Fourth Beriev Be-200ChS for Russian Emergencies Ministry completed

The aircraft performed its maiden flight on March 12 (UAC)

Russia’s Taganrog-based aircraft manufacturer Beriev has built the fourth Be-200ChS amphibious airliner intended for the country’s Emergencies Ministry. The aircraft is registered as RF-31380 (factory No. 306), Beriev’s parent company United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) reports.

The jetliner performed its maiden flight on March 12 from Beriev’s factory airfield. It is a part of a six-ship contract signed with the Emergencies Ministry on May 25, 2011. The original plan called for delivering the first five in 2017. The third airframe was handed over to the customer last December.

Following acceptance tests, the aircraft will be ferried to the Khabarovsk-based aviation rescue center for operations.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry uses its Be-200ChS aircraft in firefighting and rescue operations within the country and abroad: in Greece, Portugal, Spain, France, and Indonesia. In the summer of 2017, the manufacturer received a firm order for two of the type from China’s Energy Leader Aircraft Manufacturing. A memorandum was also signed with the Argentine Defense Ministry, which wants to procure three.

Beriev announced late last year that it was prepared to ramp up Be-200 production. The Russian Defense Ministry had also placed an order, but deliveries never materialized.

Be-200s used to be built by the Irkutsk aircraft plant (also a UAC company).