Baltic Union Reaps Rewards

"Always Develop" is the slogan of Aviabaltika Aviation Company, and it's one by which the Kaunus, Lithuania-based operator stands. Founded in 1991 by Jurij Borisov, Aviabaltika is Lithuania's biggest private aviation company. It specializes in the sale and repair of aircraft and components, supply of instruments, equipment and spare parts, and the training of flight and technical personnel. It also operates a fleet of helicopters on passenger, cargo and search-and-rescue services.

Since 1997 Aviabaltika has been working in association with St. Petersburg Aircraft Repair Company (SPARC), and reports that the union has achieved great success through high quality work, improved efficiency, short delivery times and favorable payment terms for customers. Among clients for its helicopter overhaul and modification services are Russian state institutions, and state-owned and private aviation companies in more than 30 countries.

Aviabaltika performed its first helicopter overhaul in 1994. Last year more than 100 were overhauled by Aviabaltika-SPAR, which specializes in repair, modification and upgrade of Mil Mi-8/17 and Kamov Ka-32 helicopters. Regular work includes replacement of Klimov TV3-117MT Series 3 engines with TV3-117BMs, VIP conversions, installation of external fuel tanks, and upgrade to Western avionics.

A recently developed urgent spares supply service operates in Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland and Romania, drawing on stock stored in purpose-built customs warehouses. Elsewhere the partnership has established outstations in Algeria, India, Sri Lanka, Mexico and Peru, enabling it to respond to customers' orders in the shortest possible time. Another new service offered by the partnership is the establishment of aviation repair, maintenance and service centers at customers' facilities.

At St. Petersburg Aviabaltika-SPARC owns a modern training center, certified to international requirements, providing technical training for maintenance and repair personnel, and practical training for flight crews, including simulator training. More than 2,000 employees from customers in India, Cuba, Bulgaria, Algeria and Bangladesh have been trained in the center, which also provides recurrency training to the partnerships' own staff.

Recently Aviabaltika and world famous aerobatics pilot Vytautas Lapena-who is performing here at Farnborough-opened a flight school in Lithuania where aerobatic and private pilot training are conducted.