Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec, and United Aircraft Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop and support the Industry Controlled Other Party (ICOP) quality-assurance process in Russia. The MoU was signed today at Oboronexpo 2014 and the Engineering Technologies 2014international forum.

“The goal of this MoU is to work together to develop and support a system of industry-controlled bodies to accredit and certify the ICOP quality-management process in Russia,” said Russian Helicopters Deputy CEO for Production Andrey Shibitov. “Working alongside UAC, we can combine our efforts to bring quality-management certification processes throughout the aviation sector supply chain in Russia into line with international standards.”

ICOP is an industry-controlled system that accredits and certifies quality management systems (QMS) across the aviation industry. It was developed and is overseen by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) to harmonise certification schemes, and is recognised by leading aerospace and defence companies.

Russian Helicopters joined the European Aerospace Quality Group (EAQG), part of the IAQG, in October 2013. Andrey Shibitov is the company’s official representative to the EAQG.

“The aeroplane industry has been involved with the IAQG since 2003,” said Head of Department of Quality and Standardization Anatoly Kolosov. “At first this was just Sukhoi, while UAC joined in 2012. Russian Helicopters’ accession to this organisation will take our work to a new level and will help us to consolidate the efforts of the whole industry to introduce ICOP in Russia.”

The introduction of ICOP processes in Russia will increase the accountability of the country’s QMS certification bodies and their international recognisability. In the long term, this will lead to companies’ QMS putting an increased focus on product quality and their development and production processes.

Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) was incorporated according to the Decree #140 “On Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation signed by RF President V. Putin on February 20, 2006. UAC was registered on November 20, 2006. The RF Government contributed assets of the largest state-owned Russian aircraft building companies to UAC’s charter capital (according to the Supplement 1 of the Presidential Decree #140 of February 20, 2006). UAC and its member companies’ priorities include design, manufacture, sales, operation maintenance, guarantee and service maintenance, upgrading, repair and utilization of civil and military aircraft.

Russian Helicopters, JSC is a subsidiary of UIC Oboronprom, which in turn is a part of State Corporation Rostec. It is one of the global leaders in helicopter production and the only helicopter design and production powerhouse in Russia. Russian Helicopters is headquartered in Moscow. The company comprises five helicopter production facilities, two design bureaus, a spare parts production and repair facility, as well as an aftersale service branch responsible for maintenance and repair in Russia and all over the world. Its helicopters are popular among Russian ministries and state authorities (Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Emergency Control Ministry), operators (Gazpromavia, UTair), major Russian corporations. Over 8000 helicopters of Soviet/Russian make are operated in 110 countries worldwide. Traditionally the demand is highest in the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Russia, and CIS countries. Russian Helicopters was established in 2007. In 2013 its IFRS revenues increased 10% to RUB 138.3 billion. Deliveries reached 275 helicopters.