He flew 46 sorties over the reactor building, for a combined total duration of 52 hours. The most important of those sorties was the so-called "Operation Igla" (Operation Needle), the June 19, 1986 installation of a giant -long radiation probe on top of the building by means of a precision drop from a Kamov coaxial rotor helicopter.
He conducted 46 sorties over the reactor building, totaling 52 hours of combined flight time. The most significant of these was 'Operation Igla' (or 'Operation Needle'), a June 19, 1986, operation involving the installation of a long radiation probe atop the building via precision drop from a Kamov helicopter.