The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) has certified the civilian Mi-38 helicopter configured with a comfortable VIP cabin. The approval gives Russian Helicopters Holding Company, a part of Rostec State Corporation, new opportunities in terms of Mi-38 promotion in both the Russian market and abroad. Additionally, the Russian aviation authorities have certified an eightfold increase in the resource of the light Ansat helicopter's fuselage.

“Certification of the VIP version of Mi-38 gives us new opportunities in terms of supplying this machine both in Russia and abroad,” enthuses director general Andrey Boginsky. “We are presenting the first serial machine of this version at MAKS 2019 Aviation and Space Salon. It will soon have a Russian operator, and we also expect that foreign customers will be interested in it. Such a considerable increase in the period of airworthiness certification of the light multi-purpose helicopter Ansat's fuselage is a result of the hard work of our engineers.”

During MAKS 2019 Aviation and Space Salon the head of Russian Helicopters received the certification documents in the presence of Russian Deputy Premier Minister Yury Borisov.

The Mi-38 helicopter was given two approvals for the main change to the type certificate: for a comfortable cabin and an air conditioning system for cargo and passenger cabins. A change in the period of airworthiness certification of Ansat's fuselage was also certified; increasing from 2,000 to 16,000 hours.

The Ansat light multi-purpose helicopter is actively used by the Russian air medical services, has a compact size and does not require a large landing area. It can also be used for passenger and VIP transport, cargo delivery and environmental monitoring. High-altitude tests of the Ansat have been successfully completed, confirming the possibility of its use in mountainous terrain at altitudes up to 3,500 metres. The helicopter can be operated in a temperature range between -45 degrees Celsius and plus 50. Its significant advantage is the possibility of storage out of the hangar and low cost of operation.

The multi-purpose Mi-38 occupies a niche between the middle Mi-8 and heavy Mi-26. Several changes to the design of the Mi-38 helicopter have been made, including improved aerodynamic contours of the fuselage and cowling of the propulsion unit, protection of the main rotor hub and a swashplate. For the first time in the Russian helicopter industry the engines have been placed behind the main rotor transmission instead of their traditional placement in front of it. This has allowed a reduction in aerodynamic resistance and noise levels in the cockpit and increased safety of the machine.

The VIP cabin version of the civilian Mi-38 helicopter can accommodate up to 11 passengers. The Mi-38 has new engines manufactured in Russia, an explosion-proof fuel system and additional landing gear struts for landing on soft ground and snow.