The Russian Emergencies Ministry is holding the Constellation of Courage Festival for the 9th time in a row. The purpose of the festival is to tell the society about heroes: fire fighters, rescuers, representatives of other professions, citizens that displayed courage and heroism by helping others in trouble, as well as attract people to participate in volunteer societies.
This year, the Khabarovsk Aircraft and Rescue Center of the Emergencies Ministry was announced the best in nomination “The Best Aircraft and Rescue Center”. The Center has received this award the second time in a row.
The aircraft of the Khabarovsk Training and Rescue Center, designated to protect Far Eastern Federal District, have carried out 1,400 flights, including: search and rescue efforts, aircraft support during emergencies and many other operations. Over 5,000 people were transported by aircraft over the last year, including 360 people that were evacuated from emergency areas. More than 660 tons of cargo were delivered by aircraft. In 2017 pilots of the Center spent almost 2,800 in the air and saved over 350 lives.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry’s aircraft carried out over 150 medical evacuations. About 250 people were delivered to hospitals. Often, people had to be evacuated from taiga or catching vessels in the Sea of Okhotsk.
During flood season in Yakutia the flight crews made over 50 flights to blast ice in ice jam-prone areas of rivers. During wildfire seasons crews of Mil Mi-8 and Mil Mi-26 heilcopters of the Emergencies Ministry made 600 flights to take out fires, while Beriyev Be-200ChS water bombers were used over 150 times.
The Khabarovsk Aircraft and Rescue Center has 14 aircraft at the disposal: 2 Beriyev Be-200ChS jets, 1 Antonov An-74 plane, 2 Mil Mi-26 and 9 Mil Mi-8 helicopters. They are distributed all over the territory of the Far East – in Khabarovsk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Vladivostok, Magadan, Yakutsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Blagoveshchensk. The Center has experienced helicopter and plane crews, highly-qualified maintenance teams and a smokejumper unit.
