OREANDA-NEWS. March 22, 2011. By the edict of the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev UTair Aviation employees were awarded for courage, bravery and high professionalism displayed while performing their duties in emergency situation. The pilot-in-command of Mil MI8-MTV helicopter Sergey Ignatov is awarded the Order of Courage, flight engineer Vyacheslav Alberti, co-pilot Yuriy Chigaev and load master Dmitry Shmidt are awarded Medals of Nesterov.

On November 26, 2009 UTair Mil MI8-MTV helicopter crew under command of PIC Sergey Ignatov was performing a liaison flight requested by the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Having performed scheduled landing in Dongo the helicopter appeared to be in the center of battle action. At the hazard of their own lives under fire of the rebels the UTair crew evacuated 23 peacekeepers, including the seriously wounded. Having displayed the highest professionalism and courage the pilots managed to take the helicopter with the evacuated passengers away from fire, and in spite of the damage sustained by the aircraft completed the flight and successfully landed in a safe area.

UTair Aviation has been providing transport support for peacekeeping missions of the United Nations Organization since 1991 and is the largest helicopter service provider for the UN. There are more than 50 helicopters performing operations for the UN peacekeeping missions in Chad, Sierra-Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sudan, Congo and Afghanistan. According to the contracts UTair carries out medical and emergency evacuations, provides search and rescue support, and performs cargo, passenger and VIP transportation.