Rosoboronexport and Russian Helicopters continue fulfilment of India contract with landmark 3,500th Mi-17

 

Moscow, 14th March 2014 - Russian Helicopters  has built the 3,500th export version of the Mi-17 at Kazan Helicopters. The helicopter will be delivered to the Indian Armed Forces as part of a contract signed by Rosoboronexport in 2012.

A contract for 80 military transport Mi-17V-5 helicopters was signed by Rosoboronexport in 2008, and all obligations have been met by the Russian side. In 2012 - 2013 India ordered a further 71 helicopters, which are currently being built by Russian Helicopters to the agreed schedule.

“South and South-East Asia are a core region for promoting Russian manufacturing. Our helicopters are well-known here and demand has remained constant,” Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev said. “Today more than 250 helicopters built at our facilities are operational in India. They are used for flight training, personnel-carrying, search-and-rescue and medevac missions, and providing assistance in emergencies. Thanks to their unique abilities they can operate in even the most adverse weather conditions, and complete their missions with distinction.”

In summer 2013 Russian-built military transport helicopters were involved in evacuating people after torrential rains caused severe flooding in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. In February this year Mi-17V-5 helicopters evacuated about 200 residents of villages in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir in the Himalayas after they became cut off from the rest of the region following cold weather and heavy snowfall.

The Mi-17V-5s being delivered to India are part of the legendary Mi-8/17 series, and are built on the construction solutions of previous generations of the series. All of the helicopters are fitted with a KNEI-8 avionics suite and a new PKV-8 autopilot, which helps reduce pilot workload and provides comprehensive information to enable pilots to complete complex missions. In addition, the helicopters being supplied to India are fitted with modern powerful engines, significantly expanding their capabilities for transporting heavy and bulky loads, particularly in the high mountain terrain characteristic of northern India.

Soviet- and Russian-built helicopters have operated successfully in India for more than half a century. The first Mi-4s were delivered in January 1961; in the decades since, Mi-26s, Mi-24/35s, Mi-8/17s have all been supplied to India.

Russian Helicopters attaches particular importance to providing after-sales maintenance services in regions where it supplies helicopters. The parties are currently collaborating on the development of an offset programme aimed at expanding India’s capabilities to provide maintenance services for Russian helicopters  is also interested in developing the Indian market for commercial helicopters. Today development work is ongoing on the new multirole Mi-171A2, which could potentially expand the fleet of Russian-built helicopters in India. The new helicopter is the latest addition to the Mi-8/17 series and over time will replace its predecessors from this illustrious series. The Mi-171A2 has been designed using the latest materials and aerospace technologies, and will come with an upgraded power plant, new rotor system and modern avionics suite.

Russian Helicopters is currently participating in India Aviation 2014, where it is showcasing its current and forthcoming models to operators from South and South-East Asia. India Aviation 2014 is taking place at the exhibition centre of Begumpet airport in Hyderabad, and the company’s stand can be found in Sector B at stand 42.

Elbit Systems of America Awarded Contract for the U.S. Customs Border Protection Integrated Fixed Towers Project

FORT WORTH, TEXAS, March 8, 2014 – Elbit Systems of America rannounced that it has wona $145million Firm Fixed Price contract by the United States Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to supply its Peregrine^TM border security system for the CBP’s Integrated Fixed Tower project. The initial phase, which covers a portion of the total contract amount, will deploy the Peregrine system in the Nogales, Arizona area. 

The contract contains options for deployments at other locations across the Arizona border and support services.  If all options are exercised, the contract would be performed over a nearly nine-year period. 

“We are privileged to receive this award,which provides Elbit Systems of America an opportunity to bring Elbit’s border security capabilities to the southwest border of the United States,” said Raanan Horowitz, President and CEO, Elbit Systems of America. “Peregrine will meet the demanding mission requirements of the CBP while enhancing its agents’ safety. We look forward to providing Peregrine to the men and women of the US Border Patrol and to assist them in making the border secure.”

For more information, visit   www.elbitsystems-us.com.

Russian Helicopters to display latest developments at India Aviation 2014

Moscow, 11 March 2014 - Russian Helicopters will be attending the India Aviation 2014 international civil aviation exhibition and conference, which will run from 12-16 March 2014 at the Begumpet airport exhibition centre, Hyderabad, India. Russian Helicopters will showcase its current and forthcoming helicopter models to operators from South and South-East Asia.

The new multi-role Ka-62 will take pride of place at Russian Helicopters’ stand at the exhibition (stand 42, sector B). This new model, developed in close international cooperation, incorporates the latest technologies in aircraft building and the finest achievements in Russian helicopter construction. The helicopter is built to a single-rotor design with a multi-blade anti-torque rotor ducted into the tail fin, offering enhanced security for passengers and crew during take-off and landing. The Ka-62 is designed for passenger transport, offshore operations, transporting cargo internally or via an external sling, search-and-rescue operations, and evacuation missions. It can operate in a wide range of climatic conditions, over land or sea, day or night, in any weather.

