The import-substituted Mi-171A3 helicopter has completed additional cold-weather trials at Yakutsk Airport and the Khomustakh test site in Eastern Siberia, where temperatures dropped to −58°F (−50°C). The campaign involved specialists from the Mil and Kamov National Helicopter Engineering Center (Russia’s primary rotorcraft design hub) and representatives of the Aviation Register of Russia, according to Russian Helicopters.
“A total of 66 flights and 22 ground runs were completed. The team evaluated the stability of all onboard systems and the helicopter’s ability to take off from and land on offshore drilling platforms under extreme cold conditions. The test results have been submitted to the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) to update the certification documentation,” the company said.
Nikolay Kolesov, CEO of Russian Helicopters, stated that the Mi-171A3 was designed from the outset for operation across all climate zones. He said the northern test campaign demonstrates a rigorous approach to validation. The results confirmed the helicopter’s reliability and safety. Operators can deploy it year-round in the Russian Arctic and the Far East.
The platform incorporates several safety-driven design features, including an emergency flotation system for controlled ditching, a reinforced airframe, and a fuel system architecture designed to minimize leakage and fire risk even in the event of a hard landing. The helicopter can be rapidly reconfigured for search-and-rescue missions through the installation of a medical module and mission equipment.
The Mi-171A3 was previously certified with fully domestically produced avionics, hydraulics, safety systems, communications, and a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS). The certification program included more than 500 flights in extreme environmental conditions, including simulated abnormal scenarios. Serial production is underway at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant.
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