Russian Helicopters Holding Company and South Africa’s Denel Aviation have established an authorized maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) service center for Russian-made civil helicopters. Unveiling the MRO Service Center was timed to coincide with the BRICS summit in South Africa that brings together heads of state of the largest emerging economies in the world - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Senior management of Russian Helicopters Holding Company and Denel Aviation top executives attended the opening ceremony, along with heads of operator companies and prospective new buyers of Russian rotary-wing aircraft.
Russian Helicopters supplied all the equipment required for setting up the new maintenance and service center. In addition, the Russian holding company prepared full documentation and organized training for Denel Aviation employees. South African repair and maintenance technicians received training at the Novosibirsk Aircraft Repair Plant.
Opening the maintenance and service facility in Johannesburg became yet another step towards creating a truly global system of maintenance and repair service for Russian helicopters the holding company is putting together, with an emphasis on key markets where Russian helicopters and associated equipment enjoy healthy demand. These markets lie in Asia, Africa, Latin America. A network of maintenance centers and aircraft repair facilities is already up and running in South America, Asia, the European Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Africa is also a traditional market for the holding company. African operators are running a combined fleet of approximately 600 Russian-made helicopters, mostly Mil Mi-8/17 and Ka-32 helicopters. A fleet of this size needs a modern region-wide African system for maintenance and service support, according to Dmitry Petrov, General Director of Russian Helicopters.
“The plan is to use the joint venture with Denel Aviation as the foundation for a large regional service center capable of providing post-sale service and maintenance for all Russian-made helicopter models in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as overhaul service for civil and military helicopters, equipment and assemblies manufactured in Russia,” Dmitry Petrov said.
Maintenance service simply has to be available locally to the customers, Deputy General Director of Rostec Government Corporation Dmitry Shugaev emphasized, as this helps the partners in the region keep their business efficient.
Quality service at our maintenance and service centers worldwide makes Russian equipment even more appealing to the customers
Besides, establishing a global post-sale service system should address the issue of counterfeit parts and assemblies. The holding company and its subsidiaries carefully track all parts and assemblies sent to market.
The decision to establish the service center was made under the partnership agreement Denel Aviation and Oboronprom signed in September 2012 at the 7th Africa Aerospace and Defence Show at Air Force Base Waterkloof. Denel Aviation is planning to provide maintenance and service for Russian civil helicopters manufactured by the Russian Helicopters Holding Company under this partnership agreement.
Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of OboronProm (itself a Rostec company) is a global leader in helicopter manufacturing, and the only Russian helicopter designer and manufacturer. The holding company was established in 2007. The company is headquartered in Moscow and comprises five helicopter manufacturing plants, two design bureaus, as well as manufacturers of components and accessories, and a service company providing aftermarket support in Russia and overseas. Key buyers for the holding company’s products include the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian Interior (Police) and Emergency and Disaster Response Ministries, Gazprom Avia and UTair airlines, as well as major Russian and international companies. Russian Helicopters generated RUB 103.9 billion in 2011 revenues (up 27.8% year-on-year), delivering 262 helicopters to customers.
Denel Aviation is a company specialized in repairs, maintenance, overhaul and upgrades for, as well as logistics support for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft throughout the African Continent. Devel Aviation is a division of Denel (Pty) Ltd, a major manufacturer of defence equipment in South Africa and a key supplier to the South African National Defence Force. Denel is 100%-owned by the South African government.
