| Italyon a leasing agreement returned to its base in the city of Taganrogon October 5, 2004. Experimental operation was carried out for 40 days by SOREM company, an official fire fighting applications’ operator of the Italian Civil Protection Department.
In the course of the flight program, the Be-200 demonstrated perfect performance, participating in suppression of three fires at the SardiniaIslandon September 3, 11 and 13. Extinguishing of each fire took less than 2 hours whereas the Be-200 performed efficient and precise drops of up to 125 tons of water. Fire fighting operations were conducted by the Be-200 flight test aircraft N°2 together with SOREM’s CL-415 airplanes and Skycrane S64 helicopters. The Be-200 belonging to IRKUT Corporation featured 100% dispatching reliability, time between call and take-off made out 15 minutes. Water was scooped from lakes and sea. During the whole flight program, the plane flew for 87.4 hours and dropped 1820 tons of water.
Be-200 Flight Test Program Manager for SOREM, Andrea Golfera expressed a high estimation of the Be-200 performance and functional efficiency. “SOREM pilots highlighted aircraft maneuverability and controllability achieved due to the fly-by-wire system – we managed to scoop water even from small area lakes. Further more, aircraft avionics provide very precise drops improving aircraft efficiency in fire fighting. In my opinion, the aircraft has a tremendous potential”.
Based upon Be-200 successful operation at Sardinia, IRKUT and SOREM are now considering possibilities of their cooperation further development.
# # #
The multi-purpose Be-200 amphibian jet is designed for fire fighting, rendering medical assistance in distress areas; patrol, search and rescue operations on water; sanitary, cargo and passenger transportation. During one flight the Be-200 is able to carry out multiple scoops of up to 12 tons of water, its delivery and drop on fire sites using precise navigation and flight control systems.
The Russian MinistryforEmergencies(EMERCOM) has become the first Be-200 customer signing a contract in 2001. The contract provides for delivery of 7 Be-200ChS aircraft (“ChS” stands for “Emergency Situations”) to the Russian EMERCOM by 2007. Two first Be-200ChS have already entered service and successfully implemented tasks of fire fighting at an oil platform inthe Baltic Seaas well as rescue operations in the course of the International Exercises “Kaliningrad-2004” in June 2004.
InJuly2004, IRKUTCorporationandEADS established a JV for joint marketing of the Be-200 amphibians. EADS and IRKUT will conduct joint certification, marketing and after-sale support of a westernized version of the Be-200 in Europeand North America.
| 
