casting, punching or machining and we need to integrate their production to 3D printing. According to our plans, this will process will start in 2020. We are talking about serious, power elements of the structures, units and systems of our helicopters. By the end of the year, we will decide whether we are ready to put these parts on serial production”, said Director for Innovations of Russian Helicopters Andrey Shibitov. Each item will undergo construction re-design, strength testing and testing from the point of view of all modern production technologies. As part of the tests, it is essential to confirm that the part made using additive technology is equal or superior in its characteristics to the analogous item it replaces. Only after this, the new parts can be approved to be integrated to the production of various helicopter series. To date, already 80 different parts are undergoing re-engineering. At the moment, Russian-made helicopters are yet to include parts made using additive technologies. Russian Helicopters predicts that the share of 3D printed parts will significantly increase during 2020-2022 around the world. The use of additive manufacturing can significantly reduce the mass of the aircraft and its cost. VRT500 is a light single-engine helicopter with coaxial rotors and maximum takeoff weight of 1600 kg. It will be equipped with the latest interactive avionics and have the most spacious passenger cabin in its class with the total capability of 5 persons. The helicopter can reach a max speed of 250 km/h, has a flight range of 860 km and can carry a payload of up to 730 kg. The light multi-purpose Ansat helicopter is actively used by the Russian air medical services. The helicopter has compact size and does not require a large landing area. It can also be used for normal passenger and VIP transport, cargo delivery and environmental monitoring. High-altitude tests of Ansat have been successfully completed, which confirmed the possibility of its use in mountainous terrain at altitudes up to 3,500 meters. JSC “Russian Helicopters”, a part of Rostec State Corporation, is a leading player in the global helicopter industry, the sole Russian designer and manufacturer of helicopters. The Holding Company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Moscow. We operate five helicopter assembly plants, two design bureaus, component production and maintenance enterprises, aircraft repair plants and one helicopter service company providing after-sales support in Russia and abroad. The customers of the Holding Company are the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Home Affairs, EMERCOM of Russia, and other state customers, Gazpromavia, UTair Aviation company, large Russian and foreign companies. Rostec is a Russian State Corporation that was established in 2007 to facilitate the development, production and export of high-tech industrial products designed for civilian and military applications. The Corporation comprises over 700 organizations in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation that are currently part of 15 holding companies and 80 directly managed organizations specializing in manufacturing military-industrial, civilian and dual-purpose products. Rostec's portfolio includes well-known brands such as AVTOVAZ, KAMAZ, Concern Kalashnikov, Russian Helicopters, UralVagonZavod, etc. In 2017 the consolidated revenue of Rostec reached 1 trillion 589 million rubles, while the consolidated net income and EBITDA amounted to 121 and 305 billion rubles respectively. According to Rostec strategy, the main objective of the Corporation is to ensure that Russia has a technological advantage in highly competitive global markets. Rostec's key objectives include the introduction of a new techno-economic paradigm and digitalization of Russian economy.
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LOT Announces Flights to Beijing-Daxing - from 28 October Will Beflying from Warsaw to China on a Daily Basis
LOT increases frequencies of flights to China to 7 times a week. From the end of October the Polish flag carrier will fly from Warsaw to Beijing-Daxing International Airport (PKX) 4 times a week, while maintaining the current service of 3 weekly flights from Warsaw to Beijing Capital Airport (PEK). The connections to the Chinese capital will be operated by modern wide-body aircraft B787-8 and B787-9 The flights between Warsaw Chopin Airport and the biggest and most modern airport in China - Beijing-Daxing will be operated from 28 October four times a week according to the following timetable: LO89 WAW-PKX 22.40-14.20+1 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; LO90 PKX-WAW 16.00-18.45 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays LOT will also operate the current frequency of three flights per week to Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) according to the timetable: LO91 WAW-PEK 16.30-06.35 +1 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays LO92 PEK-WAW 08.45-12.20 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - We have pursued higher frequency of flights to China for a few years because we see a great business potential in this connection. This new infrastructure investment - Beijing-Daxing International Airport - opens new development opportunities for us on one of