Russian Helicopters staff will hold a series of meetings over the course of the exhibition at which they will show regional operators another new development, the Mi-171A2 helicopter. The Mi-171A2 is an advanced medium multirole helicopter based on the Mi-8/17 series that is in operation across the world. It incorporates the latest technology and is kitted out with modern equipment that expands its operational range. Operators’ needs and experience from operating Mi-8/17 family helicopters across the world were taken into account in designing and manufacturing this model.

Russian Helicopters will also show their business partners series models of the Mi-8/17 and Ka-32A11BC multirole helicopters, renowned for their reliability and effectiveness. The coaxial medium multirole Ka-32A11BC helicopter is designed for special search and rescue operations, building tall structures, complex fire-fighting missions, transporting cargo internally and on an external sling, logging, medevac missions, as well as for patrols and to support law enforcement operations. It is excellently suited to medevac and fire-fighting missions in large cities.

Russian-built helicopters have long been in great demand in India. Russian Helicopters companies have been supplying the country with helicopters for almost 50 years. India now has a fleet of about 250 Russian-made civil and military helicopters. Rosoboron export currently supplies India’s Air Force with the latest Mi-17V-5 military transport helicopter model made by Russian Helicopters under a 2012 contract.

India needs over 1,290 aircraft worth US$190 billion in next 20 years

Hyderabad, India, 14^th March 2014- First time Indian air travellers pushing growth according to Airbus’ latest market forecast, Indian carriers will require 1,290 new passenger aircraft valued at US$190 billion between now and 2032 to satisfy surging annual demand.

Indian annual passenger traffic growth rates of 8.6 per cent are well above the regional Asia Pacific average growth rate of 6.1 per cent and the world average 4.7 per cent.

Of the requirement for 1,290 new aircraft, some 73 per cent will be for growth and 27 per cent for replacement. The new passenger aircraft include 913 single aisles like the A320 and A320neo Family, 322 twin aisles like the A350 XWB and A330, and 56 very large aircraft such as the A380. By 2032, today’s fleet of 343 aircraft will more than triple to some 1,233 aircraft.

By 2032, Airbus forecasts that 36 per cent of India’s fleet will be wide-bodies, more than doubling today’s level. This is a result of increased capacity of international as well domestic routes with larger aircraft like the A330 and A350s.

In passenger traffic term, domestic India is the fastest growing flow increasing at almost 10 per cent per year to 2032. In 2032, India domestic traffic will be the world’s third largest domestic market. In addition, five of the world’s top 20 fastest growing flows, connect India. Today one in 20 Indians travel by air and in 2032 this will increase five fold to a quarter of the population taking at least one flight. Along with China, more people will experience the benefits of aviation for the first time in India than anywhere else.

“By 2032, the number Indian cities with more than a million passengers every month will have grown to 13 from today’s two. This exponential growth will continue to drive the need for larger aircraft like the A380 to operate in the country.” said Dr. Kiran Rao, Airbus EVP Strategy and Marketing. “As the people of India fly more and the number of first time flyers increases, demand for the latest generations of aircraft will also increase making India on of the largest and most dynamic markets in the world.”

GKN Aerospace focuses on engine and transparencies aftermarket business at MRO Americas, 2014

Hyderabad, 13^th March,2014 - GKN Aerospace transparencies and aero-engine aftermarket operations will form the centre of the company’s display on booth1401 at MRO Americas, 8th - 10th April, 2014, in Phoenix, Az.

Engine services- GKN Aerospace has provided maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for airlines and operators around the world for 45 years. The company supports engines such as the turboprop P&W Canada PW100 and turbofan Honeywell TFE731 alongside its industrial gas turbine (IGT) programmes. It holds full OEM licenses, has national airworthiness approvals and offers tailored engine maintenance solutions created in close partnership with each customer. These minimise downtime and maximize efficiency and also has service teams on standby to provide on-site support and around-the-clock expert technical services as well as lease engines.

Fan blade repair- GKN Aerospace holds a wide range of approvals for repair of engine fan blades, compressor blades, fan disks and fan cases. The company supports over 180 airlines and jet engine overhaul shops internationally and has recently gained additional overhaul and repair approvals from General Electric and CFMI for: 

- The CF6-80E 1st stage fan blade, used on the Airbus A330 aircraft

- The CFM 56-5B outlet guide vane, used on the A320 aircraft

In addition, CFMI has given approval for GKN Aerospace to carry out repair 16 on CFM56-7 blades which are typically used on the Boeing B737-600/700/800/900/-900ER aircraft. This is a complex repair which restores the chord of the fan blade and has virtually eliminated chord wear as a cause of fan blade replacement, reducing operator maintenance costs significantly.

Transparency repair and replacement - GKN Aerospace is well established as a first-tier manufacturer of original-equipment and aftermarket aircraft canopies, cockpit windows, windshields, passenger cabin windows and wingtip lenses. Across the board these products exceed industry performance benchmarks and are the reliable, low-risk products of choice for operators worldwide. 

Proven cockpit windshields provide military and commercial operators with unmatched protection whilst CrystalVue II™ cabin windows are the standard fit for Embraer, Boeing and Airbus long range airframes. This is a market leading business that is responsible for developing the canopy for the F-35 Lightning II (JSF) as well as the large, state of the art passenger cabin windows fitted to the Boeing 787.

