UTair Signs Contract With Eurocopter Vostok

Russia’s UTair will acquire 20 AS350/AS355 light helicopters in a new agreement that the rotary-wing aircraft operator says extends its long-term strategic relationship with Eurocopter.

UTair AS350

The acquisition contract was signed by Andrey Martirosov, the Director of UTair Aviation, and Eurocopter Vostok CEO Laurence Rigolini, in the presence of Christian Gras, Executive Vice president – Customers - for the Eurocopter Group. It covers the deliveries of 20 single-engine AS350 B3 and twin-engine AS355 NP versions of Eurocopter’s Ecureuil lightweight helicopter family beginning in the summer of 2011 and continuing through the spring of 2013.

“The growth of UTair’s fleet with these 20 Ecureuils will strengthen our leadership position on the worldwide helicopter market, as these lightweight helicopters perfectly meet the highest industry standards and are very welcomed by our customers in Russia and worldwide,” Andrey Martirosov said.
This is the largest Russian order in the lightweight helicopter category, according to Eurocopter Executive Vice President Gras. “The implementation of this program illustrates a new level of partnership between our two organizations, and inaugurates a new era for the commercial use of Eurocopter single engine helicopters in Russia,” added Christian Gras.

UTair has been operating Eurocopter helicopters since 2006. Its fleet currently includes the following Eurocopter types - AS350B3, AS355N and BO105 – which are flown in a wide variety of missions that range from VIP services and oil/gas industry support to medical missions. The company also is a launch customer for Eurocopter’s EC175, with the intention to order 15 of these medium-weight twin-engine helicopters, plus 15 options.

“The new Ecureuil order represents an outstanding achievement in the further build-up of our relationship with this strategic customer, and it confirms that Eurocopter products are meeting the extreme operational requirements of UTair. In the framework of UTair’s cooperation with Eurocopter, a certified maintenance center and a training academy are being created at UTair’s engineering base in the Tyumen – which will improve the support of this Russian operator’s fleet, as well, as for other customers in the country,” said Eurocopter Vostok CEO Laurence Rigolini.

FMI: www.utair.ru, www.eurocopter.com