the biggest and most dynamically growing markets in the world. Thus, as from the end of October we will increase the number of flights operated between Warsaw and Beijing from three to seven a week. This is not only a great offer for passengers who travel between China and Poland for leisure and on business but also for passengers who start their travel from many Central and Eastern European as well as Western European cities – says Rafał Milczarski, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines. The timetable of flights to Beijing-Daxing Airport has been adjusted to ensure convenient transfers via Warsaw Chopin Airport starting from 1 hour from numerous European cities including Sweden, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Berlin, London, Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest or Vilnius. The flight to Beijing-Daxing from Warsaw will last 8 hours and 40 minutes. LOT launched direct flights from Warsaw to Beijing in 2012. This connection can be developed now due to awarding the carrier with the so-called slots i.e. times of take-offs and landings at the new Beijing-Daxing airport. The aviation market between Poland and China is growing fast: in 2018, the total number of passengers travelling between Warsaw and Beijing was over 70,000. In the last few years, there was also a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Poland - from 16,000 in 2007 to nearly 140,000 last year. In 2018, the average passenger load factor in LOT’s airplanes on Warsaw-Beijing (PEK) flights amounted to 90 percent in the summer season and 75 percent in the winter. The new connection to Beijing-Daxing also means the growing potential of carriage of goods for LOT Cargo. Besides the standard transport of goods on this route covering car parts, mail, medical supplies, garments and chemical products, after obtaining the IATA CEIV Pharma Certificate in the autumn, LOT Cargo will take up transport of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products, such as medicines between China and Europe. The new connection will be operated exclusively with the world’s state-of-the-art wide-body aircraft – Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Each plane offers its passengers 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, and also fresh and varied meals served during the flight. Products featuring regional elements will be also available on board, such as the Chinese-style menu. The launch of the connection from Warsaw to Beijing-Daxing has been planned as part of the profitable growth strategy implemented by LOT since the early 2016, and the Polish flag carrier has fulfilled most of its assumptions ahead of time. LOT is continuously developing its fleet. By the end of 2019, the fleet will be extended by another B787 Dreamliner, making a total of 15. Last year, LOT carried a record number of over 8.9 million passengers, i.e. 2 million more in comparison to the preceding year. This year, it plans to exceed the barrier of 10 million passengers. LOT uses more than 80 modern aircraft daily. The carrier offers 111 scheduled flights on three continents. Tickets for LOT’s new flights to Beijing-Daxing are available on all channels, including the lot.com website, LOT Call Centre, LOT Travel offices and travel agents.
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SatADSL launches flagship Platform-as-a-Service offering in Asia
SatADSL, a provider of professional VSAT services via satellite, today announced it has successfully launched a new Point of Presence (PoP) in Singapore as it continues to expand its global footprint. The additional PoP will replicate SatADSL’s European and African model, giving operators access to SatADSL’s Cloud-based Service Delivery Platform (C-SDP) – which enables operators to offer satellite services via the cloud – without adding extra latency on top of the inherent latency of geostationary satellite communications. “Based on our deep experience of the African market and taking into account that the Asian market faces similar challenges like vast geographical areas, various users requirements and diverse populations, we are now making our service available to operators based in Asia,” said Thierry Eltges, Co-Founder and CEO at SatADSL. “This will unleash a number of new possibilities including the ability to offer pre-paid voucher-based services and operate as a Virtual Network Operator.” The Singapore PoP follows SatADSL’s first appearance at CommunicAsia, where it showcased its innovative cloud-based satellite communication solution, the C-SDP. SatADSL’s C-SDP is a complete OSS/BSS, carrier-grade, fully redundant platform in the cloud which allows operators to easily outsource satellite services with no upfront investment. “CommunicAsia provided us with an invaluable chance to showcase our first-of-its-kind solution to both the communications industry and the Asian market,” said Eltges. “As we begin to expand our operations in the Asian market, it has been invaluable to receive such an enthusiastic reception as we show local operators what SatADSL can do for them and how we can help improve the profitability of their businesses. Operators can greatly accelerate go-to-market thanks to the complete suite of ready-to-use tools available on our C-SDP at all levels of the value chain.”
