Russia is a ripe market for Western helicopters, and at least one company, AgustaWestland, plans to establish manufacturing there. Overall there is considerable potential for more Western rotorcraft penetration in the Russian market especially in the civil, law enforcement and oil-and-gas sectors, with a demand that could grow to 450 to 500 helicopters by 2015. That was the message yesterday from a diversified panel of Russian helicopter dealers and operators and representatives of Western helicopter companies working there.
Angelo Raimondi, AgustaWestland vice president of sales for Europe and the Caspian Sea area, said Russia’s historic experience with rotorcraft, combined with its education and engineering resources and lower labor costs, made it an attractive venue for his company with enormous potential for growth. Currently only 6 percent of all helicopters flown in Russia are of Western origin, but Raimondi thinks that could increase to 40 percent within the next five to 10 years and that Agusta could capture at least half of that market. Raimondi said the market is particularly promising for search-and-rescue, medevac and law enforcement.
