Russian Helicopters to Produce TVS-2DTS light airplanes at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant.

Russian Helicopters, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, as well as the Republic of Buryatia and the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic, have signed an agreement on arranging local air routes. The document stipulates launching production of TVS-2DTS light airplanes at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant and creating an airline-operator.

The TVS-2DTS light aircraft seen at MAKS 2017

The agreement provides with creating TVS-2DTS production at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant by 2019. The plant is obliged to deliver at least 200 machines for regional aviation from 2021 till 2025.

The new airline company, which will be founded on the basis of one of Yakutia airlines, will become the operator. Currently, potential delivery of aircraft to the new operator with the assistance of State Transport Leasing Company is discussed.

Moreover, Russian Helicopters and Polar Airlines based in Yakutia will sign a contract on delivery of 200 TVS-2DTS planes in order to develop regional aviation.

"We appreciate that the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation chose Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant as a manufacturing area. Undoubtedly, the company has all skills needed to implement this project successfully. Furthermore, SibNIA named after S. A. Chaplygin, the plane developer, wished to arrange TVS-2DTS manufacturing in Ulan-Ude," said Andrey Boginsky, CEO, Russian Helicopters.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will provide financial support to finish TVS-2DTS R&D, plane certification and other potential measures of state support in order to arrange large-scale manufacturing.

"There is much work to be carried out. Regional aviation, virtually, have to be created from scratch. The government is willing to partially subsidize certification expenses to manufacturers of aircraft for local transportation, as well as expenses on implementation of projects for manufacturing preparation and certification. The budget includes 220 m rubles for this purpose in 2018 and 230 m rubles in 2019-2020," said Denis Manturov, Minister of Trade and Industry of the Russian Federation. "It is required to create a destination network for the new airline in each region of its operation. This air transportation has to become profitable. Furthermore, it is necessary to tackle the issue of legal framework regulating operation of light aircraft."

TVS-2DTS will replace An-2 planes which are abundantly used in regional aviation and whose production was shut down in the USSR in 1971 (they were manufactured in Poland up to 2002). It is planned to use this aircraft to address poor transport accessibility in remote Russian settlements, state problems with emergency medical treatment, forest firefighting, agricultural work.