The world’s largest helicopter operator UTair is negotiating on creation of joint venture with Brazilian company for servicing the region’s oil platforms, said the CEO of UTair, Andrey Martirosov. It has been reported by RIA Novosti.

"The negotiations are in progress and we will create the joint venture soon", - he said, not specifying the name of Brazilian company. According to Martirosov, the airline intends to use Eurocopter EC-175 helicopters in the network of this project.

CEO of UTair noted that the joint venture will be created by the end of this year. At that he did not name the partner and did not specify the distribution of shares in the JV. However, he said that it may not be an airline.

UTair Aviation provides aviation transport services in Russia and it is one of the four world’s largest helicopter operators. UTair is the number one Russian helicopter company by its fleet’s size and weight-lift ability (it includes over 330 helicopters). The basis of its fleet is formed by Mi helicopters and light multi-role Eurocopter and Robinson helicopters.