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LOT and Colian Broaden Their Cooperation - New Sweet Snacks and Special Labelling of Three Aircraft
Grześki wafers, Elizabeth Shaw mint chocolates, and Helena orange soda. These are just some of the new products that await passengers of LOT Polish Airlines due to the broadening of the cooperation between the Polish carrier and Colian, a Polish capital group. New snacks will be offered in addition to Śliwka Nałęczowska (dried candied plum in chocolate) and Cream Fudge by Solidarność, offered by LOT since 2015. While striving to improve its offer, LOT Polish Airlines Product Office for several months has been involved in the process of selecting a supplier of sweet snacks. The winning Colian company has offered a wide selection of products that LOT now has on its offer. LOT is one of the most renowned and appreciated Polish brands. Not only is it a source of pride, but also an obligation towards passengers to strive every day to improve the range of offered destinations and onboard products. We have been cooperating with Colian since 2015, when we introduced a special treat for business class in long-haul flights on board our modern 787 Dreamliner Boeing, which included, inter alia: Śliwka Nałęczowska and Cream Fudge by Solidarność that our passengers have enjoyed so much. We do value this cooperation. I am pleased that as a result of the settled tender, we are now able to expand this cooperation with a portfolio of new products – says Michał Fijoł, Member of the Management Board, Chief Commercial Officer at LOT Polish Airlines. The following Colian products were delivered on board the Polish carrier: Śliwka Nałęczowska, Cream Fudge by Solidarność, Lily O’Brien’s chocolates, Mint Elizabeth Shaw chocolates, and Helena orange soda. In LOT's business lounges - "Polonez" and "Mazurek" at the Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin Airport, our passengers can enjoy Śliwka Nałęczowska and Cream Fudge by Solidarność, and soon the offer will be expanded with Grześki wafers and Mint Elizabeth Shaw chocolates. Since 1 May this year, LOT passengers in economy class on international and domestic flights have been served a new sweet snack – Grześki wafers. Colian's product is one of the most sought-after and popular wafers in Poland. Its recipe is inspired by the best Polish confectionery traditions. Grześki have been gradually replacing the wafers currently offered on board. - We find cooperation with LOT important both in terms of business and image. Colian is a well-established Polish capital group with a worldwide reach. We are happy to see that our tender offer proved to be the most attractive. This reinforces Colian's position as a reliable and competitive business partner. I firmly believe that the presence of Grześki wafers and Śliwka Nałęczowska on board the aircraft and in business zones at the Warsaw airport will enhance the passengers' flight experience. Cooperation with LOT literally gives wings to our brands! And we are very happy to see airplanes labelled with the image of our brands – says Jan Kolański, CEO, Colian sp. z o.o. The introduction of new products on board the aircraft is just one of the aspects of LOT's cooperation with Colian. Soon, the hulls of three Embraer aircraft belonging to LOT Polish Airlines will be labelled with specially designed advertisements of the Colian's flagship products – Śliwka Nałęczowska and Grześki. Two of them will be labelled this year, the third one in 2020. LOT Polish Airlines, celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, has been the ambassador of Poland all over the world since its establishment. The carrier's mission is to promote Poland as a welcoming, modern and interesting country. On board LOT aircraft, passengers can enjoy the popular Polish snacks and mineral water of the Polish brand; moreover, LOT Business Class passengers on long-haul flights can taste wine from a renowned Polish vineyard.
