Eurocopter and UTair have signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly develop a flight training centre in West Siberia, Russia.

The training facility will enable flight crews and technicians to be trained locally in Russia to operate Eurocopter helicopters.

UTair general director Andrey Martirosov said that the centre would facilitate preparation of the qualified personnel not only for the company, but also for the other operators in Russia.

UTair and Eurocopter had collaborated on the establishment of a Eurocopter-certified maintenance centre that will open by the end of 2009.

The training facility will commence operations at the beginning of 2010.