Kazan has domestic and international orders for Mi-17 helicopters

Published: 5/17/2000

It appears from sources within the Kazan Helicopter Plant that the facility is producing a sizeable proportion of the 50 Mil helicopters that were built last year, according to Mil's General Designer Georgy Sinelshikov. The relations between the two producing plants at Ulan Ude and Kazan, however, remain strained as Ulan Ude, traditionally the producer for the domestic market, makes forays into international sales, the previous focus of Kazan. Although reluctant to talk about exact numbers, sources within Kazan say the plant is in the process of producing Mi-17s and spare parts for Egypt, adding to the reported 40 aircraft operating with the Egyptian armed forces. Helicopters have also been delivered this year to Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations and oil company Lukoil, with a VIP configuration. Olev Markov, Head of Marketing at Kazan, confirmed that the plant has recently sold an improved version of the Mi-17, funded by the plant, to the South Korean police. Incorporating Western avionics from Honeywell and special equipment, such as cutters for wire lines. Kazan is enthusiastic about the prospects for this development of the Mi-8/Mi-17, the Mi-8MTV-5/Mi-17MD with 40-passenger capacity. It features new cockpits, a wide ramp in the rear fuselage in place of two doors on earlier models and wider side doors. These design changes make the helicopter more attractive for such operations as air assault and anti-terrorist missions by allowing faster disembarkation. The Mi-8MTV-5 is also being offered with night-vision systems, which have reportedly been evaluated by Russia's Army Aviation on two Mi-8M (modified) helicopters. One of these has been lost recently through what was described by Kazan sources as adverse weather conditions, although there have been reports of the aircraft operating in Southern Russia. The aircraft began trials in the middle of last year and night-capable Mi-17s are already reported to be operational in Columbia, which has ten Mi-17s in service. According to reports, however, the Columbian aircraft were restricted from night flying for some period of time after problems relating to cockpit illumination were discovered shortly after delivery. The problems have now been resolved and the aircraft are reported to be flying night missions using Russian night flying equipment. Ulan Ude, with Mil's support, has won the Malaysian tender for replacement of Sikorsky S-61As, after an acrimonious dispute with Kazan regarding export rights, which traditionally have rested with Kazan who has exported over 4,500 Mi-8/Mi-17s. Markov said that the two fire-fighting Mi-171Vs had been delivered to Malaysia's 'Bomba' fire-fighting squadron and have been 'working well to the customer's full satisfaction'. It appears that the demarcation line over China has also been well drawn, with Markov saying that Ulan Ude had primacy in the Chinese market over sales of the Mi-17, although they continued to support the '300-400 Kazan-built helicopters delivered to China decades ago and still remaining in service'. In an effort to increase the attractiveness of the Mi-17 in those countries seeking a Western avionics package, Kazan has contracted Canadian Kelowna Flightcraft to act as avionics integrator for special versions of the helicopter. The first Mi-17KF version flew in August 1997 with an avionics suite including Honeywell EDZ-705 electronic flight instrument system, Primus II integrated radio, VG14/DG14 attitude and heading reference system, P700 colour radar and FZ-706 dual-flight director system. The KF, which is reported to cost $5m, is said to be capable of meeting FAR29 and IFR requirements and is offered as both new production and retrofit. The aircraft was recently promoted for the Malaysian tender. At the end of last year the basic TV3-117VM Series 2 engined Mi-172 development of the Mi-17 acquired a type certificate from Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) for compliance to AP29 (Russian FAR29). The helicopter is currently being certified for IFR missions. For those Mi-8s and Mi-17s in service with civilian companies in the USA and other Western countries, Markov said that Kazan will not provide support to their users because the helicopters were acquired from previous owners based in the former Soviet Union and, in many cases, have not been maintained in line with the specifications set by the designers and manufacturers.

Article ID: 1778