Eurocopter is highlighting the capabilities of its helicopter product line for the Russian and CIS market during its participation at MAKS Aviasalon industry event, being held at Zhukovsky Airfield near Moscow from 16-21 August 2011.

Exhibiting with its EADS parent company, Eurocopter is showing scale models of the single-engine AS350 B3, along with the twin-engine EC135 and EC145 - all of which have been ordered by customers in the region.

Eurocopter’s overall share of the Russian and CIS marketplace for Western-supplied turbine-engine helicopters is more than 70%.

“We are in this market for the long-term, and our commitment is to meet the extreme operating requirements in Russia and the CIS with Eurocopter’s evolving helicopter product line,” stated Laurence Rigolini, CEO of the Eurocopter Vostok subsidiary.

 “Our strategy includes building cooperative relationships with key players to ensure the highest levels of support and flight safety for the growing Eurocopter fleet”, he continued.
 
Current Eurocopter customers include Russia’s UTair Aviation, which operates the AS350 B3, AS355N and BO105 helicopters, and will be expanding its fleet with the enhanced AS350 B3e version and the EC175 – for which it is a launch customer. In a cooperative effort that is aligned with Eurocopter’s safety and support goals, a training academy and certified maintenance center are being located at UTair’s engineering facility in Tyumen. The UTair maintenance center is one of three such Russian operations qualified by Eurocopter.

Another Eurocopter customer in Russia is Gazpromavia, which is receiving eight EC135 helicopters equipped with Russian-built mission avionics from Transas Aviation – a first for Eurocopter rotary-wing aircraft.

Three EC145s are operated by the Moscow Aviation Center, which uses the helicopters for medical evacuation and emergency missions.