Cyprus company nets Russian chopper contract for Middle East

A CYPRUS-based company has been awarded the sole contract for the Middle East distribution of the Russian Mi-26 helicopter.

The contract was signed at Dubai ’97, the international aerospace exhibition, between Russian manufacturer Rostvertol and Cyprus-based Nutshell Limited.

The move to appoint a sole agent for the region is aimed at beefing up Middle East sales of the legendary Mi-26 helicopter.

“Though initially built as an attack aircraft, the Mi-26 now comes in many versions and can be used for a variety of civilian tasks particularly in the construction, oil and gas and emergency services sectors,” said Elena Hadjifintani, Managing Director of Nutshell in Cyprus.

“The Middle East, where oil fleets are being renewed and emergency service operations upgraded, has enormous potential for the Mi-26 which has the heaviest lift in the world. We envisage it being used to fly heavy construction equipment to remote areas of the Middle East – places which are difficult to access by other means.”

With a lifting capacity of 20 tonnes, the Mi-26 has a multitude of roles, including fire-fighting, air-to-air refuelling and as a flying ambulance.

According to Rostvertol First Vice President, Yurin Zaikin, the Mi-26 is proving popular at air shows around the world.

“It is due to this popularity that we are appointing agents for different regions around the world,” said Zaikin.

He said Nutshell would also be providing after-sales and modernisation of aircraft.

One version of the helicopter is intended to extinguish industrial, forest and domestic fires and open burning oil reservoirs. There is also a fire- fighting version with removable equipment and a medical version.

Rostvertol is also providing warranty and post-warranty maintenance, spare parts and training of flight crews and technicians – all issues previously ignored by Russian manufacturers – the company said.

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