Civil helicopter sector

/Civil helicopter sector

Civil helicopter sector

Russian Helicopters Holding is federating most of the Russian helicopter manufacturers, represents today more than 10% of  the worldwide helicopter sales. In 2016, there were over 8,000 Russian helicopters operating in over 100 countries. As of 2016, Russian Helicopters enterprises produced around 22% of the global military helicopter fleet, 32% of the global combat helicopter fleet, and 42% of the medium-heavy transport helicopter fleet. Russian Helicopters enterprises have produced a record of 49% of the global ultra-heavy helicopter fleet (more than 20 tons), as well as 65% of the global medium helicopter fleet from 7 to 20 tons. By 2024, Russia plans to have about 20% of the global helicopter market.
Russian helicopters are exported mainly to Latin America, Europe, Central and South Africa, and South-East Asia. Russian Helicopters Holding occupies a leading position in the fast-growing markets of India and China and is rapidly expanding its presence in South and Central America, the Middle East and Africa. The Company established services centres in Egypt and Iran, and is also working on the development of centres in other countries, including China, Peru, Brazil, South Korea and Kazakhstan.
Russian coastline is about 38.5 thousand kilometres long, and while helicopters are deployed more often, the need of special equipment for offshore flights is growing. Gradual development of the offshore oil and gas fields in Russia resulted in a surge of demand for transport helicopters, which in turn convinced core operators to add foreign helicopters to their current Russian made fleet (mainly the Kа-26, Mi-2, Mi-8, Mi-8АМТ and Mi-171A). While UTair Aviation and PANH are the largest helicopters operators for the Russian oil and gas industry, a large number of smaller operators play a very important role in oil and gas missions in Russia. Gazprom Avia, ordered in 2010 ЕС135 helicopters from Airbus Helicopter with Russian made avionics and Rosneft ordered AW189 from Augusta Westland.
On the other side, the dominating demand for light helicopters is attributed to the Russian helicopters fleet structure, which was formed in the previous century and overbalanced towards medium Mi-8 family helicopters. Now, most helicopters operations can be managed by light helicopters. Leonardo Helicopters AW119 and Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, which entered the Russian market in 2018, are perfectly suited.
Like all industries in Russia, Helicopter industry policy is driven by the import substitution policy (импортозамещающие программы) intimated in 2014 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade . This policy consists of minimising the use of foreign components.However, European companies are all to enter Russian Market :

  • European equipment may be more competitive, offering higher reliability, lifetime and quality standards and use more advanced technologies;
  • Orders for Russian helicopters by some foreign customers may also include requests for specific Western made on-board equipment as a contract requirement obliging Russian manufacturers to procure abroad;
  • Wrt Western helicopters manufacturers already present in the Russian market to supply parts;
  • In the context of modern economic conditions, the helicopters operators strive to get the most out of their helicopters fleets. Therefore, the demand for additional equipment capable of expanding the helicopters fleets potential is growing worldwide. Russia has been no exception. Helicopters are deployed more often and the need of special equipment for offshore flights is growing.

Leading sub-sectors are Cabin furniture and specific equipment, MRO and infrastructures needs.

By | 2020-04-26T15:44:55+02:00 June 14th, 2018|Comments Off on Civil helicopter sector