Russian helicopter fleet: ageing and overbalanced

The Russian helicopter fleet stood at 2,266 units in the first quarter of 2012; fewer than 50% of them (1,063) were in commercial operation, according to an analytical report prepared by the GosNII GA State Research Institute of Civil Aviation at the request of Show Observer. The variety of helicopter models operated in Russian has grown considerably, but the bulk of the fleet is still comprised of outdated Mil Mi-8’s (899 overall, 582 in active commercial operation) and Mi-2’s (485 and, 98 respectively). Of the 295 Mi-8MT airframes, 206 are in active operation; for the Mi-26T the figures are 67 and 36; for the Ka-26, 61 and 15; and for the Ka-32, 48 and 27 respectively. Other Russian-made rotorcraft types are represented on a much smaller scale.

The most ubiquitous foreign type in Russian operation is the Robinson R44: of the total 232 airframes registered, 105 are assigned to general aviation and 54 to commercial aviation. Other popular foreign-built rotorcraft models include the Eurocopter AS350 (23 listed, of them nine in commercial operation and three in GA operation), EC135 (14, 10, and three, respectively), AS355 (12, 3, and 7) and EC120 (13, one, and seven). There are 18 Bell 407 helicopters; 13 of these are in GA operation and five not currently operated. There are 27 more rotary-wing types operated or at least listed in Russia, but each of these is represented by not more than 10 airframes.