Firefighting version
Wast majority of firefighting aitcraft in service are plaqued by tight
link to airfields. As a result, firefighters often have to operate at limit
of aircraft range or with partially empty water tanks. Certain areas of
the world are completely out of range for ground based firefighters.
Introduction of the Be-200 solves this problem. Amphibian aircraft
carries 12tons of water in 8 tank compartments under the cabin floor.
In aquaplaning mode all this water may be scooped in 12. Required
distance (ISA standard, 10.7m obstacle, takeoff weight 43000kg)
is 1330m. Firefighting version carries also 1.2m3
of chemical agent in special tanks.
Fully fueled, Be-200 can perform up to 25 firefighting sorties (10km
water carry, 200kmfrom the refueling spot), delivering 300tons
of water to fire area. Firefighting crews with necessary equipment may
be delivered to the blaze during same missions, because wated tanks do
not occupy room in the cargo/passenger cabin.
Water tanks have individually operated doors, allowing water drop in
a single salvo or in series of successive passes. Be-200 navigation system
may authomaticaly bring aircraft back to the spot of the previous waterdrop,
securing safe in-group operation.
Patrol version
Be-200 in patrool configuration may help borderguards. Since it may
be refueled on water from the supply ship or basic refueling utilities,
its range is not restricted by 'dry' airfield location. Here are (some
of) possible missions:
Patrooling the 200-mile sea economic zone and islands
Location and classification of suspicious ships in assigned area
Determination of their coordinates and identity
Detention of suspects by firing warning shots
Examination of arrested ships after water landing
Monitoring of radio-frequency emissions
Communication with shore-based observation posts
Guidance of border-guard ships
Ecology control version
Ecological duties may include monitoring of the environment and weather.
Be-200 amphibian with its significunt payload may be very helpful during
oil spill removal. With proper equipment installed it will allow taking
samples of water or soil from the reservoirs bottom, as well as air quality
control.
Passenger and executive versions
The passenger version interior is designed and manufactured by the
British company AIM Aviation (LTD). As mentioned above, passenger cabin
is pressurised. It may be equipped to carry 64 economy class passengers
(75cm) seat spacing, 13+36 seats in business and economy configuration,
8+24 seats for first and business class or 18 seats in executive version.
Be-200 is fitted with a toilet room, wardrobe and a gally/pantry. In addition
to pilot and co-pilot, two flight attendants are added to a crew to serve
the passengers.
Cargo/Passenger and Transport versions
Those are described together because Be-200 may be converted from one
version to another within an hour by the aircraft crew. Required procedures
include installation/removal of seats, transposition of protective partitions
etc. Suitable for mail, passengers and cargo as required.
Specific features are pressurised cargo compartment 18.7mx2.4mx1.8m
and cargo hatch door 1.76mx2.05m in the front section of
the fuselage. In Transport version it accomodates up to 6000kg of
cargo in LD-1, LD-2 and AKS containers. Pallets PA-1.5 and R-8 are also
acceptable. Cargo/Passenger variant accepts half of this load, but part
of the cargo cabin is separated and equipped with 19 passenger seats.
Existing floating facilities may be used to carry loading/unloading
afloat without major modifications.
Ambulance version
Spacious cabin of the Be-200 has room for 30 stretchers, seven seats
for medical personell and room for special medical equipment. This configuration
may also be used as a mobile hospital for rural areas, inaccessable to
land-base fixed-wing aircraft, cars or ships. And of course capacity, speed,
comfort and operation cost of the Be-200 make it superiour to ambulance
helicopters. Of course sufficient water reservoir is still required...
According to Airfax
Newsletter, in early 1996 Beriev Bureau already had orders for more
than 10 machines.
Russian Ministry of Forestry and Emergency Situations Ministry plan
to buy 50 to 60 and 10 to 15 aircraft correspondingly. European aircraft
operating companies are likely to order 20 to 25 aircraft in 1999 through
2010.
In North America strong presence of formidable rival Canadair makes
prospects for Be-200 sales uncertain, but involvement of the Be-200
multi-role amphibian
Be-200
page by Kenn Heely
|
Be-200
at the Virtual Aircraft
Museum
Russian
aircraft for Japan
Beriev
Aircraft at WWW.AVIATION.RU
This
week in Russian Aerospace by Vovick Karnozov
Some
of Soviet Amphibians by Venik
Current
Projects
Airfax
Newsletter, 19 Jan 1996
Dual-use
technologies in production of Be-200 amphibian and their perspective applications
|
Beriev
Be-200
MAKS-97
overview
Be-200,
Beriev
Be-200
at the Commercial
Aircraft Profiles
Ada
software for Be-200
Airtanker
board may have some...
|
