Page 44 - World Airnews September 2020 Edition

NEWS HELICOPTERS

AFRICAN AIRLINES SOAR MI-35: THE LEGEND

IATA records solid passenger demand CONTINUES

advetorial

number of innovations. Its upgrade has equipment – a flexible mount under the
reduced the airframe weight, improved its nose with a 23mm twin-barrel cannon, a

ussia remains one of the few maneuverability, reduced acoustic signa- head-up display in the cockpit, multi-func-

Rcountries that can make all types ture and cut maintenance costs. tion displays, a gyro-stabilized electro-op-

of helicopters, from light to unique heavy- It differs from its predecessors primarily tical system, a video recording system,

lift vehicles. This enables it to hold a strong in a state-of-the-art avionics suite that modern communication and navigation
systems, a digital autopilot and much more.

leading position in the international arms enables round-the-clock target acquisition

climbed 4.5% and load factor rose 1.0% percentage point to 87.9%, market. and recognition, the use of the 9K113K Newly installed systems and equipment

tied with North America as the highest among the regions. The guided missile system, unguided rockets, significantly improve the helicopter’s per-
Among the leaders of Russia’s helicopter

lobal passenger traffic results released by the Interna- solid growth occurred against a backdrop of slowing economic exports are new versions of the Mi-35M and small arms. This suite also provides formance and operational effectiveness,

Gti onal Air Transport Associati on for June 2019 showing activity and declining business confidence in the Euro area and UK. and Mi-35P transport/attack helicopters. precision navigation, low-altitude piloting, including at night.

that demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) Asia-Pacific airlines’ June traffic rose 4.0% compared to the year-ago Their early variants were widespread take-off and landing from unequipped Russian helicopters supplied through Ro-

rose by 5.0% compared to June 2018. period, which was down from a 4.9% increase in May. US-China trade throughout the world, including in Latin sites, terrain observation and target recon- soboronexport are equipped with organic

or optional President-type ECM suites. They

This was up slightly from the 4.7% year-over-year growth record- tensions have impacted demand in the broader Asia-Pacific-North America. The legendary Mil-brand heli- naissance on a 24-hour basis. have been tested under battle conditions

ed in May. Capacity (or available seat kilometres or ASKs) in June America market and also within the inter-Asia market. Capacity rose copters participated in dozens of different Versatility remains the key feature of the and proved to be effective defensive aids.

also increased by 3.3% and load factor rose 1.4 percentage points 3.1% and load factor edged up 0.7 percentage point to 81.4%. armed conflicts, and are also actively used helicopter as before. The Mi-35M is not Equipped with the president suite, the heli-

to 84.4% - a record for the month of June. North American carriers’ demand rose 3.5% compared to June in peacekeeping missions. At the same only an attack helicopter, but it can also copter becomes virtually invisible to enemy

“June continued the trend of solid passenger demand growth a year ago, down from 5.0% annual growth in May, similarly re- time, everyone who participated in combat handle transport, landing, reconnaissance air defenses and literally blinds modern

while the record load factor shows that airlines are maximizing effi- flecting US-China trade tensions. Capacity climbed 2.0%, with load flying these machines note their amazing and sanitary missions. air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles.

ciency. Amid continuing trade tensions between the US and China, factor increasing 1.3 percentage points to 87.9%. survivability. The Mi-35P helicopter was developed The equipment mounted on the helicop-
and rising economic uncertainty in other regions, growth was not DOMESTIC PASSENGER MARKETS New versions of these helicopters have around the legendary Mi-24P and its ters can be replaced by other Russian- or

as strong as a year ago, however,” warned IATA director general been developed drawing on lessons production was carried out mainly in foreign-made items with similar function-

and CEO Alexandre de Juniac. Demand for domestic travel climbed 4.4% in June compared to learned from their use in hostilities. At the 1981-1989. Over these and subsequent ality. Moreover, the equipment should

All regions recorded increases in growth but airlines in Africa June 2018, which was a slight slowdown from 4.7% annual growth same time, they feature state-of-the-art years, approximately 70 countries became not change the helicopter’s performance

showed the biggest leap. recorded in May. Led by Russia, all of the key domestic markets avionics, can be used in any weather, day operators of Mi-24P/Mi-35P helicopters. characteristics. Markings on the consoles

tracked by IATA reported traffic increases except for Brazil and

IATA statistics show African airlines’ traffic soared 11.7% in June, Australia. June capacity rose 3.1%, and load factor climbed by 1.1 or night, and are equipped with effective Today, helicopters of this class continue and indicators are made in a language

up from 5.1% in May. Capacity rose 7.7%, and load factor jumped percentage points to 85.5%. defensive aids while maintaining the best to successfully carry out combat duty as agreed with the customer. In addition, in

2.6 percentage points to 70.5%. Brazil’s domestic traffic fell 5.7% in June, which was a worsening qualities of their predecessors. part of the Russian Armed Forces deployed order to most effectively use helicopters

abroad - in Syria, Tajikistan and Transnistria.

Demand is benefitting from a generally supportive economic from the 2.7% decline recorded in May. The sharp drop largely The upgraded transport/attack helicop- and optimise defense spending, some

backdrop, including improved economic stability in several coun- reflects the collapse of the country’s fourth largest carrier, Avianca ter Mi-35M is an advanced version of the A new configuration of the Mi-35P of- customers purchase flight simulators to

tries, as well as increased air connectivity. Brasil, which had around a 14% market share in 2018. legendary Mi-24/35 “flying tanks”. This is fered by Rosoboronexport will attract the train flight personnel without operating the

attention of foreign customers by modern

The Middle Eastern carriers posted the second highest growth India’s domestic market continues to recover from the demise actually a new helicopter in terms of the helicopters themselves. Q

with an 8.1% demand increase in June compared to the same month of Jet Airways, with demand rising 7.9% in June compared to the
last year. This is well up on the 0.6% annual increase recorded in year-ago period.
May. The timing of Ramadan which fell almost exclusively in May this

year likely contributed to the strongly contrasting outcomes. Capaci- THE BOTTOM LINE
ty rose 1.7% and load factor jumped 4.5 percentage points to 76.6%. “The peak summer travel season in the Northern Hemisphere is
Latin American airlines experienced a 5.8% rise in traffic com- upon us. Crowded airports are a reminder of the vital role aviation

pared to the same month last year, up slightly from 5.6% annual plays in connecting people and commerce. For those travelling

growth recorded in May. Capacity increased by 2.5% and load on journeys of discovery or reuniting with loved ones, aviation is

factor surged 2.6 percentage points to 84.0%. Weakening econom- the business of freedom. But aviation relies on borders that are

ic conditions in a number of key countries in the region could mean open to trade and people to deliver its benefits. Ongoing trade

a softening in demand going forward. disputes are contributing to declining global trade and slowing

European airlines saw traffic rise 5.6% in June compared to June traffic growth. These developments are not helpful to the global

2018, in line with 5.5% demand growth the month before. Capacity economic outlook. Nobody wins a trade war,” said de Juniac. Q
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