Russian civil aviation is facing the risk of stopping the operation of Ansat helicopters, which are key for medical evacuation and passenger transportation, due to problems with foreign engines. As sources in the aviation industry told Izvestia, the machines, equipped with Canadian PW207K engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada, require major repairs after three thousand flight hours. However, sanctions have made this process virtually impossible: the manufacturer refuses to service Russian equipment, and Russia and its allied countries do not have certified centers to perform such work. As a result, by 2029, 49 helicopters may be out of service, which threatens the operation of air ambulances and regional transportation. 

The Helicopter Industry Association (HIA) has confirmed the alarming forecasts. As of July 2024, there were 140 Ansat helicopters in operation in Russia, including Ansat-U modifications, of which 88 were in the civil sector. Rosaviatsia specifies that the main operators are the National Air Ambulance Service (NAAS) with a fleet of 37 aircraft, Russian Helicopter Systems with 12 helicopters, as well as the airlines Barguzin, Parma, Kostroma Aviation Enterprise, TNC, Aviaservice and HeliExpress, operating from one to three Ansats. An industry source revealed the schedule for decommissioning the machines: four helicopters will be stopped in 2025, six in 2026, 2027 in 11, three in 2028, and 2029 units in 25, which will make up more than half of the civilian fleet. 

The problem is aggravated by the lack of a domestic alternative to the PW207K engines. The development of a Russian analogue, the VK-650V engine, is being carried out at UEC-Klimov, but its certification and mass production are not expected before 2027, which does not solve the current difficulties. Experts emphasize that Ansats have become an important part of the emergency care system, especially in remote regions, where they ensure prompt delivery of patients to hospitals. Stopping their work could seriously affect the availability of medical services and transport connectivity. 

According to TASS on March 15, 2025, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade allocated 4,5 billion rubles to accelerate the development of the VK-650V, but the first prototype has only undergone bench tests. Experts note that even after certification, it will take time to integrate the engines into the existing Ansats, as well as to train technical personnel. Meanwhile, the sanctions pressure continues to grow: in February 2025, Canada tightened restrictions on the supply of aircraft components to Russia, which finally closed access to PW207K repairs through third countries.