Eurocopter Vostok plans to have four maintenance facilities operating in Russia in 2007. It has just opened an MRO service facility for Eurocopter helicopters in Russia based at Ostafievo airport near Moscow. Jerome Noulens, ceo of Eurocopter Vostok, says: "Eurocopter is the first western aircraft manufacturer to implement a full scale maintenance centre to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for Eurocopter helicopters in Russia." It plans, in cooperation with local partners in St Petersburg and in the Tumen region to provide further MRO services for Eurocopter helicopters. Noulens says: "The next phase of the after-sales support improvement programme in Russia will result in the establishment of three additional service centres in 2007." The Ostafievo airport maintenance centre agreement was signed at Eurocopter headquarters in Marignane by Philippe Harache, executive vp of the Eurocopter Group, and Andrey Ovcharenko, general director of Gazpromavia.