MOSCOW, May 10 (AVN) - Emergency Ministry aviation group will get the first multipurpose BE-200ChS amphibians and KA-226A light class rescue and relief helicopters, produced in Irkutsk and Orenburg, in 2001, a source in the ministry told the Military News Agency.
The necessity to enforce the aviation group stems from the growth of the ministry's air-transportation.
The ministry's aviation took part in almost every relief and rescue operation in Russia and abroad for the five years of life. In 1999 alone it flew 7,613 missions, ferried 15,228 passengers and 13,898t of different load.
Structurally the aviation includes the State Aviation Unitary Enterprise, several separate helicopter squads and mixed squadrons stationed in Moscow, Vladimir, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk and Khabarovsk. All of them are equipped with IL-76TD Candid transports, MI-8 Hip and MI-26 Halo helicopters.
By 2005, after rescue centres have been set up in Russia's regions, direct-action helicopter systems and aviation commandant's offices will be set up there, the source said.