By Zhanna Kiktenko

HeliRussia 2011 Director

Traditionally, the annual exhibition HeliRussia will mark main events of the last year and reckon up its most significant results for helicopter industry of Russia.Obviously, one of the crucial moments of the industry development is introduction of notification procedure of flights in altitudes up to low secure flight level (as of November 1, 2010) – class G airspace that has at once improved indicators of helicopter equipment use. So, there was made twice the amount of flights only in the Central Federal District during the first three months of this year.Today HeliExpress, a helicopter taxi, is actively operating in the Central District; it is a company that is proud of its status of the Official Air Carrier of the International Helicopter Industry Exhibition. Now the helicopter taxi will put down passengers just at the entrance of the exhibition pavilion in the framework of this event, and anyone, as always, will be able to use it.And, by the way, this year special amenities to be arranged for all owners of helicopters who will arrive to HeliRussia 2011 on their own aircrafts: they will have chance to “park” their rotary-wing machines at a parking lot near the exhibition. A part of a car parking lot will become a helicopter pad.

Continuing Reports of the Last Year:

On June 22, 2010 a memorable capsule was put in the base of foundation of AW 139 helicopter construction plant in Tomilino, Moscow Region. A joint venture established on a parity basis by Russian Helicopters OJSC and AgustaWestland will produce at least 20 helicopters a year with stepwise increasing of production output from 5 in 2011 up to 20 in 2015. This very helicopter model is to be presented at HeliRussia 2011 on the stand of AgustaWestland. Last year figures of helicopter supplies of this company slightly decreased – just 3 aircrafts arrived in Russia, though there were 5 of them a year before. In the short term a number of aircrafts of this manufacturer will be step by step improved in Russia on account of AW 139 production.The Russian helicopters market is actively developing. The increase in production at enterprises of Russian Helicopters’ Holding amounted to about 17% in 2010, and this corresponds to 214 helicopters supply considerable amount of which was left in Russia. In 2009 a long-awaited crucial moment came at last, and today we may speak about a tendency when Russian helicopter manufacturers are working for needs of the country.

In September, 2010 a contract for supply of 40 Mi-8AMT (Mi-171) helicopters for “UTair”, the largest contract for recent years, was successfully performed. Other supplies were also performed during the year, and new contracts were also entered into with Russian government and commercial organizations for supplies of helicopters of Мi-8 (Мi-17, Мi-171) and Ка-32 families.In 2010 a great attention was paid to Mi-38 program (the first circuit flying of the second prototype model took place, and the third prototype that is being assembled will be equipped with
new Russian ТB7-117B engines); certification and launching of the helicopter are scheduled for 2013 – 2014.At HeliRussia 2011 the holding will present Ка-32А11BC, a helicopter equipped with vertical fire fighting system, which will be conveyed to representatives of the customer – EMERCOM – during the exhibition. Visitors will also see a long-awaited Mi-38. The both helicopters will be located before the entrance of the exhibition pavilion.One more important event of 2010 is a supply of Ка-52 “Alligator”, the first commercial helicopters, to the Centre for Combat Training and Flight Personnel Training of Army Air Force in Torzhok. This very helicopter has been adorning the entrance of the exhibition pavilion of the HeliRussia International Helicopter Industry Exhibition for two years – the exhibition brings luck!

In 2010 the first Robinson helicopters with turbo-engine – R66 – appeared in Russia. Last year Robinson Helicopter supplied to customers 20 helicopters of this model. Two such aircrafts have already appeared in our country. One of them will be presented at HeliRussia 2011. Robinson’s helicopter fleet is the largest fleet in Russia, and it is being enlarged by rapid leaps. So, in 2009 it was replenished with 31 helicopters, and as many as 36 in 2010.

Except that, last year a large contract (September 28) between Eurocopter and UTair Aviation OJSC for supply of 20 Ecureuil light helicopters (16 single-engine AS350В3 and 4 double-engine AS355NP) was entered into; the first helicopters will be conveyed to the customer as soon as this summer. Eurocopter is an indubitable sales leader in Russia among foreign manufacturers of light two-engine helicopters, and not only individuals and airline companies but also government institutions become their customers. In 2010 15 helicopters were supplied (there were 7 of them in 2009). There are about nine Eurocopter helicopters now in Russia. The company is holding a conference at HeliRussia 2011 for operators and owners of these helicopters. A demonstration of ЕС155, a helicopter of the Dauphin family, is planned on the stand of the company (there is only one helicopter of this model now in Russia).

Last year Bell Helicopter eased up a little – 3 helicopters were supplied to the Russian market in 2010, whereas there were supplied 5 aircrafts in 2009. MD Helicopter is still on the same low level – just one aircraft more.Summarizing: survey of the largest foreign helicopter suppliers showed that Russian civil helicopter fleet in 2010 was replenished by 58 foreign aircrafts (49 helicopters in 2009). Increase of foreign helicopters number in Russian fleet amounts to 18% in comparison with 2009.On May 19 we will have an opportunity to know about the condition and prospects of the Russian and world helicopter market, on the first day of exhibition, on the third International Conference “Helicopter Market: Reality and Perspectives” organized by Helicopter Industry Association and AviaPort.

