Russian Helicopters involved in drafting of Russia-China aviation agreement

Russian Kamov Ka-32A11BC Helicopter (Photo by aviationnews.eu)

Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, took part in a signing ceremony of intergovernmental agreements between Russian and Chinese aviation authorities. The agreements set out the core principles guiding the countries’ joint work across design certification, production, airworthiness certification for export and technical cooperation.

“China is one of the oldest and largest partners for Russia’s helicopter industry,” said Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev. “These agreements will have a beneficial effect on our future work together by simplifying cooperation in a number of key areas, including exports of new and advanced Russian helicopters to the Chinese market.”

Setting out an agreed set of principles for working together is a sign of deepening cooperation between Russia and China, and is expected to significantly reduce the organisational and financial burden on the aviation industries of both countries for exports and imports of commercial aircraft, as well as facilitating deeper cooperation on design work and production and mutual use of aviation products, which serves the interests of both countries.

Russian Helicopters works with China as part of Rostec’s targeted efforts to develop partnership and strategic cooperation with Chinese companies in high-tech industries and aircraft manufacturing. As part of a MoU on construction of a heavy commercial helicopter, for example, Rostec and Russian Helicopters are continuing discussions and consultations with Chinese company Aviacopter.

Russian Helicopters delivers a wide range of models to the Chinese market, including commercial and military Mi-8/17 series helicopters, the Mi-26T and specialised coaxial Ka-32A11BCs. Deliveries of Russian helicopters to China began with the Mi-1, the first model to enter serial production, while the Mi-4 was assembled in China under licence.

The intergovernmental agreements were signed at the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) on October 13 as part of an official visit to Russia by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The agreement was signed by the IAC, the Russian Transport Ministry and the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) was established by an intergovernmental agreement signed on 30 December 1991 regulating airspace usage and is the executive body for that agreement. Current members of the IAC are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

Russian Helicopters, JSC is 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 2013 its IFRS revenues increased 10% to RUB 138.3 billion. Deliveries reached 275 helicopters.

State Corporation Rostec is a Russian corporation founded in 2007 for the purpose of promoting the development, production and export of hi-tech civilian and military industry products. It comprises about 700 organizations, nine of which have now been formed as holding companies of the military-industrial complex and five of them are involved in civil industries. Rostec’s organizations are located in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and supply their products to the markets of more than 70 countries. The revenue of Rostec in 2013 amounted to RUB 1, 04 trillion, with net profit of RUB 40 billion. The tax deductions into the treasuries at all levels exceeded RUB 138 billion.

Source: www.russianhelicopters.aero – 14.10.2014 / Moscow