L 410 UVP Aircraft/Reading/EN

L-410 UVP aircraft manufacturer: LET Kunovice. The commuter aircaft L-410 Turbolet UVP serves as a passenger transport aircraft over short and medium long sectors. It features short take off and landing runs and the possibility to be operated from semi prepared airstrips. Its major advantage is its operability under most adverse environment conditions. The aircraft was operated in former USSR with Aeroflot from Ukraine to Kamchatka, from deserts in Central Asia to regions beyond the Arctic Circle.
Main specifications:
wing span 19.49m
length 14.48m
height above ground 5.83m
wing area 35.18m2
maximum fuselage width (interior) 1.92m
maximum fuselage height (interior) 1.70m
cabin volume 17.86m3
baggage compartment volume 0.77m3
entrance door 0.8 x 1.46m
cargo door 1.25 x 1.46m
door sill height above ground 0.79m
maximum take off weight 5800kg
take off distance 710m
landing distance 740m
cruise speed 380km/h
range at 3000m altitude 1040km
The L-410 UVP is a shoulder wing monoplane. This arrangement provides optimum visual contact between passengers and earth and protects engines against aspiration of foreign object by airscrews.
The aircraft is powered by two Walter M 601 D engines rated at 574 kW eq. each and by Avia V38.508 D three bladed airscrews with hydraulic pitch control and electric deicing. Short take off and landing runs and the possibility to operate the aircraft from unprepared strips give the L-410 UVP virtually characteristics of a STOL aircraft.
L-410 UVP has several modifications:
L-410 UVP basic is a passenger version for 17 pax. A modification for 15 pax is available. The aircraft is operated as a comuter aircraft and over short and medium sectors with up to 1000km length. Various interior color schemes are available. The passenger version can be quickly converted into the cargo version.
L-410 UVP executive has a comfortable interior layout with 8 de luxe seats, desks and catering facilities. The aircraft cabin layout and colour scheme can be adapted to customer's specifications. The same applies to the aircraft colour shceme.
L-410 UVP cargo can haul up to 1100kg cargo packed in special containers which are retained by a system of fasteners. Attachments and fasteners for loose cargo are optional. The size of the cargo door is 1.25 x 1.46m
L-410 UVP paradropping is equipped with a sliding door which can be opened in flight and special technical facilities for training parachute jumpers. The aircraft has a crew of two and it can transport 12 jumpers and one jump master. The paradropping version can be combined with the cargo version; the conversion kit is optional and must be specified.
L-410 UVP air survey is designed for aerial survey, aerial photogrammetry, aerial cartography and for geological survey. The aircraft provides facilities for installing various gear and instruments in a multitude of combinations, e.g. two main and two side photo cameras etc. The aircraft is operated by two operators and one navigator.
L-410 UPV medevac permits evacuation of six stretcher cases and five sitting cases and one medical attendant. The aircraft is employed in exceptional circumstances, natural catastrophes, fires, rescue operations and in other situations calling for quick evacuation of casualties.
L-410 UVP flying ambulance merits special attention. It differs basically from the preceding medevac version in that it provides facilities for administering highly qualified medical aid during the flight in cases of risk to life. The aircraft reaches its destination in cases where all other means of transport are unsatisfactory or not quick enough. It can transport one stretcher case and up to four sitting or semi reclining cases on a folding seat. Medical teams consisting of a doctor and a nurse have at their disposal a wide range of instruments supporting life, among them a respirator, facilities for stopping strong bleedings, for fixing broken bones and for other kinds of quick and qualified medical assistance.
Among commuter airliners with up to 5800 kg all up weight, the Czechoslovak L-410 UVP aircraft occupies a special position. It has been developed to comply with the Soviet NLGS-2 airworthiness regulations and is the first aircraft in the world to obtain a Soviet Airworthiness Certificate.
NLGS-2 regulations apply to all classes of ailiners regardless of their size and weight and they are in several aspects stricter than the American FAR Part 25 regulations or than the British BCAR Cat D regulations. A clear proof of this is the extent of tests to which the L-410 UVP aircraft was subjected before it was certified airworthy.
The L-410 UVP is the only commuter airliner in the world which, in order to obtain its airworthiness certificate, had to prove its safety and reliability under all possible conditions of airport quality and atmospherical conditions which could possibly be met with during operation. The aircraft was tested in the Yakutsk region at -50C environment temperature and it was left to stand overnight on an apron at up to -60C environment temperature.
In Central Asia, environment temperatures reached 40 to 45C on airports with up to 2000m elevation while relative humidity was less than 20%.
While tested on Black Sea shores and exposed to environment with up to 99% saline humidity and 30 to 35C no basic influences upon aircraft performances and reliability could be observed.
The aircraft was subjected to special testing on airports and airstrips with various surfaces, among them grassy, clayey, sandy, gravelly, muddy and wet surfaces, snow covered surfaces with snow quality ranging from powder snow to ice crusts, on concrete runways covered with 1.5cm water, etc.
No problems were met during take off and landing tests in strong winds. It was possible to prove safe taxying in a 20m/s headwind and tailwind, safe take off in a 20m/s headwind and a 10m/s crosswind. The aircraft was able to land reliably in a 10m/s crosswind.
