OREANDA-NEWS. May 25, 2011. UTair Aviation and Russian Helicopters signed an agreement for the delivery of 10 Mil Mi-34C1 helicopters. Delivery of the fist rotorcraft is expected in 2012. According to the contract, UTair has the option to increase the number of Mi34C1 helicopters in the order up to 50. “Our company has more than 40 years of experience operating Mi-34C1 helicopters and greatly anticipates the capabilities these aircraft will extend to the UTair helicopter fleet,” said UTair Aviation CEO Andrey Martirosov.

“We are pleased that the launch customer for this large order for Russian Helicopters rotorcraft is the leading company on the helicopter services market,” said Russian Helicopters Holding General Director Dmitry Petrov.

The Mi-34C1 is a light multipurpose helicopter designed for cargo and passenger transportations and air surveillance missions. The new UTair helicopters are designed for helicopter patrol in oil & gas sector. Some of the new rotorcraft will be dedicated for flight training operations for cabin crews.

UTair Aviation is the leading global helicopter company in terms of rotary-wing capacity, with more than 290 helicopters of all classes in its expanding fleet. The fleet core is composed of helicopters from the MIL family and light multi-role Eurocopter and Robinson helicopters. UTair has been the leading supplier of helicopter services to the UN since 1992. The main customers of UTair helicopter services are leading oil & gas companies. In 2011, UTair will perform helicopter operations in Russia and in ten countries in 2011, with an expected 6.5% increase in export helicopter services.

Russian Helicopters is a subsidiary of the Oboronprom Corporation, part of the Russian Technologies State Corporation. The company controls and manages Russian helicopter manufacturing companies, including the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Kamov Design Bureau, the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, Kazan Helicopters, Rostvertol, Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company, named after N. I. Sazykin, Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, Stupino Machine Production Plant, Reduktor-PM, the Novosibirsk Aircraft Repairing Plant and Helicopter Service Company.