Beriev Be-200 Altair - Program
The work on the Be-200 was launched in the 1980s when TANTK began plans to develop an amphibian aircraft for the national economy. Since 1990 OKB im. G.M.Berieva developed works on the civil themes. The first project in this direction became multipurpose amphibian aircraft B-200, created on the basis of the technical solutions, realized with the development of the military amphibian A-40 Albatros.
In the 1990s, when political and economic reforms began in the country, the IAPO management was faced with the problem of how to maintain their highly-skilled personnel who developed state-of-the-art aircraft. Following an aircraft design competition, IAPO awarded a tender for a developmental project of the Beriev Experimental Design Bureau to develop a new and unique amphibian airplane, the Be-200, which would have no analogs in the world.
In 1990 Beriev Aircraft Company under the leadership of its General Designer Alexander Yavkin started design work on an amphibious aircraft on the basis of the A-40 Albatross amphibian that was larger than Be-200.
It was in the early 1990's, in order to attract foreign investment to the organization of production and sales in the global market perspective amphibious aircraft Be-200 was created by a joint venture "BETA AIR» (BETA Air), whose founders began to Beriev Aircraft Company. GM Beriev, IAPA (now - Corporation "Irkut"), a Swiss financial group ILTA and Ukrainian Prominvestbank. Currently CJSC "BETA AIR" - a leading manufacturer of testing equipment and aviation electronics. The company has developed and produced unparalleled station tests the ATE-200 is designed to test the on-board electronics of domestic and foreign aircraft, as well as a wide range of aircraft equipment - power control systems, air conditioning control units, sensors, vibration and acceleration, etc. Who headed in 1991-2002 gg. CJSC "BETA AIR" Victor Kobzev currently the CEO - General Designer of JSC "Beriev Aircraft Company GM Beriev.
Detailed design of the Be-200 was conducted in accordance with international airworthiness standards that will simplify the aircraft certification in the EU and the US. In 1991 the Be-200 model was represented for the first time at the Paris Air Show. The Be-200 performed its maiden flight on September 24, 1998, from the airfield of Irkut Aviation and Production Association. The first take off from water was conducted on September 10, 1999 in Taganrog.
On December 27, 2000 the Be-200 amphibious aircraft obtained the type noise certificate SSh 118-Be-200. On August 10, 2001 the amphibian obtained the type certificate for restricted category aircraft STOK 201-Be-200. In August 2001 the aircraft was certified in accordance with the Russian airworthiness requirements AP-25. The same year Irkut Aviation Production Association (now Irkut Corporation) launched serial production of the Be-200 multipurpose amphibian.
Production of the B-200 was to be accomplished by Irkutsk APO. Irkutsk initially completed building test batch of three machines, one of which underwent static tests at Taganrog. The solemn rolling of the first flying model of amphibian of assembly shop [IAPO] consisted on September 11, 1996. On September 24, 1998, at 4:50 p.m., the Be-200 took off on its maiden flight which lasted 27 minutes. The second flying copy was assembled in the version B-200[ChS].
The start of serial production of the Be-200 in Taganrog for a long time hampered by lack of firm contracts. In the "stale" state was even starting order for seven Be-200ES by EMERCOM of Russia, concluded in the early 2000s with the corporation "Irkut". According to it, in 2003-2006 Irkutsk were manufactured and delivered to the customer four serial amphibians (of which flight operations are currently three), and built in 2007 five aircraft a year later exported to Azerbaijan. Taganrog Aviation Scientific-Technical Complex GM Beriev started construction of its first production amphibious aircraft Be-200ES. As is known, so far, all experimental and serial aircraft of this type were built in Irkutsk, but even in 2006 it was fundamentally resolved the issue of transfer of mass production of the Be-200 with the Irkutsk Aviation Plant Corporation "Irkut" in Taganrog, then here was transported of the available equipment, made ??new assembly slipway, purchased abroad-the-art machining centers and other high-tech equipment. In fact, how in fact mastered serial production of the Be-200 in Taganrog, was able to see firsthand the correspondent of "take-off".
The most alarming was the actual suspension in 2007, the execution of the contract for the supply of seven serial Be-200ES aircraft EMERCOM of Russia. While the aviation units of the Ministry took only four production machines, of which only three actually fly, and the very first set by the agency in 2003, has many years of standing idle while waiting for repair. Constructed in 2007, the fifth plane EMERCOM aviation has been decided not to transfer, and in 2008 he went to Azerbaijan. The sixth and seventh serial Be-200ES in this situation for several years have been "frozen" at the plant in Irkutsk. Not yet signed a firm contract for the first machines Taganrog assembly, their production in fact has not yet begun, and the timing and availability are not yet clear.
