Russian Helicopters Launches Mi-8 Test Program in Indonesia

Russian Helicopters' Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (U-UAP) has launched a test operation program for the Mi-8/171 type helicopter.

The pilot project is being implemented in Indonesia. Two Mi-8AMT helicopters were sent to the island of Kalimantan with crew and technical staff from U-UAP. They were almost immediately put to use extinguishing forest fires. In the future, the rotorcraft will be on operational duty on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Mi-8/171 helicopters have been involved in disaster relief operations for many years, not only in Russia, but also abroad. They have proved themselves as one of the most effective tools in firefighting, medicine delivery and casualty evacuation operations, as well as in passenger and cargo transportation to hard-to-reach areas.

Leonid Belykh, Managing Director of U-UAP, said, "A contract with PT. National Utility Helicopters (PT. NUH), a utility helicopter operator in Indonesia with 50 years of experience in providing services for Indonesian Government as well as private companies, has become the pilot project of this program. The main task under the contract is to carry out firefighting operations in the region, as well as provide consulting services regarding the formation of its own air fleet of Indonesian operators for annual firefighting operations.”

The U-UAP plant has produced over 8000 aircraft of different varieties. Today, the plant specializes in production of the Mi-8AMT (Mi-171E), Mi-171 and Mi-8AMTSh (Mi-171Sh) helicopters.

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