Kazan Helicopters company (being a manufacturer of Ansat and a part of Russian Helicopters holding) has received an approval from the Federal Air Transport Agency (Росавиация), to equip Ansat helicopters with Mku30 satellite communication system. This additional module will provide a high-speed Internet access for passengers during flight.
The Ku band satellite communication system, created by MOST Satellite Systems, provides up to 2 Mbit/s Internet access, using the coverage of Yamal satellites. The Mku30 device allows to provide uninterrupted transmission of large data amounts during the flight, organize on-board video conferences and stream high-quality video in real time. Data transfer to passengers’ mobile devices is solved by using a Wi-Fi access point.
´Ansat is a versatile helicopter with a design that allows it to be adapted for a wide variety of operations: from an ambulance to VIP configuration, with advanced digital services. An Ansat equipped with high-speed Internet access allows its passengers to stay in touch all the time, even during the flight. The service will be useful for business passengers, but also for doctors, police officers and employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, who will be able to stay online during the flight and receive operational information´, was officially reported by the aviation cluster of Rostec State Corporation.
For the first time, Ansat rotorcraft equipped with the new Mku30 satellite communication system, was presented at the 53rd International Paris Air Show in 2019.
´The satellite communication system may be installed in Ansat at the request of the customer. It will be most relevant for passenger and VIP modifications of the helicopter. The ability to use the Internet during flight is another step towards improving the level of comfort level in Ansat helicopters´, said Managing Director of Kazan Helicopters, Alexey Belykh.
The Russian Helicopters and the MOST Satellite Systems signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of joint promotion of helicopter equipped with satellite communication technology produced by the latter, during the International Helicopter Industry Exhibition HeliRussia-2018. The agreement also covered the areas of development and implementation of after-sales service projects.
The above is just one of the latest modifications of Ansat. An upgraded ´M´ variant with an increased flight range (up to 800 km with an additional fuel tank) took to the skies on 29th December 2020. The updated version comes with static stability, state-of-the-art avionics and modernized heating and ventilation systems. In 2021, this variant will also receive 3-channel autopilot.
Photos courtesy of JSC “Russian Helicopters” / Rostec State Corporation. “Russian Helicopters” press materials were used.
