Voronezh Aircraft Production Association (VASO) has successfully completed the certification testing of An-148EM aircraft intended for EMERCOM, the enterprise’s press-service reports. The certification testing was being carried out with the participation of the specialists of Antonov State Enterprise (Ukraine). 

The cabin of An-148EM aircraft can be easily reconfigured into one of five configurations (different combination of passenger seats and medical equipment). The certification testing assumed analysis of the possibility of performing special missions, stipulated by EMERCOM, and changes made in the aircraft’s design, said in the statement.

The certification of the aircraft was being carried out by Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee (AR MAC). The representatives of GosNII GA and Aeronavigatsiya (certification body of GosNII GA in the area of aircraft equipment) have been taking part in the certification process on behalf of AR MAC. The certification was being carried out in the presence of the employees of Tsentrospas, which have been assessing the conformity of the jets to their requirements.

«In order to receive the supplement to the type certificate you need to perform a number of tests – General Manager of An-148 program at VASO, Igor Abramov, said. – In this case we had to meet the requirements of AR MAC and our customer – EMERCOM; that is why we had to perform a great number of ground tests besides three flights. As a result we have received the type certificate in accordance with the airworthiness codes».

The flights have been preceded by ground reconfiguration and loading of equipment and seats to the cargo compartments. The functioning of medical modules and oxygen equipment was checked during flights and the temperature fields in the air conditioning system have been measured. As against the passenger version of An-148, the An-148EM aircraft has a number of additional capabilities. In particular, it is equipped with satellite communication system and a system providing Internet access.

«The advanced medevac-equipped aircraft has different equipment as compared to the previous versions. Each medical module of An-148EM has a complete set of the latest and expensive medical equipment intended for controlling the condition of an injured person during flight and implementing the therapeutic measures», - the enterprise explained.

We remind you that United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) won the tender in 2010 on delivery of two An-148 aircraft to EMERCOM. According to the contract between UAC and EMERCOM, VASO was chosen as the manufacturer. Sergey Shoygu (ex-Emergencies Minister) visited the enterprise in early 2011. He was informed about the aircraft performance, requirements for aircraft and ground handling facilities and the training program for flying and maintenance personnel. These jets have been purchased in the network of fleet renewal program of EMERCOM.

The aircraft should be put into operation in 2013. It was declared by the new Emergencies Minister, Vladimir Puchkov.