GKN Aerospace provides a comprehensive AOG transparencies replacement service. Among the range of replacement options the company supplies a complete suite of replacement transparencies for the A320 with the lightest weight, highest performance and lowest maintenance on the market today. The company has also expanded the services offered by its extensive FAA 145 transparencies repair station. This facility now includes window framing and overhaul operations among its list of services and offers world-class lead times for repair and exchange programmes with large commercial airlines.

Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, March 7, 2014 – This month, Embraer Commercial Aviation celebrates another historic milestone in its E-Jets program – the ten year anniversary of the first aircraft deliveries.  On March 8, 2004, LOT Polish Airlines and US Airways each received an E170.  US Airways was the launch customer of the E-Jet in the USA.  LOT was the first airline to operate a commercial E-Jet flight when the aircraft flew between Warsaw and Vienna on March 17, 2004.

“E-Jets revolutionized the market for medium-sized jets by incorporating a more spacious cabin for greater passenger comfort, and by making it versatile for operators to optimally manage their fleets,” said Paulo Cesar Silva, President & CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation. “Over these ten years, we have continuously worked to improve the E-Jet family by perfecting its performance and reducing operating costs.  This ensures that our customers have the best product in the up to 130-seat jet category and some of the best operational support services in the industry.”

Embraer is the only manufacturer to have developed a family of four modern airplanes specifically for the 70 to 130-seat capacity segment.  Since the formal launch of the program in 1999, Embraer E-Jets have redefined the traditional concept of regional aircraft by operating in other business applications.  Today, E-Jets are flying with mainline carriers, low-cost and regional airlines, and with scheduled tour companies.

In September 2013, Embraer delivered its 1,000th E-Jet.  The E175 was delivered to Republic Airlines, a subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings Inc. of the USA.  That same year, the worldwide E-Jets fleet surpassed 10 million flight hours and carried some 540 million passengers.

Besides their proven reliability (the average mission completion rate is 99.9%), the global E-Jets fleet has logged more than seven million flight cycles.  E-Jets operators have access to a strategically located worldwide customer support and services network of 37 service centers (MROs), 12 of which are authorized and 25 which are independent.

Embraer E-Jets command a 50% share of orders, a 62% share of deliveries in the 70 to 130-seat jet segment, and are in the fleets of 65 airline companies from 45 countries.  In June 2013, Embraer launched E-Jets E2, the second generation of the E-Jets family.  The first E2 is scheduled for customer delivery in 2018.

 HYDERABAD, India 12th March, 2014 – Beechcraft Corporation, a world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission, light attack and trainer aircraft, has identified India as a key growth market over the coming decade on the back of new market figures and economic growth predictions from leading business executives around the world.

Beechcraft Corporation currently has a 42 percent market share of India’s business aviation fleet, which stands at 253 registered aircraft. This market leadership is even more pronounced when looking at India’s business turboprop segment, where 65 of the 81% or 80% registered in the country are Beechcraft models.

New analysis conducted by Beechcraft ahead of its attendance at India Aviation 2014, which is taking place in Hyderabad this week, also reveals that the company built this strong market share by holding a leading share of new aircraft deliveries over the past decade. Indeed, between 2004 and 2013 Beechcraft delivered 44 business aircraft to India – 39 percent of the total number of deliveries by all manufacturers over this period. Beechcraft’s strength in the business turboprop market over the past ten years was also underlined by its delivery of 20 of the 24 new business turboprops to India – an 83 % share.

This announcement comes a month after Beechcraft announced the opening of a new office in New Delhi dedicated to servicing existing and potential customers in India and the appointment of the company’s first country director.

“Beechcraft has been present in India for more than half a century, and it is as exciting a market for us today as it was then,” said John Williams, Beechcraft country director, India. “We view India as a very important country and we are proud to have developed a strong and loyal customer base that relies on Beechcraft’s track record for rugged, flexible and reliable aircraft to conduct their business air travel.”

New research² for Beechcraft amongst global professional investors and senior business executives found that India’s economy is expected to grow at a faster rate than its fellow BRIC countries. Indeed, 63 percent of respondents believed that India would outstrip Brazil, Russia and China, compared to just 8 percent who felt that its growth would be lower than the BRIC average.

“India’s economy continues to hold great promise – both in terms of local and international commerce,” continued Williams. “This in turn is expected to fuel demand for business aviation within the country as fast-growing local businesses look to unlock potential trade avenues both within India but also in neighbouring countries. As the most-widely used business aircraft in India, we believe that Beechcraft offers the ideal platform for businesses looking to expand their operations on an international level.”

The company this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of the King Air series as one of the best-selling business aircraft family in the world. Since 1964, Beechcraft has delivered nearly 7,200 King Airs with the worldwide fleet recently surpassing 60 million flight hours. In 2013, worldwide King Air-series deliveries increased by 52 percent from the previous year.

Beechcraft is displaying a King Air 350ER, King Air 250 and a King Air C90GTx at chalet 4 at India Aviation event this week in Hyderabad.