Airline buys Mi-8

Published: 3/21/2000

New helicopter for TAT/TAT is reported to have purchased a new Mi-8 AMT (version of the Mi-17) helicopter, from the Ulan Ude aviation plant. The Surgut-based airline is struggling financially and, next month, is expected to report a disappointing set of results for 1999. The helicopter is going to be used in support of a contract that the airline has with Surgutneftegaz according to the airline's General Director Andrey Martirsov. He was also reported as saying that if the helicopter performs well they might look to order further aircraft. Given reports of the condition of the TAT fleet, it is becoming obvious, that almost any new commitments for the operator require new aircraft to allow them to fulfil their contractual obligations. The airline has however, been heavily hit by the softness of the domestic market, which we expect to be reflected in their Aprils figures and may undermine their ability to continue to buy replacement aircraft.

Article ID: 1711