Ansat Helicopters to Transport Patients with COVID-19 in Isolation Modules
The helicopters are used in the Moscow Region, the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the Kirov Region, the Kostroma Region, the Tver Region, the Volgograd Region, the Astrakhan Region, etc
Russian Helicopters holding company (part of Rostec State Corporation) on 15 May 2020 obtained approval from the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) for installing isolation units in Ansat multipurpose helicopters to transport patients with COVID-19. The modules will be installed on helicopters in their medical version.
“Currently, about 30 Ansat helicopters have been supplied to regions for air medical services. To improve their performance during the pandemic, we have launched certification process, and obtained permission for installing isolationunits for transporting patients. This does not require modification of an aircraft. Such equipment will provide more opportunities to use an aircraft for medical purposes,” said Executive Director of Rostec Oleg Yevtushenko.
The helicopters are used in the Moscow Region, the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the Kirov Region, the Kostroma Region, the Tver Region, the Chelyabinsk Region, the Belgorod Region, the Volgograd Region, the Astrakhan Region, in the Republic of Tatarstan, etc.
“All work necessary for obtaining approval from Russian aviation authorities has been carried out within a short period of time. Ansat helicopter was primarily equipped with a cabin for patients with infectious diseases to facilitate operation of the existing aircraft already used for air medical services – it will be possible to use those aircraft for combating COVID-19, and transport patients who could have highly dangerous infections and viruses,” stated Director General of Russian Helicopters holding company Andrey Boginsky.
Ansat is a light multipurpose twin-engine helicopter, serial production of which is deployed at Kazan Helicopters. According to the helicopter certificate, its design allows converting it into a cargo version, or into a passenger rotorcraft that can lift up to seven people. In May 2015, a supplement to a type certificate for the modification of the helicopter with a medical module was obtained. Ansat is certified for use in the temperatures ranging between -45°С and +50°С, and in high mountains.
“Ansat helicopters save people, being used for air medical services, and regularly making flights for medical evacuation day and night,” a statement from the Russian Helicopters read.