20-May-2011 Source: Russian Helicopters
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 Ðtlas Taxi Aereo (a subsidiary of Qualy Group Brasil) regarding the establishing of a Service center in Brazil to maintain medium multi-purpose helicopters Mi-171Ð1. 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-32Ð11ВС.
A major highlight of Russian Helicopters policy in Latin America was the start of a dialogue with consulting company Logitec ConsultorÃa em LogÃstica Ltda on cooperation in promoting Russian holding’s products to the Brazilian market.
