Helicopters unveiled by Polar Airlines in Yakutia, Russia
New Mi-8MTV-1 Helicopters Arrive in Yakutia
Two new Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters have been added to Polar Airlines' fleet, marking a significant expansion in Yakutia's aviation sector. The helicopters were presented at Magan Airport on August 8, following a handover ceremony on July 29 at the Kazan Helicopter Plant.
The lease agreement for these helicopters was facilitated by the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK), with funding supported by the Russian National Wealth Fund. Five Russian regional airlines, including Polar Airlines, have recently taken delivery of ten Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters, highlighting Polar Airlines among the lessees.
These Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters, a variant of the widely used Mi-8 series, are known for their versatility and operational capacity. They will be deployed to enhance regional helicopter capabilities for passenger and cargo services in challenging environment zones such as Siberia and the Arctic, territories that Polar Airlines operates in.
Dmitry Sadovnikov, the Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, stated that updating the air fleet is a strategic task set by Yakutia's head, Aisen Nikolayev. The event was attended by various dignitaries, including the head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, and representatives of federal and regional structures.
The helicopters were named "100 Years of Yakutia Aviation" and "Polar Airlines" during the handover ceremony. One of the helicopters was named in honour of the centennial anniversary of regional aviation. The helicopter crews, led by young commanders Sergey Durnov and Pavel Ammosov, completed a complex 30-hour flight from Kazan Helicopter Plant to their base in Magan.
Polar Airlines' General Director, Semen Vinokurov, expressed gratitude towards the republic's head, government, Kazan Helicopter Plant, the holding company "Russian Helicopters", and the State Transport Leasing Company. The helicopters were acquired under a 15-year lease agreement with GTLK, and the deal was financed using funds from the Russian National Wealth Fund.
These new additions to Polar Airlines' fleet will serve a multifunctional role, transporting passengers and cargo, responding to emergency situations, participating in firefighting, and ensuring vital links with remote Arctic regions. The helicopters were presented in honor of all generations of aviators who have been exploring the harsh northern skies since the 1920s.
Vinokurov congratulated everyone on this significant event and wished them success and prosperity for the development of Yakutia's aviation. The arrival of these Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters is a testament to the ongoing modernization of regional aviation assets in Russia.
The State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK) facilitated the lease agreement for the Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters, which were funded by the Russian National Wealth Fund.
The versatile Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters, recently added to Polar Airlines' fleet, will serve multiple purposes such as passenger and cargo transport, emergency response, firefighting, and maintaining links with remote Arctic regions.
