Airbus Helicopters H225 gets Russian type certificate

Photo by Airbus Helicopters

Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee awarded type certificate  number CT-359-225 to Airbus Helicopters’ newest iteration of the Super Puma, the 11-ton H225, meaning the helicopter is now certified for operation in Russia, as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

According to Emerique Lhomme, Airbus Helicopters Vostok’s general director, the type’s operation in Russia may start in the nearest future. In order to promote the H225 in the region, the OEM is planning to establish training centers and maintenance stations. The expanded logistics network will provide for component maintenance and repair and offer repair-by-hour and power-by-hour programs.

Airbus Helicopters officials earlier estimated Russian short-term market volume for the model at 60 pieces. However, that estimate may now be corrected for political restrictions on delivery of Western-built equipment for Russia’s northern field development. One of the largest projects, for which the heavy machine would be eligible, the Stockman field, has been put on hold.

The H225 was introduced to the Russian market at Moscow airshow MAKS-2015, at the same time Exxon Neftegaz announced its tender for new-generation heavy helicopters for Sakhalin-1 project.