Russian market capacity was noticed by leading world-wide helicopter community members which hadn’t yet come into the Russian market. For the first time in many years Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, an American company, decided to present its developments in Russia. One will be able to familiarize with offers of the company for the Russian market on the stand of the company at HeliRussia 2011.

HeliRussia, a Russian exhibition area for helicopter industry companies has already proved itself as a jumping board for entering into world and European markets. This year Moscow will host a European premiere of the first Swiss helicopter. Marenco Swisshelicopter Ltd. will present its full-size test model of SKYe SH09, a light helicopter, with takeoff mass of 2.5 tons. Having cruising speed of 270 km/h it will be able to cover over 800 km with standard fuel tanks. A very low noise level may become its most impressive characteristic.

Russian helicopter engineers will also please visitors of the exhibition with projects of light and ultralight helicopters. Berkut is going to present a coaxial ultralight helicopter (takeoff weight: 730 kg) with an original fuselage design.

HeliRussia 2011 will pay much attention to helicopter simulators. They will be presented by not only Transas, a permanent participant of HeliRussia, but also by Aircraft Complex Modernization LLC exhibit of which will also include a model of АК 1-3, a light helicopter produced by Ukrainian company “CB Aerocopter”. For the first time all helicopter simulators developers for Russian helicopters and helicopter developers will be gathered at the round-table meeting called “Simulator Technologies – Flight Safety Improvement Reserve” organized by Helicopter Industry Association, TsAGI Centre of Aviation Equipment Expertise and Certification, CSTS Dinamika ZAO and Transas ZAO; foreign aircraft developers are also invited.

Motor Sich LLC, French Turbomeca and Russian United Engine Construction Corporation represented by UMPO OJSC, Klimov OJSC, and PAO INKAR OJSC, will present helicopter engines.

For the second year HeliRussia will display gyroplanes; Russian models “Gyros – 1” (Farmer) and “Gyros – 2” (Jaeger) shall be particularly noted among them. There are no analogous projects abroad.

Exhibition program events always reflect burning problems of the industry. One of topical issues is creation of an adequate aviation fire fighting system, and in this regard at international conference “Fire Fighting in Aviation” will gather for discussion helicopter and fire fighting equipment engineers, airline companies and other organizations performing fire protection works, and customers ordering such works. Destructive consequences of last summer wildfires should not occur again and the corresponding agencies shall have a helicopter fleet with fire fighting equipment.

A necessity in availability of modern helicopter pads and heliports imposes expedience of round table meeting “Construction and Equipment of Helicopter Pads on the Basis of Modern Technologies”. A necessity in adaptation of Russian flight standards to foreign ones will be discussed at seminar “Development Prospects and Experience of Russian and Foreign Flight Standards Application”.

The quality of air technical products supplies is always topical for airline companies, repair plants, and intermediary organizations, so Aviasupplier Non-Commercial Partnership will hold round table meeting “Supply Quality Assurance in Organizations Supplying Air Technical Products” at HeliRussia 2011.

Switch to innovation-based development of all enterprises of the industry made Industry and Power Expert
Clubs organize round table meeting “R&D Management in Corporations, Small- and Medium-Size Investment Companies”. The modern principles and world-wide experience in management of innovation product developments in high-technology industries, and companies’ interaction with innovative infrastructure, will be discussed in the framework of the event.

One more round table meeting is related to innovations in helicopter industry – “Issues of Alternative Propane/Butane Fuels Use (Condensed Aviation Fuel) in Helicopters and Other Aircrafts” that is traditionally, for the third time, held by Federal State Unitary Enterprise “TsAGI”, Federal State Unitary Enterprise “GosNII GA”, and Interaviagaz OJSC. The objective of this event is to substantiate technical capability, economic feasibility and safety of pollution-free and cheap gas fuel use in aviation.

The exhibition also includes solemn events. The main event of the year for helicopter community members is the ceremony of the Annual Helicopter Industry Association Awards which this time will be held at Helicopter Industry Association Gala-Evening.

The exhibition will also summarize results of the first International Journalism Awards for the best helicopter work, established by Helicopter Industry Association with cooperation of national journalists association “Mediakratia”, Aviation Press Club with the support of the Russian Helicopters Holding.

Solemn awarding ceremonies of “ХХI Century Helicopters” held by Russian Helicopters OJSC and United Industrial Corporation “Oboronprom” and photo-competition “Beauty of Rotary-Wing Machines” organized by Helicopter Industry Association will take place.

The exhibition promises to be saturated and diverse!