Aviation News, December 15, 2025, Avia.pro. At a recent meeting with air carriers, Nikolai Kolesov, head of Russian Helicopters (part of Rostec), announced the need to decommission aging Mi-8 helicopters used for passenger transport on certain routes, informed sources told Izvestia. According to them, Kolesov noted that these Soviet-era aircraft are 40 years old and approaching the end of their service life. Carriers have been asked to prepare a cost estimate for replacing the old aircraft with new ones.

According to the publication, approximately 300 Mi-8 helicopters manufactured before 1991 are planned to be decommissioned. As early as the end of 2025, two dozen older Mi-8Ts belonging to various operators were denied service life extensions. Another 40 aircraft may be grounded in the spring of 2026, and the same number next winter. This decision represents a significant blow to the economy of carriers, who have invested millions of rubles in repairing these aircraft, noted one source. Another source added that the loss of 50-60 helicopters could lead to equipment shortages and disruptions in public transportation, especially in remote regions. He estimated that completely replacing all the older aircraft would take approximately ten years, highlighting the complexity of the transition period.