Airbus Helicopter appoints another certified service center in Russia

Heliport Istra, a part of Russian Heliports Holding and owner of a network of helicopter operators, training providers and infrastructure developers, has
officially become a certified service center for Airbus Helicopters. The center is eligible to provide organizational and intermediate maintenance for the OEM’s
light helicopter models.

Heliport’s spokesperson emphasized that the company supports an extensive stock of components and has all the necessary equipment to respond very
quickly to its clients’ needs.

According to Emerique Lhomme, general director of Airbus Helicopters Vostok, all maintenance procedures will be conducted in compliance with safety
standards and operational practices of the European rotorcraft maker. Heliport’s technical staff undergoes regular training with the OEM, and Airbus
Helicopters Vostok will continue with its quality control functions, he asserted.

The appropriate agreement was reached last year at the HeliRussia show, after which Airbus Helicopters conducted a technical audit of Heliport Istra’s
facilities. The process is in line with the Airbus Helicopters Vostok’s new marketing strategy announced last year, which calls for creation of a local service
station and dealer network all across Russia. UTair was the first to become the official MRO station for the European rotorcraft. Making Russian companies
responsible for light helicopter marketing should enable the producer to streamline its activities in promoting heavier equipment for the oil and gas sector
and for search and rescue and medevac missions, Lhomme said earlier.

There are around 190 Airbus Helicopters aircraft in operation in Russia today, amounting to over 60% of all Western-built turbine helicopters on the Russian
market.