The Novosibirsk Aircraft Repair Plant (NARZ), a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters, has become the first in the Russian Federation to launch distance training of aviation specialists in the maintenance and repair of helicopter equipment for the Mi-8 and Mi-26 types in various modifications.

The appendix to the certificate of the aviation training centre of the enterprise in part-time education was issued by the Federal Air Transport Agency.

The project is part of a large-scale programme for the development of learning management systems (LMS), which is implemented by the Helicopter Service Company (VSK). In the near future, other enterprises within Russian Helicopters holding that have aviation training centres will join the LMS system.

The LMS programme is deployed on the VSK website as a single platform with its own interface, to which the holding's aviation training centres will be connected, and where lists of training programmes and courses, as well as catalogues of necessary documentation, are placed. The project is also being implemented in English, which enables distance learning for foreign customers. The first group of foreign customers using the LMS system was trained by the NARZ training centre in April 2020.

In addition, VSK has formed uniform rules for the development of training courses in the S1000D format, according to which all Russian Helicopters aviation training centres will operate.

After the launch of the LMS system, VSK, together with the aviation training centres, became the first company in Russia to provide such training services using remote training for Russian-made helicopters.

NARZ Aviation Training Centre was established at the plant on 1 July 2009. The centre is certified and licensed to carry out retraining and advanced training of specialists in the repair and maintenance of Mi-brand helicopters. The Aviation Training Centre also trains qualified personnel for the plant, covering its need for personnel.

JSC Novosibirsk Aircraft Repair Plant was created on the basis of aircraft workshops evacuated from Moscow during the Second World War. The plant started life on 1 December 1941. On this day, the first repaired engine was tested. In December 2012, the Novosibirsk Aircraft Repair Plant, in accordance with the decision adopted at the general meeting of shareholders of the company, entered the Russian Helicopters holding. Having become a part of the Russian helicopter holding, NARZ JSC not only helps to provide service and maintenance of Russian-made helicopter equipment, but also modernises and expands its activities.