MOSCOW. July 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Transportation Ministry and Aviation and Space Agency have issued a joint resolution authorizing the operation of the BE-200ChS amphibious plane with D-436TP engines, the press service of the Irkut research and production corporation said on Tuesday.
"The resolution was issued after the first mass-produced BE- 200ChS amphibious plane received the type certificate of the Interstate Aviation Committee's Aviation Registrar on June 20. This makes it possible to use the amphibian for accomplishment of fire-fighting, search and rescue missions in the interests of the Russian Emergencies Ministry. The ministry will get six more such planes before 2005," a press service official said.
The BE-200 two-engined turbojet amphibian has no analogues in the world as far as its specifications are concerned. Its fire- fighting capabilities are also unique. The plane can take in up to 12t of water from lakes and rivers many times during one flight, deliver it to the fire scene and drop it on the fire epicenter using high-precision navigation and flight control systems.
The BE-200ChS variety adjusted to requirements of the Emergencies Ministry is intended for search and rescue operations, delivery of rescue teams and special equipment to disaster areas, and evacuation of affected persons.
Several European, Asian and American countries are considering procurement of the BE-200. According to experts of Irkut and the European consortium EADS, up to 320 BE-200s can be sold to 25 countries in the next 20 years. Before the plane enters the global aircraft market, it will be certified in accordance with international standards.
The BE-200ChS can use Class V airfields, with the length of the airstrip mounting up to 1800 meters; it can also land and take off from sea and river surfaces, with their depth being at least 2.6 meters and sea swell of up to three points. The plane has a crew of two.
Maximum take-off weight from the ground mounts up to 37,900kg, maximum speed is 710 kilometers per hour, maximum range is 3,600 kilometers (with an emergency fuel stock for one hour of flight), weight of water in one intake is up to 320 tonnes. The aircraft can carry 72 people or up to 7.5t of various cargo; the volume of the tanks is 12 cubic meters.