Flight Planning and Preparation
On 21 September 2022, the crew of helicopter Ka-32S, registration RA-31591, began a ferry flight under flight plan No. 53. The route was from Tashköprü to Denizli (Çardak Airport), with a subsequent planned flight to an operational point near Marmaris for firefighting duties. The flight was conducted under a contract with the Turkish side (No. MGI-AVL2022/8 dated 20 August 2022). According to the contract, upon receiving an alarm signal, the crew was required to take off within 12 minutes to suppress fires in the base area. This time constraint did not apply to ferry flights. The helicopter was fueled for 2 hours and 30 minutes of flight. Refueling points in the flight area were predetermined and fixed.
Pre-Flight Procedures
Pre-flight preparation of the helicopter and crew was conducted at the start of the workday. The crew received coordinates of the new base location from a flight observer. Based on this information, the crew decided on the required fuel quantity and refueling location (if necessary). Flight time calculations assumed a straight-line route and calm wind conditions. The commander determined the flight altitude based on terrain. Airspace clearance was obtained by the flight observer from Turkish air traffic control services via telephone, and the observer also communicated with controllers. A planned route diagram was provided (Figure 1 in the original report).
Crew Actions on the Day
At approximately 10:00, the crew began pre-flight preparation. A pre-flight medical examination was not conducted. The commander made the decision to clear the crew for flight, which was consistent with paragraph 8.10.1 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAP-128). The crew was cleared for the flight, as indicated by a corresponding mark.