BERIEV
Aircraft
Company
Aircraft
Company
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BERIEV
Aircraft Company |
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No. 89 dt. 18 July, 2005.
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The Be-200 multipurpose amphibian has been staying in Italy since July 05, 2005. The aircraft is in operation under a lease contract between Beriev Aircraft Company and SOREM Company, the latter being the authorized firefighting service operator assigned by the Civil Protection Department (Protezione Civile) of Italy. The amphibian is used for firefighting missions. During the first weeks of July, the Be-200ES amphibian flew around the territory of Italy. The aircraft performed a number of landings and take-offs, and carried out the scooping of water from 34 lakes as well as from the open sea. As a result of these activities, the Italian aviation authorities granted the Russian amphibian a permission to participate in firefighting operations. On July 17, an extensive crowning forest fire was detected in a hard-to-reach mountainous region in Sardinia. The fire spread over approximately 40 hectares of forest area. Four CL-415 amphibians and the Be-200ES multipurpose amphibian took part in the firefighting operation. By joint actions, the Be-200ES and the CL-415s isolated the spreading fire and brought it under control. Scooping water from the lake of Cochinas located within the fire area (at 350 m above the sea level), the Be-200 amphibian made 21 drops of fire suppressant during the operation. The overall amount of fire suppressant dropped by the Be-200 in the course of this firefighting mission was equal to approximately 240 ton.
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