OREANDA-NEWS. August 22, 2011. On August 17 at the MAKS International Air Show in Zhukovsky, UTair Aviation and Russian Helicopters, a part of United Industrial Corporation Oboronprom, signed a contract for the delivery of 40 Mil-171 mid-sized helicopters. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2012.

During the official ceremony attended by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin the contract was signed by UTair Aviation CEO Andrei Martirosov and Russian Helicopters CEO Dmitry Petrov. The contract provides for final delivery of the entire order of Mil-171s by the end of 2013.

''Adding new Mil-171 helicopters to the UTair fleet is an important step for our business development, considering the growing demand for aviation services performed by helicopters of this type,'' said Martirosov. ''UTair has a more than 40 years of experience operating Mil helicopters of all classes in different parts of the world. The features of the new Mil-171s offer improved performance and, along with the professionalism of UTair specialists, will undoubtedly contribute to improving our leadership in the helicopter services market.''

''UTair Aviation is one of the key partners for Russian Helicopters with whom we have been working for years and have great experience in joint projects,'' said Dmitry Petrov. ''Today UTair is the largest civil customer for helicopters in Russia, directly involved in the development of Russian helicopter manufacture, including modernization and the development of new helicopters.''

The number of Mil-171 helicopters in UTair fleet, including in the Mil-8AMT modification, is over 50. The helicopters that will be delivered in line with the new contract will be used to provide services to the oil and gas industry, make utility and fire fighting operations, as well as performing services in the context of UTair contracts with the U.N. and commercial contracts with foreign companies.

A previous contract between Russian Helicopters and UTair for 40 Mil-171 helicopters in the Mil-8AMT modification was completed by the holding in September 2010. All helicopters have been produced and delivered ahead of the schedule.

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, as well as light multi-purpose Eurocopter and Robinson helicopters. UTair is the largest helicopter service provider to the United Nations, with cooperation agreements since 1992. In Russia 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, with a 6.5% increase in the volume of export services.

Russian Helicopters is a subsidiary of OPK Oboronprom, part of Rostechnologii Group. The holding controls and manages helicopter-manufacturing companies: the Moscow Mil, Arsenyevskaya Aviation Company Progress named after N.Sazykin, the Kuemertau Aviation Plant, the Stupin Machine-Building Company, Reductor-PM and Novosibirsk Aircraft Maintenance Plant, as well as Helicopter Service Company.

OPK Oboronprom is a multi-profile industrial manufacturing group created in 2002, and forms part of Russian Technologies (Rostechnologii) Group. Its main activities include: helicopter manufacture (Russian Helicopters) and engine building (Managing Company United Engine-Building Corporation).