OREANDA-NEWS. June 28, 2010. Sergei Ignatov, pilot first class and Mi-8 helicopter commander of UTair Aviation international flight operations was awarded the Pilot of the Year by the prestigious Association of Russian Helicopter Industry. The award ceremony was held in late May at the HeliRussia 2010 exhibition in Moscow.

Sergei Ignatov is the Mi-8 helicopter command pilot for UTair Aviation's international flight operations with helicopter operations in 16 countries. In September 2009 Ignatov was sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo where his crew made food and medical deliveries under contract from the UN.

On November 26, 2009 during a routine flight Ignatov’s Mi-8 helicopter was fired on. The UN Mission highly praised efforts of the crew. The personal courage, professionalism and self-control of Commander Ignatov secured the efficient and well-coordinated work of the crew, saving the lives of all 26 people and the aircraft.

Captain Ignatov began his career in 1981 after graduating from the Sasov Civil Aviation School named after Hero of the Soviet Union G.A.Taran. In 1988 he received co-pilot training aboard Mi-8 helicopters and in 1994 he was appointed captain his own Mi-8 helicopter and crew. Captain Ignatov has logged a total of 11,000 incident-free flight hours.