RuAviation

Under a contract between Russian Helicopters Holding and the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK), five regional airlines have taken delivery of ten Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters. Built at the Kazan Helicopter Plant, these aircraft were handed over to operators based in Siberia, the Urals, and the Russian Far East. Each airline received two helicopters, according to a statement from Rostec State Corporation.

The recipients include Polar Airlines JSC (Yakutia), Taiga Airlines (Sakhalin Region), Eltsovka Aviation Enterprise (serving Tomsk and Novosibirsk Regions, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Yamalo-Nenets and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Areas), Strezhevoy Aviation Enterprise (Kamchatka Territory), and ChukotAVIA (Chukotka Autonomous Area).

The contract covers the delivery of 86 Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters in total. This latest batch is meant for use in remote northern areas with limited ground infrastructure and harsh weather conditions. The helicopters will support passenger transport, cargo delivery, medevac flights, emergency response, and connections to isolated communities. They are also expected to assist operations in oil and gas industries.

In many regions, helicopters provide the only year-round way to move passengers, freight, and urgent medical supplies. Introducing these new aircraft will help improve flight schedules, increase reliability, reduce wear on existing fleets, and cut operating costs for regional carriers, said Rostec.

Each Mi-8MTV-1 comes with a 23-seat cabin, configurable for medical evacuation when needed. The external cargo sling lets operators carry oversized and heavy loads, crucial for emergency services and logistics in hard-to-reach areas. Additional auxiliary fuel tanks with a capacity of 242 US gallons (915 liters) extend the helicopters’ range, a key advantage for flights across the Arctic tundra and Siberian wilderness.

GTLK’s favorable leasing programs are speeding up fleet renewal among regional operators. Helicopter orders through these programs have tripled over recent years. For example, Polar Airlines has purchased seven Mi-8MTV-1s since 2017, reflecting steady fleet modernization. Production is handled in partnership between Kazan Helicopter Plant and Russian Helicopters Holding.

This program aims to improve transport accessibility in areas with underdeveloped infrastructure. Exact technical details and delivery timelines under the contract have not been disclosed.