ZALA UAVs will be used to monitor floods and forest fires in Yakutia
On 14 May, two ZALA 421-16E UAVs were presented near the village of Oi, Khangalassky ulus. The UAVs were purchased by Polar Airlines from the ZALA AERO group of companies of the Kalashnikov Concern. The UAVs will be used in monitoring ice flow on rivers, forest fires, search and rescue of people, monitoring of gas and oil pipelines, as well as in cadastral and geodetic work.
The flight radius of the ZALA 421-16E unmanned aerial vehicle is 50 kilometres, i.e. round trip in total 100 kilometres. Flight duration - 5 hours, speed - 65-110 km, altitude 5000 metres. The UAV can withstand temperatures from -50°C to +50°C degrees. The type of engine is electric.
The drone is equipped with a camera, thermal imager, broadband video transmitter, radio modem, etc. The flight of the drone is controlled online by an operator. The drone uses a pneumatic catapult for take-off, and a parachute and cushion for landing.
The participants of the presentation were shown the flight of the ZALA 421-16E unmanned aerial vehicle.
Alexei Kolodeznikov, First Deputy Chairman of the Government of Yakutia, took part in the event on behalf of the republic's leadership.
"We in the republic have identified Polar Airlines as the main drone operator. This is very important work. We believe that drones are the future, especially taking into account the vast territory in our republic, where 20% of the country's forest fund is located. Now we are in the stage of spring flooding and in the next few days the ZALA AERO group of companies' vehicles of the Kalashnikov Concern will be used to monitor the state of ice flow on the Lena River and possibly on the Kolyma River. In addition, the fire-hazardous period in the forests is beginning in the republic. If a manned aircraft cannot enter the smoke screen, the drone quietly performs this work and through its camera we can see how the forest fire is developing, where its edge is. This will help us make the right decision. Drones will also be of particular importance when searching and rescuing citizens, because very often people get lost and we have to use helicopters, which is associated with high financial costs. The drone is equipped with a thermal imager and can find a person with sufficient clarity. Today Gazprom and Rosneft are already using drones when monitoring the gas and oil transport system. "Polar Airlines will also work in this direction, as well as provide cadastral and geodetic services," said Alexey Kolodeznikov.
First Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that drones will reduce the cost of air monitoring of floods, forest fires and search and rescue of people. If we take the cost of an hour's flight of an aeroplane and a helicopter, the use of a drone will be several times cheaper. An aircraft has to be lifted from an airport or a site, while a UAV can be delivered closer to the place of forest fires, floods or search for people. Accordingly, the costs will be reduced significantly.
"I think that the drones purchased by Polar Airlines will soon justify themselves. The republic needs several such devices. That is why we plan to develop this direction further. We will see what kind of vehicles are more suitable for us. "Polar Airlines has set up a department for this work, five people have already been trained in Izhevsk," said First Deputy Chairman of the Government of Yakutia Alexei Kolodeznikov.
Semyon Vinokurov, General Director of Polar Airlines, noted at the presentation that this project is being implemented within the framework of the Decree of the Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) A.S. Nikolaev on innovative and digital development of the republic and strategic documents of the Russian Government on the development of unmanned civil aviation.
The unmanned aerial vehicle ZALA 421-16E was presented by Sergey Kharitonkin, Deputy Head of Department of ZALA AERO Group of Companies. He noted that "ZALA AERO" is the leading Russian developer and manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles. The company has more than 70 flight units on the territory of the Russian Federation and five maintenance centres. The head office of the company is located in Izhevsk. According to Kharitonkin, today the company has signed 30 long-term contracts across the country.
In addition to ZALA 421-16E, Sergey Valeryevich told about other old and new developments of the company, including those with a flight radius from 100 to 500 kilometres.
