Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, has received type certification for the medium multirole Mi-38 transport helicopter designed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, a Russian Helicopters company. The certification confirms that the helicopter’s standard design complies with Russian and international aviation requirements.
In 2016 the Mi-38 will enter serial production and launch on the Russian market. The first fuselage for the serial-production model has already been assembled at Kazan Helicopters. All of the helicopter’s main systems and components are Russian-produced.
The certification was presented by the head of the Federal Air Transportation Agency Alexander Neradko to Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev during a ceremony at Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant on 30 December.
“In 2015 Russian Helicopters has carried out a huge amount of preparatory work to achieve certification,” said Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Russian Helicopters. “At the start of the year we brought the commercial Ansat and Ka-226T light helicopters to the Russian market, and the year is closing with certification of the VIP version of the Ansat and the new Mi-38. We are thus diversifying the range of Russian-built helicopters that we produce.”
Flight certification testing of the Mi-38 involved two prototypes (the third and fourth) fitted with TV7-117V engines by Klimov; the engines themselves successfully achieved certification early in the year. The fourth prototype closely approximates the future serially produced versions Mi-38, and incorporates all of the systems and components that will be used during serial production.
The Mi-38’s technical solutions place it head and shoulders above other helicopters in its class in terms of cargo lift, passenger capacity and many key flight indicators. The helicopter has been designed to Russian AP-29 standards, which equate to CS-29 standards in Europe and FAR-29 in the US.
The Mi-38 is fitted with an integrated IBKO-38 system that displays data on five LCD screens. It is one of the most highly automated commercial helicopters in the world, with on-board systems that allow automatic navigation along a pre-set course, as well as automated landing, hovering and stabilisation in various flight modes. The IBKO-38 system gives the crew the information they need to fly the helicopter safely both on- and off-route.
The Mi-38 sits between the legendary Mi-8 and the Mi-26, the world’s heaviest-lift helicopter. It boasts the largest cabin in its class, and thus can carry a variety of cargo. The helicopter’s distinguishing features include a high level of flight safety and low vibration levels. During the 14th FAI World Helicopter Championship the Mi-38 set a world record for helicopters with take-off weight of 10,000-20,000 kg by climbing to an altitude of 8,600 m.
The Mi-38 is built to a progressive and robust design. Its outstanding potential combined with modern maintenance procedures make this a highly attractive aircraft for regional commercial operators and also for flying special missions.
At this year’s MAKS event Russian Helicopters presented the prototype VIP version of the Mi-38 to President Vladimir Putin, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, the king of Jordan, the crown prince of the UAE and other distinguished guests.
Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant is a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters. Its key areas of activity are experimental research and design, and the design, construction and testing of prototype helicopters. Since its founding, the Plant has created 12 basic models of helicopter, including the Mi-8/17, Mi-35M, Mi-26, Mi-28, Mi-38 and numerous modifications. Mi-helicopters are in operation in 110 countries worldwide and form the backbone of helicopter aviation in Russia, the CIS, as well as in countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.
Kazan Helicopters produces Mi-8/17 series helicopters that are operated in over 100 countries worldwide. A wide range of configurations are produced: transport, passenger, search and rescue, landing and transport, among many others. Preparations are underway to launch production of the Mi-38 passenger transport helicopter. Since 1997, Kazan Helicopters has been certified to develop helicopter technology: today the light twin-engine Ansat helicopter is in series production.
