Andrzej Jeziorski/MOSCOW
Eurocopter has signed a further contract with the Russian emergencies ministry EMERCOM for one twin-turboshaft BK117, while USrival Bell is examining possible co-operative agreements to break into the Russian market.
The Franco-German company already has a toe-hold in Russia with EMERCOM's current fleet of four BO105 Super Fives, and the company is working on a trickle of other orders which it hopes to turn into a steadier flow.
Eurocopter says that it is in "final negotiations" with private Russian company Sata over an initial order for one single-engined Ecureuil light helicopter, with the prospect of four or five follow-on orders. Once finalised, this will be Eurocopter's first contract with a purely private operator in the region. The first Ecureuil should be delivered in 1998, with successive orders expected at a rate of one a year. These helicopters will be used for transport and for public-service missions such as aerial observation and patrol.
Eurocopter says that it is in further promising negotiations with a potential customer in Yakutia, north-east Siberia, which is interested in the Ecureuil for emergency medical services and transport.
The company stresses that it is deliberately steering away from competing with Russia's own manufacturing base for heavier helicopters. Major efforts are concentrated on operators in the oil, gas and mining fields of Siberia, which require smaller helicopters than those now in their ageing, domestically produced, fleets.
US competitor Bell Helicopter Textron, which has yet to make a sale in the CIS, says that it views the market as a "longer-term" proposition. The existence of a competent domestic-helicopter industry and heavy import duties mean that co-operative agreements may be the best way ahead, says Bell, which has requested information from companies such as Kamov, Mil and Rostvertol. Deals could take the form of licensed production of Bell helicopters or components.
Source: Flight International
