Kazakhstan has begun supplying helicopters of its own assembly to Tajikistan for Somon Air, Tajikistan’s first privately owned air carrier.
Keys to the Airbus H125 helicopter assembled in Kazakhstan have been handed over to representative of Somon Air in a solemn setting in Nur-Sultan, says Information-Analytical Center (Kazakhstan).
Somon Air reportedly plans to use these helicopters for tourism and business purposes.
Eurocopter Kazakhstan Engineering intends to supply 5-10 helicopters to Tajikistan. They have also begun exporting the helicopters to Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan reportedly intends to acquire ten helicopters.
The Airbus Helicopters H125 is a single-engine light utility helicopter originally designed and manufactured in France by Airbus Helicopters.
The Airbus Helicopters H125 has proven popular in a range of roles; multiple cabin configurations can be used, between four and six passengers in a typical seating configuration, and large sliding doors can be fitted to either side of the cabin.
Kazakhstan launched the helicopter assembly and maintenance plant 'Eurocopter Kazakhstan Engineering' on June 29, 2012. The plant is a joint venture of the Kazakh National Company “Kazakhstan Engineering” which is administered by the Kazakh Defense Ministry, and French Eurocopter. The parties signed an agreement on establishing the helicopter assembly plant on October 27, 2010.
The plant is the only manufacturer of EC 145, H125 and H130 helicopters in the CIS. Kazakhstan has exclusive rights to sell these helicopters to neighboring countries.
Somon Air is the first private airline in Tajikistan with an office headquartered in Dushanbe. The airline operations are based at Dushanbe International Airport. The airline started operating on February 5, 2008 with regular flights to Moscow and Dubai.
Somon Air also serves as the official carrier of President of the Republic of Tajikistan and other Tajikistan high-ranking officials.
Since formation, Somon Air has been primarily focused on passenger service and transportation to Eastern Europe and other locations. Most flights to international destinations operate from Dushanbe.
The airline uses the Boeing 737 in its fleet.
