Now the ministry has 12 planes and 29 helicopters of eleven types. Before the end of 2004, the Emergency Situations Ministry will get another three An-3 planes, destined for its Siberian centre, and two amphibious planes Be-2004S. (The first multipurpose flying boat was made by the Russian Scientific-Industrial Corporation Irkut. It is very helpful in extinguishing large forest fires and carpet fires, as well as rescue operations at sea.) "In this way, the first squadron of fire-fighting Be-2004S aircraft will be in full makeup already this year", Zakirov said.
In the first quarter of this year, the ministry will get another Mi-8 helicopter, he said.
It is in the plans of the ministry to improve the structure, makeup and capabilities of its groups, now based in Moscow, Krasnoyarsk and Khabarovsk, as well as master the news planes Be-2004S and An-3.
Last year the ministerial fleet of aircraft performed over 11,000 flights, carrying almost 17,000 passengers and over 17,000 tonnes of cargoes. "More than 60 percent of the flights were part of rescue and humanitarian cargo-delivery operations in calamity zones", Zakirov said.