Especially demanding were tests aimed at proving meteorological minima. ICAO Category I could be proved easily. Suitable cockpit and ground equipment must be available to prove Category II. The flight properties of the UVP aircraft are fully satisfactory for Category II.
A separate category of proving tests were flight tests in known icing conditions. Tests were carried out to verify the function of the anti icing gear for the fuselage and wings, engines and airscrews and to check the flight properties of the aircraft with several centimetres thick ice deposits which can appear in case of aircraft anti icing system failure. The L-410 UVP has shown flight properties satisfying the specifications of the NLGS-2 Standard even with ice deposits and in cases when all anti icing systems are switched off under known icing conditions.
During the tests, special care was paid to the M-601B engine and the V-508B airscrew. It was frequently necessary to prepare special programmes to test the powerplant under varying environmental conditions.
Highly demanding were the operating tests. The entire fleet of 10 L-410 UVP aircraft from serial production was operated in the central region of the Volga river. The aircraft were flown in summer and durign winter conditions to their assumed operational airports. They were serviced by airline ground personell and flown by airline pilots. Cargo was transported instead of passengers. The total flight time was more than 2500 hours with nearly 3600 take offs.
Tests were completed with positive results. The aircraft does not require too extensive maintenance, it has very good properties in flight, type conversion of crews is easy, the aircraft is adequaltely equipped for flights in IFR conditions, the fuel consumption is low and the aircraft systems operate reliably.
UVP aircraft flew over almost the whole of the extensive territory of the USSR, from its European part to Kamchatka. Experience obtained during aircraft operation is favourable. Passengers, crews and ground personnel are all satisfied. The number of airports requesting L-410 UVP aircraft encreases steadily. The new aircraft is expected soon to become the basic model for short haul air traffic in the USSR.
The L-410 UVP aircraft is manufactured with a standard cabin layout approved by its operator. The aircraft has been tested with skis. Modernization of the aircraft design is conducted along with its serial production. Major innovations concern is extension of time between overhauls and of the total service life of individual systems including the engine and airscrew, modifications increasing operating economy, especially the aircraft max payload and its range, improving aircraft instrumentation, especially naviagation instruments and NAV/COM radio gear, improving passenger comfort by lowering cabin noise level. The manufacturer takes measures to improve continuously the L-410 UVP aircraft quality.
L-410 UVP flying medical aid version is flown exlusively for humanitarian purposes. It provides quick medical sid in all cases where normal means of transport are inadequate due to the character of illness or casualty, i.e. especially where the distance between a specialized hospital and casualty site are too large and standard means of transport are inadequate. This is because ambulance vehicles if travelling over long distances expose the casualty to high risks and loads and helicopter transport has a limited range. In both cases it is practically impossible to administer intenseive medical care should the state of the casualty momentarily deteriorate.
The L-410 UVP flying medical aid aircraft permits to transport one casualty requiring intensive medical care and four sitting casualties. In all cases casualties are attended by a doctor and a nurse. Folding seats can be adjusted to serve in an emergency as a couch for another casualty. The interior arrangement of the cabin and its outfitting with medical apparatusses and instruments convert this aircraft into a new version with special application and function.
In comparison to standard means of transport this aircraft provides means to transport caualties over distances up to 800km in a relatively short time and by a very sparing method. Full medical aid within the scope of aid administered at stationary intensive care unit can be administered during transport.
The aircraft desing and the entrance door and bed design present optimal conditions for easy handling of the stretcher casualty and easy bording of sitting cases.
Medical instruments and apparatusses installed in the aircraft permit medical personnel to provide aid in respiratory stoppages, controlled breathing, heart function stoppages, to control heavy haemorrhages, to apply infusions, etc.
Medical apparatusses and intruments installed as standard are:
respirator, battery powered defibrillator, single channel ECG, portable respiratory ventillator and heart massage unit, portable lung ventillator with autonomous supply of oxygen, hand operated respirator.
Other apparatusses and equipment to customer's specifications are available. The aircraft is further equipped with:
diagnostic lamp with halogen bulb, mercury tonometer, ventillation meter, heat insulated box for infusion flasks, set of oxygen cylinders with valves, fittings and pipings, adjustable coach with stretcher top for transporting the stretcher casualty, four seats for tranpsorting sitting casualties, steat for medical personnel, one single and one triple folding seat, instrument panel with respirators, folding desk, fasteners for flasks wtih infusions, canister with potable water, set of blankets and other equipment.
Services provided by the L-410 UVP flying medical aid aircraft form a component of the quick medical assistance system with means of transport serving for transporting cases from the moment of acceptance right to the hospital door. Another component in this system is the Avia 20 F medical aid ambulance truck carrying identical instrumentation with the L-410 UVP flying medical aid aircraft. Both means of transport supplement thus each oter to form a transport system with universal applicability.
The applicability of the L-410 UVP flying medical aid aircraft arises both from installed medical equipment and from the possibility to operate the aircraft from semi prepared airstrip in short take off and landing regime and to fly the aircraft with good economy.
Specifications of the L-410 UVP first medical aid aircraft:
weight empty, equipped 4170kg
max range (max continuous cruising power, 30 mins fuel reserve) with max payload (doctor, nurse, 5 casualties) 800km, with max fuel (doctor, nurse, 4 casualties) 880km.