About 300 outdated Mi-8 helicopters in Russia may be decommissioned within the next five years. At the end of 2025, 20 old Mi-8T helicopters have already been denied an extension of their service life.
In 2026, about 40 more helicopters may also be refused, which will be a serious blow to the economy of carriers who have invested in the repair of the aircraft.
The Rostec state corporation clarified that Russia currently operates about 300 Mi-8 helicopters manufactured before 1991, which are periodically extended for operation.
However, it is impossible to extend the service life of machines indefinitely due to flight safety considerations and the requirements of federal aviation regulations.
Therefore, helicopter service market carriers already need to think about updating their fleets. There are state support measures for this, for example, preferential leasing.
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