OREANDA-NEWS. On 26 June 2009 was announced, that UTair Aviation, JSC (UTair Aviation) had signed a cooperation agreement with the leading helicopter operator of the Nenetsky Autonomous District Naryan-Mar Airlines JSC.

The technical and human resources of UTair and Naryan-Mar Airlines are already jointly used in helicopter operations for Russian oil and gas companies, as well as in foreign markets.

The member of the alliance plan to implement a number of co-projects employing Mil helicopters, including socially significant passenger and cargo transportation to the remote settlements of Murmansk region. Naryan-Mar Airlines operates a base airport in the capital of the Autonomous District, as well as 16 aerodromes of registration and several heliports. Along with the hi-tech aircraft service base, it helps the two air companies to work effectively in the Nenetsky district and other regions.

 “The setback in the helicopter operations that we see today in Russia calls for consolidation of forces. This agreement means for us a good chance to obtain additional scope of work, joint participation in tenders and bids. For UTair it means the possibility to use additional technical and human resources”, commented on the signed agreement Valery Afanasiev, General Director of Naryan-Mar Airlines, JSC. “It can be safely said that UTair and Naryan-Mar Airlines have moved to a new level of their cooperation. Clear allocation of functions and delimitation of interaction will let us settle many issues quicker and use the companies’ resources more rationally, which in the end will positively influence the quality of provided services and the effectiveness of our joint work”, emphasized Andrey Martirosov, CEO of UTair Aviation, JSC.

UTair Aviation JSC operates the biggest helicopter fleet in the world totaling more than 200 rotorcraft, including over 20 the world’s most powerful heavy-lift Мi-26 helicopters. In Russia it performs helicopter works mostly for oil and gas industry. The biggest customer of helicopter services abroad is the United Nations.

Naryan-Mar Airlines JSC is the main air carrier in the Nenetsky Autonomous District. The company dates back to 1946. It performs scheduled passenger flights, helicopter works for oil companies and authorities, airport activities. The Company’s fleet comprises 18 Mi-8Т helicopters, 4 Mi-8MTV-1helicopters and 7 An-2 airplanes.