Two Mi-8MTV-1s from Kazan Helicopter Plant Clock a Thousand Hours Over Yakutia in Seven Months

Polar Airlines has summarized the initial results of operating two Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters, supplied by the Kazan Helicopter Plant of the Russian Helicopters holding in mid-2024. Over seven months of operation, the total flight time of the two aircraft exceeded 1,000 hours, according to the airline's press service. The delivery was carried out through JSC "State Transport Leasing Company" (GTLK) using funds from the National Welfare Fund as part of the President's instructions for the development of domestic civil aviation with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia. The helicopters operate in Yakutia, one of the most remote regions of the country.

Mi-8MTV-1 in Yakutia: What tasks do the new Polar Airlines aircraft perform?

Since entering service, the helicopters have been involved in a wide range of operations. Medical missions include the emergency delivery of medical assistance to remote settlements where ground transportation is unavailable. During the summer, the aircraft participated in monitoring forest fire conditions and extinguishing fires. In addition, the aircraft provide food delivery to remote villages and serve industrial enterprises in the republic.

Additional fuel tanks and modern navigation equipment, with which the delivered aircraft are equipped, allow crews to perform tasks over increased distances, a critical advantage for Yakutia with its vast distances between settlements.

"Over these seven months, the new aircraft have become the "workhorses" of our airline. A thousand hours of flight time is an indicator of colossal demand," the press service of Polar Airlines reported.

Specifications of the Mi-8MTV-1 helicopter

Manufacturer: Kazan Helicopter Plant, Russian Helicopters Holding, Rostec State Corporation
Modification: Mi-8MTV-1 – transport and passenger version with turboshaft engines
Features of the delivered aircraft: additional fuel tanks, modern navigation equipment
Number of aircraft at Polar Airlines: 2
Total flight time in 7 months: more than 1,000 hours
Delivery scheme: leasing through GTLK using NWF funds
Region of operation: Yakutia

The Mi-8MTV-1 is one of the most common modifications of the Mi-8 family in Russian civil aviation. According to Russian Helicopters, the Mi-8/17 family is operated in more than 100 countries worldwide, making it one of the most mass-produced helicopters in aviation history. For Polar Airlines, a thousand hours in seven months means an average monthly flight time of about 71 hours per aircraft, a high figure for helicopters operating in Arctic conditions.

For Yakutia, where the helicopter often remains the only transport between villages, a thousand flight hours is not statistics, but specific medical flights, delivered cargo, and extinguished fires.