Turbomeca-powered Ka-226T certified in Russia

In early April, the Aviation Register of the CIS-wide Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC-AR) reported the issuance of a certificate for the Kamov Ka-226T light multirole seven-seat helicopter powered by Turbomeca Arrius 2G1 engines. The Ka-226 was re-engined as part of a bid in the Indian Air Force tender for 197 light helicopters. The French powerplant is more powerful than the pair of Rolls-Royce M250 engines powering the baseline version, allowing for an increase in the helicopter’s hover ceiling and payload capacity, and also improving a number of other performance characteristics. In the course of the Indian tender trials in the Himalayas the Ka-226T climbed to 7,200 m. The Russian type is bidding against the AW119, the Bell-407GT, and the Airbus Helicopters AS350 Fennec. During demonstration flights in Kazakhstan in 2013, a Ka-226T performed horizontal flight, hover, and landing at an altitude of 2,500 in simulated casualty evacuation, as well as reaching its service ceiling of 7,500 m. The Russian helicopter operator Gazpromavia earlier showed an interest in the type. Kamov at the time was planning to develop the Ka-226TG version for this customer, which would be capable of operating in the Far North and on Arctic shelf in poor visibility and sharp outside temperature changes. As was reported earlier, Gazpromavia was planning to use the helicopter for pipeline patrols in the interest of its parent company Gazprom, as well as for corporate transportation and repair work. Gazpromavia currently operates several Rolls-Royce-powered Ka-226s. The Russian Helicopters holding builds a missionized Ka-226 version for security agencies. In 2014, the Russian company TechnoTrade began supporting Arrius 2G1 engines as Turbomeca’s official distributor in the country.