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Rostec exhibits over 1000 pieces of military equipment at ARMY-2019
Rostec State Corporation presents over 1000 pieces of weapons, military and special equipment at the ARMY-2019 forum, which has opened in Kubinka, near Moscow. These include tanks, IFVs, helicopters, UAVs, artillery systems and ammunition, advanced firearms, communications equipment, EW systems and many more. Rostec’s products are presented to the visitors at the pavilions of the Patriot congress and exhibition center and the open-air exhibition stands. Representatives of the State Corporation and its holding companies will hold negotiations with potential partners and take an active part in the activities of the business program. Signing of contracts for supply of military equipment are planned at the Forum. “This year we’ve invited delegations from over 100 countries to take part in ARMY-2019, official meetings will be held with 70 of them on the sidelines of the Forum. I would like to point out, that the level of representation of partner countries is quite high this year: over 30 of them are headed by defense ministers, their deputies and chiefs of the general staff. We will present them over 1000 pieces of advanced weapons, armor, helicopter, artillery and other technology. We will also demonstrate modern ammunition, domestic firearms, communication, electronic warfare and intelligence systems. Russia confidently continues to occupy second place in the world by the volume of arms exports. In 2018, Rosoboronexport’s deliveries amounted to $13.7 billion and export portfolio exceeded $50 billion, which are a new record for us. In many ways, these numbers are achieved via active marketing through such platforms as the Army Forum”, said the CEO of Rostec Sergey Chemezov. All key holding companies of the corporation, such as High Precision Systems, UralVagonZavod, Tecmash, TsNIITochMash, Russian Helicopters, United Engine Corporation, KRET, Ruselectronics, Shvabe and Avtomatika, are present at the Forum. Among the new products presented at the Rostec’s exhibition are the unmanned 57 mm autocannon module AU-220M for land and naval platforms, POST-ZM signals intelligence station, Sosna missile system on the tracked BMP-3 chassis, Typhoon-K armored vehicle with Kornet-EM ATGM, military robot system Paladin, new 125 mm tank ammunition, Korsar UAV and new firearms, including several modifications of the Udav pistol. The International Military-Technical Forum ARMY-2019 is held on June 25-30 at the Patriot congress and exhibition center of the Russian armed forces located in Kubinka, near Moscow. This year, around 1500 companies and over 1 million people will participate in the Forum.
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Russian Helicopters to certify Mi-171A2 in Peru
Experts of the Russian Helicopters Holding Company and United Engine Corporation (part of Rostec State Corporation) held a business meeting with representatives of the General Directorate for Civil Aviation (DGCAP) of Peru. The sides agreed on the procedure for validation of Mi-171A2 helicopter and VK-2500PS-03 engine. Peruvian aviation authorities plan to complete the helicopter certification in 2019. As part of the validation, DGCAP representatives also plan to visit Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and JSC “UEC-Klimov”, developers of Mi-171A2 helicopter and VK-2500PS-03 engine. "Currently, Peru is the largest operator of Russian helicopters in Latin America. Over 100 civil and military machines are registered in this country. Operators are interested in fleet renewal. And when the Mi-171A2 certificate is validated by Peruvian aviation authorities, we will be able to start supplying this modern machine. The similar procedure is being conducted to certify Mi-171A2 in Brazil, which shows potential of the market in Latin America for our machines," said Andrey Boginsky, Director General of Russian Helicopters. Mi-171A2 is the most advanced model of the Mi-8/17 helicopter type. The helicopter has VK-2500PS-03 engines with a digital control system, and a more efficient X-shaped tail rotor and a new main rotor with composite blades with the improved airfoil shape. Cruise and maximum speed of Mi-171A2 have increased by 10% compared to series-produced Mi-8/17 helicopters, while load-bearing capacity has increased by 25%. The helicopter may be effectively used around the clock, in highland conditions, at low and high temperatures, high humidity and over water. The digital avionics set KBO-17 ("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 carries passengers and is offered in the transport, passenger and VIP versions. "Latin America is a promising region for Rostec, and we are ready to offer our partners competitively priced high-quality solutions with further technology transfer. We offer our partners not an individual product, but a set of related services," said Victor Kladov, Rostec's Director for International Cooperation and Regional Policy. "I'm convinced that the Mi-171A2 validation will enhance and expand our cooperation in aviation and will make the helicopter attractive to potential customers in Peru and Latin America." In August 2017, the helicopter was certified by the Federal Air Transport Agency of the Russian Federation according to Category A providing for meeting the most stringent requirements to flight safety specified for civilian helicopters. In January 2018, tests were conducted successfully and showed that Mi-171A2 can be used at air temperatures up to -50 degrees Celsius.
