According to various Russian media sites, Russian airline UTair, which operates one of the world's largest civilian helicopter fleets, may ground one-third of the fleet by the end of this year due to a lack of engine components and spares. UTair has a fleet of 320 helicopters of various sorts, including numerous versions of the popular Mi-8 and Mi-17, as well as the Mi26 heavy lifter and Western-built models like the Eurocopter AS355N and H125.
UTAir's CEO stated at the 'HeliRussia 2023' industry trade show in Moscow that, in addition to the inaccessibility of components for Western helicopters, there are also issues with servicing Russian-made rotorcraft due to the domestic industry's inability to deliver engine supplies in sufficient quantities.
These concerns, which appear to be impacting other Russian helicopter operators as well, may have an impact on Russian helicopter operators' capacity to provide services in remote areas of the country that rely on air transport. Civilian helicopters, for example, are widely employed in Siberia to help the oil, gas, and forestry sectors, as well as to transport people to and from remote settlements.