Type certification for Ka-62 helicopter

Russian Helicopters, a company of the Rostec State Corporation, has announced that their Kamov Ka-62 civil helicopter has received a type certificate from the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya). With this type certificate Russian Helicopters is allowed to sell the type on the internal Russian market. The company expects to receive Western type certification in the coming years.

The civilian Ka-62 helicopter is based on the military predecessor, the Ka-60. Civilianizing the type was done by removing all the military equipment, but the main change was in the engines. Instead of the Russian made powerplants of the Ka-60, French-made Turbomeca Ardiden 3g engines were chosen. These modern engines produce 1680 shaft h.p. and are controlled by the modern FADEC (full-authority digital engine controller) system. This reduces the pilot’s workload during flight.

Since the introduction in 2017, Russian Helicopters has used three prototypes of the Ka-62 to complete the flight test program. During the program the three prototypes performed 434 flights with a total duration of about 700 hours. Currently the fuselage of the first commercial Ka-62 is under construction at the Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company in the Far East. It is expected to be delivered before the end of 2022.

The design of Ka-62 widely uses polymer composites (up to 60% by weight), which enables a lower fuel consumption, higher speed and load capacity. With its range of 700 km, max. speed of 310 km/h and (high density) seating for 15 passengers, the Ka-62 is a potential rival for comparable Western helicopters. Of course Russian Helicopters still has some hurdles to take before the Ka-62 receives its EASA and FAA type certification…..

Photos: Rostec