OREANDA-NEWS. Russian Helicopters, part of state defense holding Oboronprom and a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters, announces that the Ka-32A11BC firefighting helicopter was officially awarded its certificate of airworthiness by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) at a ceremony during the Avalon 2013 airshow. The certificate was presented by CASA Director John McCormick to Sergei Kretov, the head of the Russian Helicopters delegation in Australia.

The certificate means that Australian helicopter operators can now deploy the Ka-32A11BC as a search-and-rescue and fire-fighting helicopter, as well as using it to carry loads on an external sling and for construction work.

The Ka-32A11BC completed certification procedures in Australia at the end of 2012.

Australia is a country that suffers damage from wildfires every year, and therefore has a need for specialized fire-fighting equipment able to combat the threat. As a fire-fighting helicopter, the Ka-32A11BC can be equipped with Bambi Buckets and water cannon, which combined with the helicopter’s unique coaxial main rotor system makes the Ka-32A11BC one of the best fire-fighting helicopters in the world.

In 2013 the Ka-32A11BC was chosen as the mainstay and symbol of the Global Helicopter Firefighting Initiative (GHFI).