Business & GA

Korean conglomerate LG International is launching a helicopter operation with a fleet of Kamov Ka-32s and is opening a new maintenance centre to service Russian and, potentially, Western helicopters.

LG, which is already Kamov's sales agent for Korea and South-East Asia, plans to expand into the helicopter leasing business next month following the expected certification of the Ka-32 by Korea's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

LG's aviation business unit has already sold more than 50 Ka-32s and says some parapublic operators require extra aircraft seasonally. The company plans to offer Ka-32s on wet lease and semi-wet lease, with an initial fleet of one to two aircraft.

Certification of the Ka-32 in Korea will also allow Russian Ka-32 operators to fly for Korean companies, with an expected emphasis on construction firms. Several Korean agencies now operate Russian-certified Ka-32s in a mix of maritime patrol, search and rescue, firefighting and forestry missions.

LG currently provides maintenance for the fleet from a facility at Seoul's Gimpo Airport, but plans to open a larger maintenance facility in November in Cheongju, central South Korea.

The new facility will also service Kazan Ansat and Mi-171 helicopters sold by LG in Korea and other Asian countries. The company is also in talks with Agusta to add a local maintenance capability for Agusta helicopters.

Currently, all European-built helicopters operating in Korea have to be serviced overseas because the country's three helicopter maintenance facilities cater to Russian, Bell and Sikorsky models. All the Russian helicopters sold in Korea in the past few years have been partially paid for through a government debt repayment programme.

BRENDAN SOBIE/SEOUL