#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. The Siberian Federal University hosted a presentation of the Krasnoyarsk regional airline KrasAvia project for the launch of single-engine nine-seater aircraft to the northern villages, as well as other plans for the renovation until 2027.
The round table was dedicated to the interaction of industrial enterprises and subsoil users with indigenous peoples in the places of their traditional residence on the territory of the Krasnoyarsk region. The general director of KrasAvia Andrey Yegorov told the participants of the meeting about air transportation to remote villages.
According to him, the old An-24 and An-26 aircraft are still used in the airline’s fleet. In particular, for the needs of sanitary aviation, which is especially important in a pandemic.
“A lot of people were taken out of the northern territories on these outdated transport vehicles and they were rescued. They also perform passenger-and-freight flights during mud period to deliver mail and perishable goods. At the same time, in Taimyr, for example, at Dikson airport, not a single plane can land safely, except for our iron Antonov, which continues to operate on the Norilsk-Dikson and Norilsk-Hatanga lines”, said Andrey Yegorov.
In the next six years, the airline plans to purchase ten Russian-made helicopters.
“The good thing about helicopters is that they don’t require airfields. This transportation is all-weather and all-season one. But it is expensive. That is why it is necessary to return the regular communication with the villages by means of airplanes”, Andrey Yegorov expressed his opinion.
A good option, in his opinion, could be single-engine aircraft, which, however, can take on board only nine passengers.
“The helicopter has a large capacity, but it flies once a week, and the plane can make three flights in the same time. The costs will be the same”, explained the KrasAvia’s head.
The designers have already developed a flight model for today. It is planned that the aircraft tests will begin by the end of the year, and small-scale production will start in 2024. The aircraft is the best suited for operation in remote northern villages.
“This is a light multipurpose aircraft LMS-901 Baikal. The project promises to be successful. But only if we manage to solve the problem with airfields”, said Andrey Yegorov. “This is 500 meters of area, which should be cleaned of snow in winter. Lighting equipment has to be installed at the landing sites, it’s necessary to decide how to get meteorological information, how to provide communication. And this is the local municipalities’ task”.
“It is not yet clear how to organize all this in small settlements where just 20-30 people live. Is it possible to use aircraft there? In any case, we need a person in charge who would be responsible for the suitability of the aerodrome, for transmitting the correct information. This is a question of responsibility, and it must be resolved”, said the head of KrasAvia.
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Text: Victor Tsayov, Photo: ak-krasavia.ru, vk.com/krasavia, Roman Gusarov / AVIA.RU