In 2008 the production of the Be-200ES moved from Irkutsk Aviation Plant on the Beriev Aircraft Company. Beriev (Taganrog). Irkutsk aircraft factory supplies parts for the production of the glider, in particular, the aircraft wing. By the time of its launch in Taganrog planned to significantly improve aircraft.
Beriev Aircraft Company GM Beriev (from April 1, 2011) became a single enterprise, uniting previously independent of each other, but are in the same area serial aircraft plant OJSC "Tavia" and actually JSC "Beriev Aircraft Company. GM Beriev ").
Mass production and sale of aircraft amphibious Be-200, was one of the priorities of the Beriev Aircraft Company. GM Beriev. So in May 2011, it signed a state contract for the supply of MES in 2013-2014 for six new Be-200ES with Taganrog assembly. Now under way is being build first serial Be-200ES Taganrog (#303), incorporated in the building design details fuselage second Taganrog machine (#?304). In September 2010, the amphibious aircraft Be-200ES-E received a long-awaited Type Certificate from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), opening the way to the western market. Abroad has become an important round the world flight, the perfect second expert Be-200ES spring 2010. Taganrog amphibian once again confirmed its high performance by taking part in the 16th International Aerospace Show FIDAE-2010, held in late March in Chile, and then made a demonstration tour for a number of Latin American countries (particularly Venezuela) and the USA. The aircraft, its engines and navigation system stood the test in different latitudes and climates, which took flight route - from Far North of Russia to the heat and humidity of tropical forests of South America. At the last stage the flight was carried out under the presence of volcanic ash in the atmosphere, caused by the eruption of an Icelandic volcano. The total length of the route of all flights was more than 56,000 Km, which were overcome for 121 flying hours. The Be-200ES flew over 14 countries on three continents. The situation with the purchase of the new Be-200 Taganrog assembly, despite already leading manufacturer of components and aggregates, remained uncertain until recently. Finally, on 26 May 2011 Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed a decree #902-p "On the conclusion of a long-term state contract for the purchase of six aircraft Be-200ES for the needs of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations" (it is on the official website of the government of the Government.Ru). The contract must be executed in 2014 the Order of the Government of the determined amount of public funding on the order of 2012-2015. the total amount of 8.724 billion rubles. (ie the same 1.454 billion rubles. per plane). Planes arrive in aviation units of the Central, Siberian and Far Eastern Regional Emergency Center. As the correspondent of "take-off" in the shop Beriev, which is carried out manufacturing of the first serial Be-200ES Taganrog (#401), First Deputy General Director - Director of production Beriev Aircraft Company. GM Beriev Alexander Gorin, head of the Taganrog car assembly should be ready in the second quarter of 2013. In total, according to CEO -.. General Designer of Beriev Kobzev Victor, in 2013 the company plans to produce three-Be-200ES. Three more machines on a new contract with the Ministry of Emergency Situations have to build in 2014. At the same time it is planned to produce and export the first Be-200ES-E. Victor Kobzev said that the Action Plan is provided to ensure the release of Taganrog to six Be-200 per year with a possible increase to its subsequent 10-12 machines. According to the head "Beriev", in Europe alone could be claimed 30-35 aircraft of this type. Among the potential customers of Victor Kobzev calls to France, Spain and Greece. Considerable hopes are also associated with the Asian market, especially India, where the Be-200 is currently participating in several tenders. In Russia, the largest customer of the Be-200 could become "Avialesookhrana" whose immediate duties, as opposed to the MOE, is just part of the fight against forest fires. However, there is still no concrete decisions about the agency re-equipment of the aircraft fleet and is not accepted. On 24 May 2013 the Russian Defense Ministry signed a contract with the Beriev Aircraft Company for the purchase of six Beriev Be-200 amphibious planes. “The contract is worth 8.4 billion rubles [$268 million],” Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said in a statement. “The first two planes will be basic Be-200ChS models, while the following four will be the Be-200PS version without firefighting equipment,” the statement said. It is the first purchase of Be-200 planes by the Russian military. The Defense Ministry may order eight more planes in the future, according to UAC.
Beriev CEO Igor Garivadsky, reporting to the president of the Corporation's personnel policies, drew attention to the fact that due to the growth of the enterprise both production staff salaries would increase by 30%. Beriev increased the hiring of new employees. A program for the training of engineers in the first place design. It involves increased interaction Target Training in SFU SSAU and others. Together with Taganrog College. VM Petlyakova launched a project on dual education for fitter-assemblers. Federal and regional budgets on purchase of educational equipment about 3 million rubles, the company will allocate additional funds. Project will train highly qualified specialists whose skills meet the requirements of production.
The fact is that in spite of the Be-200 assigned place in the national press with the high sounding title "unique breakthrough product," a seaplane extinguishing fires is not a novelty for the Europeans. Moreover, the "standard" European fire seaplane is already there, and, moreover, a long time ago. It's all the same "old friend", the Canadian CL-415.
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