Eurocopter Flight Training in Russia

Eurocopter and UTair, the largest Russian helicopter operator, have signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly develop a flight training center in Tyumen, West Siberia, Russia. The new flight training center will commence operations at the beginning of 2010 and will allow flight crews and technicians to be trained locally in Russia to operate Eurocopter helicopters. In 2008, the two companies decided to create an integrated technical maintenance center in Tyumen to support the Eurocopter fleet in Russia. This Eurocopter certified maintenance center will open its doors towards the end of 2009. UTair has been operating Eurocopter helicopters since 2006. They are used for a wide variety of operations ranging from VIP services, monitoring of oil and gas pipelines, geologic exploration, photo and video footage, cargo fling operations to medical missions. Starting from 2012, Eurocopter's new product, the EC175 will also join UTair's fleet of helicopters. In 2008, UTair became a launching partner for the EC175 with an order for 15 helicopters, and an option for 15 more.