Ulan-Ude/5 July 2010 – Ulan-Ude aviation plant (UUAP), a part of Russian Helicopters, the Russian helicopter industry holding company, is delivering helicopters to UTair ahead of schedule set in the contract.

UUAP delivered two Mi-171 helicopters (in Mi-8AMT version) to UTair in late June, although they were supposed to be delivered in late 3Q 2010 according to contract. Such changes in schedule are due to UTair requiring more aircraft due to an increase in freight traffic.

Despite of high production workload (the plant intends to manufacture 75 helicopters in 2010), UUAP has managed to manufacture and deliver the helicopters to the customer ahead of scheduled terms without jeopardizing the production schedule under other contracts.

“UTair is one of our long term partners and we have exceptional relations,” UUAP managing director Leonid Belykh said, “that’s why we’ve done our best to deliver the helicopters ahead of scheduled time. We understand that such a large operator as UTair currently has many helicopter operation orders to carry out. In return the company has also been very flexible in many areas.”

Deliveries to UTair are pursuant to the contract signed in early 2008. The operator has already received 39 out of 40 helicopters ordered.

UTair is the largest helicopter operator in the world by fleet number and weight-lifting capacity. It operates over 250 rotorcraft made by Russian manufacturers and other countries. Fleet capabilities and skilled personnel allow UTair to offer high quality, safe aviation operations of the highest complexity, all over the world. In 2010 the company will perform missions in Russia and eleven more countries.

Source: Russian Helicopters