Andrey Martirosov, CEO.

With a total fleet of 190 helicopters, UTair Aviation is the largest private operator in Russia, and one of the biggest in the world. But we have no aircraft under 12 metric tons, which is a handicap given the increase in our oil & gas operations. We opted for the mid-range EC175 because we are familiar with Eurocopter’s expertise. We will operate our aircraft in very tough conditions, from –40°C to +40°C, and in a wide variety of configurations - from high-density transport to VIP or VVIP.

Niels Skeby, managing director.

Although DanCopter is a fairly recent company, it is the EC155 fleet leader. We took a good look at the EC175, and compared it with the other aircraft on the market. In terms of performance and payload, it is clearly the best and this is what guided our decision.

Eric Van Hal, managing director.

In 1997, we were the launch customer for the AS365 N3 Dauphin and our bright yellow helicopters are a very familiar sight in the North Sea. We have been considering the EC175 for over a year as a means of meeting the requirements of the booming oil & gas business, where customers are demanding extra capacity. To round off our Dauphin fleet, we were looking for an aircraft that could transport 15 to 16 passengers with a range of 120/130 nautical miles, and perform SAR duties. In terms of performance and capabilities, this is exactly what the EC175 will offer us.