GELENDZHIK. Sept 2 (Interfax-AVN) - It is on the Russian initiative and with its active participation that an air squadron for countering fires and other disasters and catastrophes will be formed in Europe in 2005, Deputy Russian Emergencies Minister Yury Brazhnikov told Interfax-Military News Agency at the Gidroaviasalon 2004 international hydroplane show in Gelendzhik on Thursday.
"We are planning to form an air squadron in Europe in cooperation with our European partners that will be tasked to fight fires and assist in other natural disasters. I believe that such a squadron, or an aviation pool, in terms of the European Union, will be ready to operate in summer 2005," he said.
Brazhnikov said that Russia's BE-200CHS amphibious plane of the Irkut Corporation will play the basic role in this squadron on the Russian side.
"The recent exercises with the Be-200CHS involved showed that it is effective not only in suppressing fires, but in dealing with other consequences of natural disasters," Brazhnikov said.
He added that the European aviation pool would include Germany, Italy, France, Greece and maybe some other countries. He thinks that he manufacturers of aircraft in the international market also may be involved.
According to Brazhnikov, it was Russian initiative to form such a squadron. It will include not only fixed-wing planes, but also helicopters. For instance, the world's most powerful serial helicopter, the MI-26T Halo, which proved most effective in fire fighting, will also be utilized. Besides, the IL-76 Candid planes based in the Moscow region, which were successfully employed on missions in Croatia, Greece and Turkey, might well be used.
"In the run-up to the Russia-EU summit in Moscow, we reached an agreement to develop an emergency communication channel between the Russian Emergencies Ministry and the European Union, and signed a protocol to this effect. As of now, we have drawn up the schedule of training and exchange of experts. First training will start this month," he added.
According to him, negotiations are still underway about the funding for the squadron. Brazhnikov also said that most likely the money would come from the governments of the countries, members of the squadron, and from the European Union as well.