Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant to make about 20 helicopters in 2014

ORSHA, 1 October (BelTA) – The Belarusian company OAO Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant intends to make about 20 helicopters of the Mi-8 MSB model in 2014, the company’s Director Vladimir Troitsky told BelTA.

The company presented the first batch-produced Mi-8 MSB helicopter in August. It is a modern product designed by the Ukrainian company Motor Sich, which is the key strategic partner of the Orsha-based company. “They have made a fifth-generation engine and have come up with the technology to install it into the old helicopter Mi-8 T. We’ve been working for a year to modernize that model,” said Vladimir Troitsky.

The new model Mi-8 MSB boasts a better climbing rate, a longer flight range and a higher altitude capacity thanks to more powerful engines. The helicopter set a new world record by flying at 9,150m in Ukraine on 15 August. The flight’s attitude had been unprecedented for this type of vehicles. Apart from that, the helicopter is resistant to high temperatures. 39C above zero used to be its limit. Now it will work at 52C above zero. The fact makes Mi-8 MSB helicopters an ideal solution for hot climate countries.

According to Vladimir Troitsky, this year the company plans to make five helicopters of this model. The first one has been assembled. The second one is a couple of days away from being ready, while the rest will be made by the end of the year. “At present we have to start batch production of these vehicles and we have to find customers to do that. Next year we will be able to make up to 20 such helicopters,” said the company head. He also added that there are over 3,000 Mi-8 T helicopters all over the world. Most of them have been virtually decommissioned. Capabilities of Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant can revive the helicopters for another life.

Orsha Aircraft Overhaul Plant was founded in 1941. It was incorporated as a public joint-stock company in late 2009. The company has been certified by the Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee for compliance with aviation rules, standards, and recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Association, international ISO 9000 series standards as well as JAR 145 (Joint Aviation Requirements) and EAR 145 rules. The company has been certified by Russia for the right to perform major overhauls of Mi-8 helicopters.

Motor Sich is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial gas turbines and engines for aircraft. The company delivers its products to 106 countries across the globe. Russia accounts for about 30% of its export. The company satisfies over 80% of Russia’s demand for helicopter engines.