Turbomeca president Emeric d'Arcimoles has criticised Russian bureaucracy as the main barrier to Russian-French co-operation in jointly developing helicopter projects. "I am willing to work with Russia, but the main problem is your bureaucrats," he told Russian journalists at Turbomeca's headquarters in Bordes, France.
D'Arcimoles cited problems the company was facing in shipment of Arrius turboshafts, intended for six Russian Kamov Ka-226 helicopters ordered by Gazpromavia.
"We lent two engines to Sergey Mikheyev, the designer general of the Kamov design bureau, but I cannot deliver them to Russia, because they are loaned and they cost nothing for the Russian side. However, Russian customs officers think some covert schemes are behind this," he said.
Valery Krol, director of Russian programmes at Turbomeca, said the firm is willing to invest in development of a joint Russian-French helicopter engine and co-operation could be profitable for both sides. "We could make a very good baby," said d'Arcimoles.
Source: Flight International
