Ka-226T engine certified by EASA

Russian Helicopters has announced that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified the Arrius 2G1 turboshaft engine made by French company Turbomeca (Safran Group), and installed on the Russian light Ka-226T helicopter. According to Russian Helicopters the certification is an important milestone in the programme, and will allow mass operation of the engine to begin.

The Arrius 2G1 engine is built to Russian requirements under a contract between Russian Helicopters, a part of United Industrial Corporation Oboronprom, and the French engine-building corporation Turbomeca, signed in January 2009. According to the company, the certification testing of the Arrius 2G1 engine has been successfully completed in accordance with the Ka-226T launch programme.

According to Russian Helicopters, this is the first time an Arrius 2G1 engine has been installed on a coaxial helicopter, claiming, ‘the solution offers the machine unprecedented flight safety: even with one engine it has the necessary maneuver output of 750 hp. Modern powertrains alongside the special  crash-proof fuel system and shock-absorbing chairs make this helicopter one of the most ecological and safe choices in its class.’

The Ka-226T was developed by Kamov JSC, and is now manufactured by Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise (a part of Russian Helicopters). The helicopter has a MTOW of 3.6 tons with a useful load of 1.5 tons. The maximum speed is 250 km/h, and up to 8 people, including the pilot, can be accommodated on board. Varying cabin modules of the Ka-226T enables the aircraft to be modified for missions, including cargo loading, passenger transportation, patrol, construction, loading-unloading, medevac, and firefighting, as well as search and rescue and evacuation operations, without cutting down on the helicopter’s flight characteristics.