Story ID: 5090313alerts
Ansat Light Twin Helicopter Gets Russian OK
By: Thierry Dubois
Caption: 
Word Count: 201
Russian Helicopters’ Ansat light twin helicopter was certified late last week by Russia’s Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee, albeit with conventional flight controls in lieu of the original fly-by-wire (FBW) system.

However, the Ansat fell short of its goal to be the first commercial helicopter with FBW. This was the initial plan, but “no commercial FBW helicopter had obtained certification anywhere in the world, and there were no established requirements for such a helicopter,” the airframer said in explaining the development of the conventionally controlled version.

The helicopter retains the same takeoff weight (7,900 pounds) and technical parameters as the military FBW version, according to Kazan Helicopters, the subsidiary in charge of designing and producing the type.

The Ansat is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207K turboshafts and can carry eight passengers at a cruise speed of 119 knots. The helicopter has already been demonstrated in the CIS, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to its manufacturer.

Meanwhile, deliveries of the FBW military version to the Russian Ministry of Defense continue. Russian Helicopters said it is considering applying for EASA certification, depending on European market demand.