Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia/19 April 2010. Russian Helicopters showcased the medium multi-role Mi-17 and Ka-32A11BC and the light multi-role Ka-226T made for the Asian-Pacific Region at the 12th Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2010 exhibition.
These helicopters can perform any tasks, from carrying people and cargo to special ops in natural disaster areas. They can perform in the corporate, passenger, cargo, search and rescue, construction, patrol, and firefighting roles. Russian rotorcraft are currently operated in 100 countries worldwide, including many APR states. About 1500 light and medium Russian rotorcraft are operated in the region. The combination of ease of operation and maintenance, reliability, appropriate cost, and unique payload and altitude capabilities make Russian rotorcraft one of the most rational options on the global market.
Today the Asian-Pacific Region is one of the most rapidly developing markets in the world. Of the few problems hindering more effective economic growth one is the transportation difficulties experienced due to mountainous terrain and the location of some APR countries off shores on islands. One of the solutions is to improve aviation connections in the region and Russian rotorcraft are definitely one of the tools to do this. Russian Helicopters is creating a global support network based on certified MRO centres and joint service enterprises. This will allow the company to support Russian rotorcraft throughout their entire lifecycle, from delivery to scrapping. New MROs are being opened and existing ones are being certified in line with this initiative.
The existing MRO infrastructure coincides with the Russian Helicopters sales geography. For instance, several service and repair centers are undergoing certification in Europe, ultimately leading to the creation of an integrated logistics support system in that region. Russian Helicopters MRO centers exist in virtually all countries of the CIS. In 2010—2011 such centers will be built in South-East Asia, and the Central Pacific Region.
Russian Helicopters is the specialised management company of the Russian rotorcraft industry. Consolidation of industry enterprises was completed in 2009, bringing all Russian companies together into one holding company. The holding company retains the legacy of Kamov and Mil design bureaus, and helicopters are now offered under a unified brand in all segments: light, medium, and heavy.
The medium multi-role Mi-17 (and modifications) is used in passenger and cargo transportation. They are very popular in the world with 12 thousand delivered to date. The helicopter can perform a number of tasks both day and night in any weather and climatic conditions at any spot on the globe. The Mi-17 is the helicopter of choice for oil development companies with offshore sites. It can land on ships and oil platforms. The Mi-171 can stay up in the air for 6 hours and cover up to 746 miles.
Today Russian Helicopters started a modernisation programme of this most popular Russian helicopter. The directors of the Mi-171M programme and relevant Russian Helicopters sales and marketing departments, together with the engineering and innovations centre, are working out new requirements for this helicopter. Its manufacturer, Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, has formed a technical assignment based on these requirements to design and test the modernised version. The main objective is to keep the machine in the same price margin but to increase its operational performance. The introducing of the modernised Mi-171M is expected in 2013.
The Ka-32A11BC can be employed in a wide number of missions. It can carry passengers and cargo, perform construction and engineering, firefighting, search and rescue, emergency, and patrol tasks. The helicopter may be fitted with any necessary additional equipment according to mission. October 2009 saw EU certification of the Ka-32A11BC. The Russian-made helicopter was granted type certificate EASA.IM.R.133 allowing any company to operate it commercially.
The light multi-role Turbomeca Arrius 2G2-equipped Ka-226T can be employed in urban high-rise construction, surface surveillance, and police operations, including drug interdiction. According to Russian Helicopters experts, this can be particularly useful on the Latin American market. The coaxial (dual rotor) configuration gives the Ka-226T an advantage in payload and altitude (up to 23000 ft).
