Engineering News

South African State-owned aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company Denel Aviation officially inaugurated its new MRO Centre for Russian Mil Mi-8 and Mi-17-family helicopters on Tuesday evening. The new service centre is a joint initiative with Russian Helicopters, the State-owned Russian company that incorporates the world-renowned Mil and Kamov brands.

“This facility will be the only one of its kind in Africa,” highlighted Denel group CEO Riaz Saloojee. “I am confident that it will become a centre of excellence. This beginning can only bode well for both partners. At Denel we are determined to pursue these and other opportunities to grow our business.”

“We are looking forward to a stronger relationship with Russian Helicopters and we look forward to exploring further opportunities in future,” affirmed Denel board chairperson Zoli Kunene. “Today’s historical launch of Denel Aviation as an MRO centre for Russian Helicopters is the result of joint planning between our two companies,” reported Denel Aviation CEO Mike Kgobe. “I am convinced this MRO centre is symbolic of a wider relationship between our two countries.”

“Together with our partners in Denel Aviation, we have come a long way in a short time,” avered Russian Helicopters deputy director Andrei Shibitov. He noted that the agreement had been reached and implemented in “record time”. He added that “Denel will be able to undertake complete overhauls of Russian helicopters. I see huge potential in our partnership with Denel Aviation and the Denel group as a whole.”

The two companies first initiated talks in 2009 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition in September last year. That set out the broad parameters for cooperation between them. The necessary ground support equipment from Russian Helicopters arrived at Denel Aviation in early March and has already been installed and commissioned.

“A strong climate of trust has been created,” asserted South African Deputy Public Enterprises Minister Bulelani Magwanishe. “Through the Industrial Policy Action Plan, the government recognises the importance of aerospace in the changing economy. Russia .... They are supporting a developing South Africa and a developing Africa.”

There are estimated to be some 650 civil and military versions of the Mi-8 and Mi-17-family helicopters flying in Africa today. Denel Aviation has already done roadshows across the continent about the new MRO centre and has received favourable responses. The first helicopter scheduled to undergo maintenance at the centre, a South African-registered civilian Mi-8T, is already at the facility.

The launch of the centre, which is located at Denel Aviation’s facility at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg, took place against the background of the 5th Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (better known as BRICS) summit in Durban.  After bilateral talks on Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Durban during the BRICS summit, South African President Jacob Zuma described the launch of the new MRO centre as one of the “highlights” of Putin’s visit. “This is an important development in our relations,” said Zuma. “The relationship between these aviation companies was made possible by the Joint Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation framework and the bilateral agreement between our two countries.”