Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (U-UAP) is currently launching a test operation programme in Indonesia. The programme, intended for Mi-8/171 helicopter family, is aimed at the assessing of all the advantages of helicopters real operation in conjunction with all available corporate support tools and implemented aftersales services of Russian Helicopters holding company. This pilot programme starts in Indonesia, where two Mi-8AMT helicopters are already involved in firefighting operations.
Those helicopters were sent to the Republic of Indonesia with crew and technical staff of U-UAP and almost immediately upon arrival were relocated to the island of Kalimantan to participate in forest fire extinguishing. In the future, the rotorcraft will be on operational duty on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan.
´A contract with PT. National Utility Helicopters, a utility helicopter operator in Indonesia with 50 years of experience in providing services for Indonesian Government as well as private companies, has become the pilot project of this programme. The main task under the contract is to carry out firefighting operations in the region, and also provide consulting services for Indonesian operators regarding the formation of their own fleet for yearly firefighting operations,´ said Leonid Belykh, Managing Director of U-UAP.
In the process of temporary use of helicopters, the customer gets the opportunity to consult the company specialists in 24/7 mode and also has access to a replacement and additional equipment funds.
It´s noteworthy that one of the first Mi-171A2 helicopters manufactured by the U-UAP is, since 2018, also participating in a test operation programme at UTair-VU airline. There, the rotorcraft successfully fulfils the tasks facing the operator and demonstrates high flight performances. The experience of the joint work of the manufacturer and the customer was reflected in the U-UAP helicopter test operation programme for Indonesia.
Mi-8/171 helicopters for a long time have been involved in the disaster relief operations not only in Russia, but also abroad. They have proved themselves as one of the most effective tools in the firefighting, medicine delivery and casualty evacuation operations, as well as in passenger and cargo transportation to hard-to-reach areas.
JSC Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant is one of the manufacturing enterprises of Russian Helicopters holding company. Modern production and technological capacity of the plant allows to organize quickly production of new types of aircraft and to combine creation of prototypes with aircraft serial production.
During its 80 years of existence, the plant have manufactured more than 8000 aircraft. Today, the U-UAP company is specialized in production of the Mi-8AMT (Mi-171E), Mi-171 and Mi-8AMTSh (Mi-171Sh) helicopters.
Photos courtesy of JSC “Russian Helicopters” / Rostec State Corporation. “Russian Helicopters” press materials were used.
