National Helicopter Building Centre holds open-doors day

May 28, 2013
NHBC employees told visitors about the history of helicopter manufacturing in Russia and employment opportunities at Russian Helicopters enterprises

Moscow / 27 May 2013 - Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec and a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters, held the annual open-doors day at the National Helicopter Building Centre (NHBC) in the Moscow region town of Tomilino.

Organised jointly with the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) and the Administration of the Lyuboretsky District of Moscow Region, the event drew groups from schools in Lyuboretsky District, students of the Moscow Region College of Industry Technology, the V.A. Kazakov Aviation College in Zhukovsky, as well as children of Russian Helicopters employees. More than 500 people attended in total.

NHBC employees told visitors about the history of helicopter manufacturing in Russia and employment opportunities at Russian Helicopters enterprises, and demonstrated some of the latest helicopter models. There was also a tour of the Moscow Mil Helicopter Plant, part of Russian Helicopters. Guests visited a memorial museum dedicated to the legendary designer of the Mi-brand helicopters, Mikhail Mil, as well as a static display, and also got on board a V-12, the heaviest-lift helicopter in history, which made its debut flight in 1968 and a year later set a world record by lifting a cargo of 44,205 kg to a height of 2,255 m - a record that stands to this day. At the Le Bourget salon in 1971 the V-12 was awarded the Igor Sikorsky Prize for outstanding achievement in helicopter construction.

Today this V-12 serves as a museum of heavy-lift helicopters, housing a display about the history of this class of rotorcraft.

Svetlana Krinitskaya, HR director of Russian Helicopters, told visitors: "Here, at one of our country's leading scientific and technical clusters, the National Helicopter Building Centre, we are all proud of our country and of the scientists, designers and engineers who create great helicopters and develop unique technologies. Perhaps what you have seen will inspire some of you in your future career and education, and you will also make your contribution to the development of Russian helicopter building."

Boris Artamonov, Deputy Head of the Helicopter Construction Department at MAI, told students about the work of his department, which is located at the NHBC, and also explained how to enrol for study at the institute with the possibility of subsequent employment at Russian Helicopters enterprises. Today students who study at MAI on related courses are given the opportunity to combine their studies with work at the renowned Kamov and Mil design bureaus, so they can not only acquire practical experience but also receive a salary in addition to their student funding.

The highlight of the open day was a demonstration flight of the Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter. The crew performed several manoeuvres and flew a full circle over the NHBC.

Russian Helicopters enterprises across the country regularly hold open-doors days, and participate in regional celebrations as well as holding their own. The aim is to promote the Russian helicopter industry and increase the prestige of engineering specialisms, as well as to attract young people to the sector to learn about its innovations and achievements in practice. Russian Helicopters will hold the next open-doors day at the NHBC in autumn 2013.

Russian Helicopters, JSC is a subsidiary of UIC Oboronprom, which in turn is a part of State Corporation Rostec. It is one of the global leaders in helicopter production and the only helicopter design and production powerhouse in Russia. Russian Helicopters is headquartered in Moscow. The company comprises five helicopter production facilities, two design bureaus, a spare parts production and repair facility, as well as an aftersale service branch responsible for maintenance and repair in Russia and all over the world. Its helicopters are popular among Russian ministries and state authorities (Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Emergency Control Ministry), operators (Gazpromavia, UTair), major Russian corporations. Over 8000 helicopters of Soviet/Russian make are operated in 110 countries worldwide. Traditionally the demand is highest in the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Russia, and CIS countries. Russian Helicopters was established in 2007. In 2012 its IFRS revenues increased 21% to RUB 125,7billion. Deliveries reached 290 helicopters.