MOSCOW. Jan 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The Federal Aviation Service has certified the Ansat helicopter for mountain flying, Russian Helicopters said on Tuesday.
"Previously, the helicopter had been unable to take off and land at altitudes higher than 1,000 meters, which limited its use in the mountains. During the certification tests, the Ansat successfully performed a series of takeoffs and landings in the mountains at altitudes of up to 3,500 meters, including with simulated engine failure and in freewheeling mode, which confirmed the possibility of its operation in the mountains," the company said.
The Federal Aviation Service confirmed the Ansat's ability to take off and land at altitudes of up to 3,500 meters on the basis of trials conducted on Mount Elbrus in summer 2018, it said.
"The certified increase of the altitude of the Ansat's takeoff and landing creates new opportunities to find customers in countries with relevant landscapes. For instance, potential operators from Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia became interested in the helicopter during the recent demonstration tour in Southeast Asia, which took place in the end of 2018. About 30 applications to buy Ansat helicopters were filed, and the improvement of its performance characteristics will have a positive effect on further talks with customers," the press service quoted Russian Helicopters CEO Andrei Boginsky as saying.
The Ansat is a light two-engine multirole helicopter produced by the Kazan Helicopter Plant. According to its certificate, the helicopter can rapidly be transformed into a cargo or passenger vehicle and carry up to seven people.
It has been certified to operate in temperatures ranging from minus 45 to plus 45 degrees Celsius.
The medical modification of the helicopter was certified in May 2015.