ASTANA, Kazakhstan: Russian Helicopters is increasing the presence of its products in CIS countries and broadening its service centre network.
Aftersale service and support for the existing fleet and newly delivered rotorcraft in Central Asia is one of the top priorities for Russian Helicopters. The company is ensuring easy and timely access to maintenance and modernisation of existing helicopters while offering the regional market new modifications alongside the Ansat, Ka-226T, Ka-32A11BC, and the prospective Ka-62 and Mi-38 helicopters.
In Kazakhstan, Russian rotorcraft will be serviced by Aircraft Repair Plant No. 405 (Almaty) that signed an agreement “On the general principles of cooperation in service and maintenance of rotorcraft” with Russian Helicopters in the autumn of 2009. The Plant will receive new equipment and will be certified to service and repair Ka-226/226T, Ansat, and Ka-32 helicopters.
Forming the regional aftersale service and support network for Russian rotorcraft in Central Asia is proceeding pursuant to the relevant program that envisions the creation of a service centre network in strategic countries of the region to support state and commercial operators.
Find out more about this Russian Helicopters program and the helicopter lineup on stand B3 in Pavilion 3, at KADEX-2010, the International defence exhibition opened yesterday in Astana.
“Russian Helicopters is creating a global service centre network. Apart from servicing and repairs, operators in Central Asia are interested in modernizing existing and new rotorcraft. I’m sure that these services are in high demand across all markets, including CIS and Central Asian countries,” says Russian Helicopters COO Andrei Shibitov.
Russian Helicopters is creating a global support network based on certified MROs and joint service enterprises. This will allow the company to support Russian rotorcraft throughout their entire lifecycle.
The existing infrastructure matches the sales geography of Russian Helicopters. International RotorCraft Services, FZC was created in Sharjah, UAE. An Indian centre is currently in the works as a joint venture named Integrated Helicopter Services Pvt. Ltd. Several service centres and companies are under certification in Europe and an integrated logistics support system is set to be developed in the region by the end of 2009. The service network covers almost all CIS countries. Support facilities will open in South-East Asia, Central and Southern Africa, and Latin America in 2010—2011.
Russian Helicopters, treasuring the Kamov and Mil legacy and traditions, is offering helicopters to the global market under the Russian Helicopters brand in all classes: light, medium, heavy.
The light Mi-34C1 is perfect for corporate and private operations, initial training, medevac and surveillance missions – from eco control and integrity to police operations.
The light multi-role Turbomeca Arrius 2G2-equipped Ka-226T can be employed in urban high-rise construction, surface surveillance, and police operations, including drug interdiction. According to Russian Helicopters experts, this can be particularly useful on the Latin American market. The coaxial (dual rotor) configuration gives the Ka-226T an advantage in payload and altitude (up to 7000 m).
The light Ansat is a comfortable Russian-made corporate helicopter with a spacious cabin that can accommodate any additional equipment. For other purposes the Ansat can be fitted with an emergency system for landing on water, searchlight, hoist, firefighting or crop spraying equipment. Additional fuel tanks may be installed to increase maximum range.
The medium multi-role Mi-17 (and modifications) is used in passenger and cargo transportation. They are very popular in the world with 12 thousand delivered to date. The helicopter can perform a number of tasks both day and night in any weather and climate anywhere in the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan. The Mi-17 is the helicopter of choice for oil development companies with offshore sites. It can land on ships and oil platforms. The Mi-171 can fly for 6 hours and cover up to 800 kilometres. Russian Helicopters is currently modernizing this model and offering customers the updated Mi-171M version.
The Ka-32A11BC can be used in a variety of tasks. It can carry people and cargo, perform construction, firefighting, search and rescue, emergency, and patrol missions. The helicopter can be fitted with additional equipment according to mission. In autumn 2009 Ka-32A11BC received type certificate number EASA.IM.R.133. The certificate allows any operator to use the helicopter commercially.
The new cargo and passenger Mi-38 is designed for transportation, forestry, construction, loading/unloading, search and rescue, emergency, medevac, and geologic exploration operations and can also be used as a comfortable corporate shuttle for 20—30 passengers.
The Mi-26T is the world’s heaviest-lifting helicopter to go into production, boasting unrivalled performance and economy. These machines are used for a wide variety of tasks – transportation, evacuation, firefighting, etc. The Mi-26T can carry up to 20 tons as cabin and external load.
Russian Helicopters, JSC is an affiliated company of UIC Oboronprom. It is the managing body of the following helicopter industry enterprises: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Kamov, Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, Kazan Helicopters, Rostvertol, Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company, Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, Vpered Moscow Machine-Building Plant, Stupino Machine Production Plant, Reductor-PM , Helicopter Service Company (VSK), Novosibirsk Aircraft Repairing Plant and Ural Works of Civil Aviation.
UIC Oboronprom, JSC is a multi-profile industrial and investment group established in 2002. Its main tasks include helicopter engineering (Russian Helicopters managing company), engine-building (United Engine Industry Corporation managing company), air defense systems and complex electronic systems (Defense Systems holding company), and other machine-building activities. The companies of the group reported revenues of over 130 billion roubles in 2009.