KAMOV KA-32

Aircraft Summary

The Kamov Ka-32 is a medium range cargo helicopter capable of transporting 5,000 kg in its main cargo compartment. Cargo pallets loaded by hand.

Aircraft History and Features

The Kamov Ka-32A is an autonomous high-power-to-weight-ratio compact air transporter that can operate independently of ground support. The main roles of the Ka-32A civil helicopter are as passenger and cargo transport, a flying crane for building construction, transport for bulky cargo up to 5t carried on an external sling, logging, search and rescue, medical and emergency evacuation, loading and unloading ships at sea and offshore operations.

The helicopters have been used for the installation of power transmission lines and cable railway towers at hotels for the mountain ski holiday industry.

The development of Ka-32 prototype began in 1969. The first prototype took its maiden flight in 1973. The first operational Ka-32 completed its maiden flight in October 1980. It was initially displayed at the Paris Air Show in June 1985.

The Ka-32 is based on the Ka-27 (Helix) naval helicopter. First flight of the Ka-32A civil helicopter took place in 1990. Special variants have also been built: the Ka-32A1 and Ka-32A11BC for fire-fighting, and the Ka-32A2 for airborne police and federal operations. The Ka-32A11BC obtained European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification in October 2009. The certification will facilitate the helicopter to fly in the skies of European Union (EU) countries.

Over 140 Ka-32 family helicopters have been produced and the helicopter is in service with operators in Russia (Ministry of Emergency Situations, Chief Department of Home Affairs of the City of Moscow), Canada (Vancouver Island Helicopters for logging), Germany (Helog), Switzerland (HeliSwiss), Taiwan, Tenerife (PANH for firefighting), Papua New Guinea (Heli Niugini for offshore operations), Myanmar, South Korea and a number of other countries.

More than 40 Ka-32 helicopters are in service in the Republic of Korea, with the Korean Forest Aviation and Maritime Police. The first of seven ordered by the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) was delivered in July 2004. The helicopters are used for search and rescue (SAR) and are equipped with an avionics suite from IAI Lahav of Israel.

In May 2010, Kamov delivered two Ka-32 helicopters to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Aircraft of similar role, configuration and era: Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite, Eurocopter AS565 Panther, Harbin Z-9, SH-60 Seahawk, Westland Lynx