Local press БИЗНЕС Online are reporting that Russian comapny TAIF Group are to take delivery of an AgustaWestland AW139 in January 2013.  The helicopter is expected to be based at Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan.  It will be operated for them by Tulpar Gelikopters LLC

TAIF has a very wide-ranging portfolio of businesses, covering oil and gas refining, chemicals, investments and finance, telecoms, construction and others.

The purchase has raised some eyebrows, given the locally based Mil helicopter factory and the AW139 being an import.

Nikolai Vanesev – Helihub.com Moscow correspondent