In September Eurocopter Vostok delivered to Gazpromavia Aviation, a subsidiary of Russia’s gas monopoly Gazprom, the first four of the eight EC135 light twin helicopters ordered in late 2009. These are the first rotorcraft by the European manufacturer to be fitted with Russian avionics.
"Introduction of EC135 into our fleet is a milestone event for the company, and a Russian content helped to perfectly customize this reliable and efficient helicopter to our operational needs," Gazpromavia General Director Andrey Ovcharenko told during the handover ceremony at Eurocopter’s production facility in Donauwoerth, Germany.
The Russian systems were supplied by St. Petersburg-based specialist Transas Aviation. They are the TTA-12N ground proximity warning system (GPWS), TTS GPS/Glonass receiver and TDS-12 multifunction display. The former two are in line with the Russian regulations, which mandate that all aircraft operated inside the country be fitted with a Glonass receiver and a GPWS. The display, Transas maintains, is more lightweight and compact than foreign equivalent. It is the first time ever that a helicopter of this class has been fitted with such a large-diagonal display. The three devices work in concert, with the GPWS using navigation data from the Glonass receiver and the MFD representing data fed from both. The Russian avionics are certified by both European and Russian aviation authorities for use on the ЕС135; so now helicopters equipped in this manner are available to any customers in Russia and the CIS.
A source in Eurocopter Vostok told Russia & CIS Observer that the Gazpromavia helicopters are configured to transport six passengers. The operator plans to use them in Perm and Ukhta for personnel transportation and gas pipeline inspections. The EC135s will replace Gazpromavia’s Mil Mi-2 light helicopters, and will also perform some of the missions previously assigned to the heavy Mi-8s.
The Gazpromavia contract is the single largest Russian order for the European manufacturer. There are currently over 70 Eurocopter helicopters of different types operated in this country, and over 50 more across the CIS.
