PRESS RELEASE

Dear Sirs!

During the period from August 9 till August 20, 2002 the Be-200 multipurpose amphibious aircraft was tested in Republic of Armenia. The purpose of these tests was to define take-off and landing characteristics in conditions of mountains and high air temperature. During the test flights the amphibian performed take-offs and landings on the ground airdrome in Gumry (elevated above the sea level 1580 m) and on the mountain lake Sevan (elevated above the sea level 1950m). During the flights off lake Sevan the aircraft scooped and dropped water, as well as took-off with one engine operating. Such flights of the aircraft of this class have been performed for the first time in the world practice. During the test flights the Be-200 aircraft was based on the aerodrome Eribuny. The amphibian has been piloted by the following crew: captain - test-pilot N.K. Babich, co-pilot - expert-pilot R.T. Esoyan, navigator - test-navigator M.G.Andreev, onboard operators - senior engineers S.A. Gundich and A.A Kovalev. Total flying time was 25 hours. All tasks, which were planned in the programme of the testing, have been successfully accomplished. At the present time the preparations of the Be-200 aircraft are under way for the participation in the 4th International exhibition of hydroaviation "Gidroaviasalon-2002" which will take place since 4th till 8th of September 2002 on the Black Sea coast at test-experiment base of BERIEV Aircraft Company and airport "Gelengzhik."