About modern helicopters with fire fighting and ambulance capabilities

Mi-38PS. Photo: EMERCOM of Russia

Russia’s special-purpose aviation fleet currently includes a wide range of rotorcraft with different performance, dimensions, aerodynamic configurations and onboard equipment. These helicopters help save lives and health, provide assistance, carry out evacuation from hazardous areas and protect natural resources.
 

Mi-26TP and Mi-26Т2 — heavy weight record holders

The Mi-26 is unrivaled in lifting capacity. It is this property that has predetermined the intended use of the helicopter: transportation of special widespread fire fighting and confinement systems. The 26th fire version is designated as Mi-26TP. It takes 35 to 45 seconds for water dropping and maximum 2 minutes for water filling! The Mi-25TP is also furnished with a thermal imaging camera, satellite navigation system, communication and personal crew protection systems. The fire helicopter can carry a suspended helibucket. It is a special 15 m³ tank transported on the external sling. The tank can be filled in the hovering mode, this takes only 10 seconds, and discharge takes only 15 seconds.

The Mi-26Т2 is an upgraded version of the Mi-26Т. The helicopter features up-to-date avionics, so-called “glass cockpit” and advanced electronic equipment. The heavy-lift Mi-26Т2 used by EMERCOM of Russia can evacuate up to 82 people per flight from a disaster area and the ambulance version can carry up to 60 patients.
 

Mi-38 — advanced rescuer

The Mi-38 is a helicopter with a lifting capacity up to 16.5 tons that occupies a niche between the Mi-8 and Mi-26. Its track record includes four world records in altitude and rate of climb with and without load.

Passenger capacity of the Mi-38 is 30 passengers, and the maximum speed of 300 km/h makes it one of the world’s fastest medium helicopters. Lifting capacity of this rotorcraft is also formidable: the Mi-28 can easily carry a 5 ton load on the external sling or a load up to 5 tons can be placed in the helicopter.

A search and rescue version is one of the latest helicopter versions. It can be used in emergency of any degree of complexity, for rescue and disaster control operations is conventional and hard-to-reach areas.
 

Ansat — rotary-wing ambulance

The Ansat is a light twin-engine helicopter mass-produced by Russian Helicopters holding. The helicopter was initially designed as a light utility multi-purpose helicopter, which could be used for training, ambulance and rescue missions.

The Ansat has a capacity of 1 to 1.3 tons, maximum takeoff weight is 3.3 tons, and can carry up to 9 passengers. The Ansat ambulance version carries one patient and two accompanying medical persons. Small helicopter dimensions and outstanding flight control play a special role.

The Ansat gains a maximum speed of 275 km/h and has a flight range more than 500 km. Due to quick-release equipment, the utility helicopter can be quickly transformed for various missions.
 

Ka-226Т — a new “flying chassis”

The Ka-226, a light utility helicopter, is a technological successor of the previous Ka-26. The version is called the Ka-226Т. The helicopter features a modular design. It can be easily transformed into one of five main versions: passenger, transport, ambulance, police or search and rescue. It features compact size due to coaxial and no-tail-rotor configuration. The Ka-226Т can be used on small pads, including urban conditions and mountainous areas. Search and rescue version can perform missions in adverse climatic conditions with varying landscape. As any coaxial helicopter, the Ka-226Т is capable of precise hovering at any point.
 

Ka-32А11М — number one for fire fighting

The Ka-32А11М utility helicopter is the latest top-of-the-line version of the Ka-32. The helicopter features high lifting capacity: it can lift a load up to 5 tons on the external sling and carry a payload up to 3.7 in the cargo hold.

This type of helicopters has been successfully used for fighting wild and man-caused fires in dozens of countries over many years. The helicopter can be furnished with an external sling to carry loads, helibucket, rescue hoist, hydraulic grip or fire fighting system for high-rise buildings.

The latest version, Ka-32А11М, has a unique horizontal, side and vertical fire fighting system. The helibucket can be filled with 5 tons of water during just a few seconds from virtually any water body with a depth of at least 2 m and drop the water onto the seat of fire.

The Ka-32А11М is also the world’s first helicopter for fire fighting in winter. This has been made possible due to an unparalleled system for heating the water intake and discharge system, water cannon and tanks. The helicopter’s fire fighting system stays in service even at temperatures down to -15 °C.