STLC asks the state to support the purchase of helicopters for 100 billion rubles

“State transport leasing company” (STLC) applied for state funding for the purchase of helicopters for 100 billion rubles. This was announced on September 6 by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Oleg Bocharov at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF-2022). According to him, STLC ordered Mi-8 and Mi-171A2 helicopters. “We received a passport for five Mi-171A2 until 2025 and six in 2026,” the deputy minister said. Helicopters of this type will receive a single Far Eastern airline, created on the basis of the Avrora airline, he said.

Another request from STLC concerns an order for 86 Mi-8 helicopters until 2025, Bocharov added. Together, he estimated both applications at about 100 billion rubles.

STLC General Director Yevgeny Dietrich told reporters that STLC plans to purchase more than 100 Mi-8s in 2023-2025. within the framework of an investment project using the funds of the National Welfare Fund. According to him, 20 helicopters are planned to be leased to a single Far Eastern airline for the development of domestic tourism.

According to a Vedomosti source familiar with STLC’s applications, we are talking about two different projects. The first is the supply of about 20 helicopters for the needs of the Far Eastern airline, the specific type of equipment for which has not yet been determined, and the second is the supply of 86 Mi-8 type aircraft for other helicopter companies.

Bocharov recalled that President Vladimir Putin had already approved a program to co-finance the state order for civil aircraft, including helicopters, from the funds of the National Welfare Fund. Under its terms, leasing companies can receive financing to pay for up to 100% of the supply of aircraft for 20 years at 1.5%.

Russian Helicopters (part of Rostec) will produce helicopters on orders from STLC. In total, according to the aviation industry development program until 2030, Russian air carriers should receive 66 Mi-171A2 helicopters and 276 Mi-8 units in two modifications – 120 Mi-8MTV-1 and 156 Mi-8AMT.

The Mi-8 family is the most widespread civilian helicopter in the world, used to transport cargo and people, as well as for search and rescue operations, firefighting and patrolling. Now one of the largest commercial operators of these helicopters is the company “Utair – Helicopter services. There are 274 aircraft of the Mi-8 family in its fleet. The Mi-8 is also used by the Russian Emergencies Ministry. Vedomosti sent inquiries to Russian Helicopters, as well as to UTair – Helicopter Services.

Helicopters of the Mi-8T and Mi-8P types made up the bulk of the fleet and other Russian operators at the end of 2021. In total, Russian helicopter pilots had 820 of these machines out of a total fleet of 1,735 units, follows from the materials of the Helicopter Industry Association and the Aviaport agency. According to agency director Oleg Panteleev, the bulk of the Mi-8T was produced before the 1990s, and now these helicopters are gradually leaving the fleet.

The catalog price of Mi-8 helicopters is 460-500 million rubles, Mi-171A2 – 750-800 million rubles, says Panteleev. The expert is confident that the Mi-8MTV-1 and Mi-8AMT helicopters, as well as the Mi-171A2, will replace obsolete Mi-8T helicopters. “It was not possible to replace this helicopter with foreign ones, and despite its high cost, it remains competitive,” adds Panteleev. He notes that the number of commercial operators willing to lease these vessels can be in the tens.

Panteleev sees the potential for deliveries of helicopters on time. “The only thing that can prevent this is problems with component suppliers,” the expert concludes.

Transport expert Elena Sakhnova believes that the industry is experiencing a growing need for helicopters. “Now there is a priority for transportation within the regions, in many of them there are no airports,” she adds. According to the expert, there are not so many small aircraft, so such a large order for helicopters is justified.