Russia to open helicopter flight training center in India

Russian Helicopters Holding (part of Rostec Corporation) intends to open a flight training center to train flight and mechanical personnel for Russian helicopters in the near future, the holding’s deputy general director Grigory Kozlov told RIA Novosti during an interview.

“Russian Helicopters plans to open a training center in India to train flight and mechanical personnel for the Ka-226T, Mi-8/17 helicopters, as well as others. This center will increase the operating efficiency of the flight and mechanical staff which will reduce the accident incidence rate,” said Kozlov.

He observed that personnel undertaking training will include “both members from the Indian Ministry of Defense as well as the civilian sector".

Russian produced helicopters began to be supplied to India in the 1950s. Initially, Indian pilots received the Mi-4, then helicopters along the Mi-8/17 model. The heavy Mi-26 helicopter, the military Mi-25/35, and the marine Ka-25, Ka-28 and Ka-31 also fly in Indian skies.

Last week Russian Helicopters informed RIA Novosti that as part of an earlier contract, in 2012-14, Russia had supplied 148 military transport Mi-17V-5 helicopters out of 151, the contract is planned to be completed by the end of the year.

In February this year during the Aero India-2015 exhibition in Bangalore, Russian Helicopters head Alexander Mikheev said that in India there were more than 300 Mi and Ka helicopters currently in service. He observed that the holding is prepared to undertake repair work and upgrades for all Soviet and Russian manufactured helicopters. A full program for helicopter servicing and maintenance is also offered to Indian clients.

First published in Russian by RIA Novosti.

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