The participation of Eurocopter Vostok at this month’s HeliRussia 2011 exposition included an initial presentation of Gazpromavia’s EC135 equipped with Russian avionics produced by Transas Aviation, along with the presence of an AS350 B3 operated by UTair Aviation.

This fourth edition of the HeliRussia event, which was held May 19-21 in Moscow, enabled Eurocopter Vostok to underscore Eurocopter’s leadership position, with than 70 percent share of the Russian and CIS gas turbine market – which makes it no. 1 among Western turbine-engine helicopter manufacturers in this market.

Gazpromavia’s EC135 exhibited at HeliRussia 2011 is among eight helicopters ordered by the Russian helicopter operator, and marks the first time a Eurocopter rotary-wing aircraft is equipped with Russian-built mission avionics – which were supplied by St. Petersburg-based Transas Aviation.

The HeliRussia 2011 presence of UTair’s AS350 B3 underscored this largest Russian helicopter operator’s ongoing relationship with Eurocopter. The company has been flying Eurocopter helicopters since 2006, and its fleet currently includes the AS350 B3, AS355N and BO105 – which will be further expanded with the new EC175.

“We are very pleased with the results of HeliRussia 2011. Russia’s helicopter sector is rapidly developing, and HeliRussia is becoming more professional and important for the market each year,” said Eurocopter Vostok CEO Laurence Rigolini. “There were three days of fruitful meetings with customers, partners and industry specialists, and which provided us with an even better understanding of the new possibilities and challenges for our future in Russia.”

As part of Eurocopter Vostok’s activities at HeliRussia 2011, Russian Vice Premier Sergei Ivanov was welcomed by Rigolini to the Eurocopter exhibit stand. Also at HeliRussia 2011, UTair Aviation received a certificate of conformity to Eurocopter training standards, granting this helicopter operator the rights for pilot and mechanic training in the Russian language under Eurocopter training programs.

Separately, HeliRussia provided the opportunity for Eurocopter to celebrate the six-year anniversary of the first helicopter landing with a serial production AS350 B3 helicopter on the summit of Mt. Everest. Legendary Eurocopter test pilot Didier Delsalle on hand to sign autographs and meet with helicopter enthusiasts, and was joined by famous Russian pilot Inna Kopyets.

Eurocopter press release