OREANDA-NEWS. October 21, 2011. UTair Aviation has received the first of 20 light AS350 B3 helicopters at the Eurocopter facility in Marignane, France, in line with the contract signed in fall 2010.

Deliveries of AS350 B3 and AS355 NP helicopter, the largest deal for such aircraft in former Soviet countries, will continue through summer 2013. With the next scheduled delivery, UTair will be the first airline in Russia to begin operations with the upgraded AS350 B3 model (AS350 B3e). The modified version has a number of technical advantages that contribute to operational efficiency and facilitate technical support.

Adding 20 light helicopters to the UTair fleet will significantly improve the airline’s leadership in the corresponding market segment. Since 2006, UTair has been successfully operating Ecureuil helicopters equipped to carry up to 5 passengers onboard or an external load of up to 1400 kg. The advantages of these helicopters are highly appreciated by the airline’s customers – the AS350 B3 and AS355 N are used for VIP passenger flights, patrol operations for oil and gas infrastructure, aerial photography and filming, external load cargo delivery and MEDEVAC flights.

UTair Aviation is also the largest customer for the new Eurocopter’s twin-engine EC175 that has been designed according to UTair specifications. UTair has signed a contract for the delivery of 15 EC175 between 2013 – 2014 in spring 2011.

Another aspect of cooperation between UTair and Eurocopter includes the creation of a certified service center for AS350, AS355N, EC130 and BO 105 helicopters at the base of UTair subsidiary UTair Engineering. In addition, the UTair Training center has been certified to train pilots and technical staff in operations of the most in-demand Eurocopter helicopters, the AS350 and AS355.

UTair Aviation operates the world’s largest helicopter fleet, with more than 330 helicopters of all classes. The base of its fleet consists of Mil and Eurocopter helicopters. UTair is the largest helicopter service provider to the United Nations, with cooperation agreements since 1992. In Russia the core clients for UTair helicopter services are leading oil and gas companies. In 2011, UTair helicopter operations will span across Russia and ten foreign countries.

Eurocopter Group is the world leader in helicopter production and related services. Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defense and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approximately 17,500 people. In 2010, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s number one helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market with a turnover of 4.8 billion Euros, orders for 346 new helicopters and a 49% market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s helicopters account for 33% of the total worldwide civil and parapublic fleet. Eurocopter’s strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 30 subsidiaries and participations on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centers. There are currently 11,200 Eurocopter helicopters in service and some 2,900 customers in 147 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.