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Ansat to get Austrian medical modules
The Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) and an Austrian company Air Ambulance Technology signed a cooperation agreement. The parties agreed on joint development and Russian certification of the medical module which may be installed on Ansat helicopters. The document was signed by Director General of Russian Helicopters Holding Company Andrey Boginsky and managing director of Air Ambulance Technology Nicole Kuntner-Hudson during the international aerospace exhibition Paris Air Show 2019. "We are pleased to announce the start of cooperation with Air Ambulance Technology and we hope that this will be long-term and fruitful work. Creation of the new medical module which meets international standards for medical aviation will allow the holding company to expand the pool of potential customers, including European companies. We expect that installation of such equipment will help Ansat get a certificate of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency", said Director General of Russian Helicopters Andrey Boginsky after the ceremony to mark signing of the agreement. The light multi-purpose helicopter Ansat, which has the largest cabin within its class, is actively used by the Russian air medical services. This twin-engine helicopter is compact, and it does not require a large landing area. It can also be used for passenger and VIP transport, cargo delivery and environmental monitoring. High-altitude tests of Ansat have been successfully completed, which confirmed the possibility of its operation in mountainous terrain at altitudes up to 3,500 meters. The helicopter can be operated in a temperature range between -45 and +50 degrees Celsius. The possibility of keeping the helicopter out of the hangar and low cost of operation are its significant advantages.
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Rajant Joins Kentucky Delegation to Promote State’s Aerospace Industry at the International Paris Air Show
The 53rd International Paris Air Show, happening June 17th-23rd, 2019, brings together all the players in the global aerospace industry. Rajant Corporation, the exclusive provider of Kinetic Mesh wireless networks will be there showcasing how its patented technology can provide secure, high-performance, low-latency connectivity for a wide range of autonomous applications in today’s marketplace and futurecasting what its industrial wireless networking can mean to aerospace. Rajant has an engineering, support and manufacturing facility in Morehead, Kentucky and works closely with neighboring Morehead State University in the development of robust, mobile communication systems for drones, small satellites, and other equipment. Due in part to this collaboration, Rajant will be among fellow members of the Kentucky Aerospace Industry Consortium (KAIC) and Kentucky’s State Cabinet for Economic Development exhibiting the state’s #1 export – aerospace. KAIC’s Executive Director D. Stewart Ditto II says: "Kentucky is a leader in aerospace and defense exports due to the advanced and innovative capabilities of our businesses, like Rajant. At the Paris Air Show, we look forward to increasing the awareness of the Kentucky's growth opportunities to ensure our companies have the tools needed for success. The aerospace and defense industries are key to the Commonwealth becoming a center for engineering and manufacturing excellence in the United States.” Rajant will have on hand two autonomous drones at their booth located in Hall 3, B94 (Commonwealth of Kentucky) of the International Paris Air Show. One is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with Rajant’s BreadCrumb® Drone Module. The other is Ghost Robotics’ Ghost Vision™ 60, a mid-sized foldable teleoperated and autonomous all-terrain Quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicle (QUGV) for industrial inspection and perimeter security. It can cover 7.8 miles on a single charge or the approximate equivalent of 3.5 hours of continuous walking operation while carrying up to 25 lbs. Ghost Robotics and Rajant have collaborated on many projects, their latest being for DARPA. For the last few years, Rajant has been opening up commercial opportunities for drone manufacturers. Their Kinetic Mesh wireless network, powered by InstaMesh®, equips unmanned systems with wireless mobile broadband to provide instant, uninterrupted connectivity for continuous operation in the air, on land and at sea. According to Don Gilbreath, Rajant’s Vice President of Systems: “Autonomous applications require constant connectivity to remain operational. If coverage drops, even momentarily, these unmanned systems shut down. Mission-critical, industrial operations employing autonomy have zero tolerance for interruptions and are seeking the reliability only Rajant can offer them.” Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh networking capability brought them to the attention of Ghost Robotics as a strategic partner for deploying small unmanned aerial vehicles (sUAV’s) with their ground-based robot. Specific to DARPA, each robotic system (in air and on land) acts completely independent to explore and locate assets. The sUAV’s are able to fly into vertical stops and other hard to navigate voids, while the Vision60 QUGV’s can transverse rugged terrain akin to a dog’s four-legged capability. James Laney, Head of Autonomy and Applications at Ghost Robotics, shares: “We will be demonstrating with Rajant our Vision60 to show Paris Air Show attendees the important role our robot plays in the perimeter security of airstrips, where air drones may not be allowed. Our robot autonomously navigates along the fence line of runways in search of intrusions and can work in conjunction with sUAV’s for more in-depth situational awareness. As we look to the future of aerospace, our versatile, ruggedized QUGV’s maintain advantages over robots with wheels and tracks, making them a right fit for the unstructured terrain of planets and asteroids.”
