Russian rotorcraft-building holding Russian Helicopters that makes part of United Industrial Corporation OBORONPROM and leasing company VEB-leasing concluded an agreement on strategic partnership at the aviation market of Latin America, where the interest to Russian-made commercial helicopters is forecasted to grow. The signed document envisages the provision of leasing services to the Latin American companies willing to procure and operate new civil rotorcraft of Russian origin.

“We are always looking for the new ways of cooperation with the companies that operate civil helicopters at the ever so perspective Latin American market, said Dmitry Petrov, Russian Helicopters CEO. We are happy to welcome VEB-leasing as new partners and furnish our Latin American customers with the package proposal that involves not only helicopters’ delivery, training and after-sales support, but also highly attractive financial terms to lease out civil helicopters”.

According to experts today Russian-made rotorcraft account for about 20% of the military helicopter market of Latin American countries and only 2% of civil segment. At the same time the necessity of leasing services as a financial tool to acquire Russian-made helicopters for commercial operations is highly noticeable. In particular, operators from Peru, Mexico, Argentina, and Bolivia have already demonstrated their interest in leasing schemes to buy Russian helicopters and forwarded their requests.

According to Vyacheslav Soloviev, VEB-leasing CEO, cooperation between Russian Helicopters and VEB-leasing aims at rendering services to financially stable companies from Latin America, who are ready to buy Russian helicopters on terms of long lease with the buy-out option. “This agreement presents to the Latin American aviation market players some additional opportunities in financing their rotorcraft-purchases, as well as allows efficient funds management and optimizing of cash flows”, highlighted Mr.Soloviev.

In case of successful implementation of the helicopter-leasing program in South and Latin America Russian Helicopters, JSC and VEB-leasing are ready to consider the possibility of employing the same tool in other regions, including traditional markets for Russian-made rotorcraft like CIS, Asia and Africa.

Today Russian helicopters are operated in 100 countries of the world, including Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, Chile and other Latin American countries. These rotorcraft are employed for corporate travel, passenger transportation, SAR, special missions, construction, patrolling and fire-fighting.

Marketing policy of Russian Helicopters holding is aimed at expanding Russian-origin rotorcraft fleet at the Latin American market. Thus, in April 2011 Russian Helicopters and Brazilian investment group Qualy Group Brasil signed a Cooperation agreement to promote Mi-34С1 helicopter in Brazil on basis of dealership. This document provides for the possible delivery of 150 new light Russian Mi-34С1 helicopters up to 2023.

Another agreement was signed at the same time with the Brazilian commercial helicopter operator Аtlas Taxi Aereo (a subsidiary of Qualy Group Brasil) regarding the establishing of a Service center in Brazil to maintain medium multi-purpose helicopters Mi-171А1. Besides that, an agreement was executed with another operator, Helipark Taxi Aereo, with respect to establishing a Service center in Brazil to maintain medium multi-purpose helicopters Ка-32А11ВС.

A major highlight of Russian Helicopters policy in Latin America was the start of a dialogue with consulting company Logitec Consultoría em Logística Ltda on cooperation in promoting Russian holding’s products to the Brazilian market.

VEB-leasing, JSC - Its major shareholder is State corporation “Bank of development and foreign economic activity (Vnesheconombank)». The company’s priority spheres of interest: leasing of rolling stock, leasing of aviation technicsand aggregates, leasing of sea and river vessels, leasing of cars and special machine, as well as of high-tech equipment.

Russian Helicopters, JSC is the subsidiary of UIC Oboronprom, a part of Russian Technologies State Corporation. It controls the following helicopter industry enterprises: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Kamov, Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, Kazan Helicopters, Rostvertol, Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company named after N.I. Sazykin, Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, Stupino Machine Production Plant, Reductor-PM, Novosibirsk Aircraft Repairing Plant and Helicopter Service Company.

Partners of Russian Helicopters: AirTaxi Service (interior completions and maintenance); Tranzas (software, navigation systems, aviation simulators); CSTS Dinamika (technical training means for aviation flight and engineering personnel); BETA AIR (testing equipment and aviation electronics); Ural Works of Civil Aviation (repair of helicopter engines and components and reductors).

UIC Oboronprom, JSC is a multi-profile industrial and investment group established in 2002. A part of Russian Technologies State Corporation. Its main tasks include: helicopter engineering (Russian Helicopters, JSC) and engine-building (United Engine Industry Corporation managing company).