Russian Helicopters Details Military Helicopter MRO Center in Egypt

Russian Helicopters is completing the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center for its Mi-8/17 helicopters based at Egyptian Helwan Factory for Developed Industries (HFDI) facility.

The Company is to certify the MRO center in Egypt in 2019. During the first stage, the center will be carrying out maintenance and overhaul of Mi-8T and Mi-17-1V helicopters operated by EAF. Future plans include mastering of a Mi-17V-5 type, the company said in a statement Wednesday.

Within 2015-2018 the Holding Company (Russian Helicopters) fitted HFDI with the required equipment and conducted personnel training at the Aviation Training Center of Novosibirsk Aircraft Repair Plant. Moreover, basing on the audit results of the MRO center Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant has already issued a statement on the center’s readiness to perform helicopter overhaul.

“One of the key objectives of JSC is to organize a system of after-sales support providing service throughout the complete life cycle of Russian-made rotorcraft. The holding intends to continue expanding its global network of authorized service centers. The Egyptian side is already in process of performing a pilot Mi-8T and Mi-17-1V overhaul upon the results of which the holding plan to proceed with certification of the center,” Igor Chechikov, Deputy Director General for After-Sales Support of Russian Helicopters said.

Mi-8/17 helicopters developed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant (part of Russian Helicopters Holding Company) are capable of medevac and humanitarian missions, cargo and passenger transportation (including VIPs). Military-transport Mi-8/17 helicopters are designed to transport service personnel and to carry cargo inside the cabin and on the external sling. These rotorcraft are employed for patrol or search-and-rescue operations and can also carry armament.