Background
Originally at mass-production plant and Engine-building design bureau which is now known as Aviadvigatel OJSC in-service support of serial engines was carried out by employees of Maintenance & Repair Department of the Plant named after Ya.M. Sverdlov (at present known as Perm Engine Company). These employees were permanently present at aircraft-building plants and at military bases and took an active part in operation procedures. All cases of defects occurrence in operation were brought to notice of Engine-building design bureau engineers through the plant and the design bureau specialists following which design modifications and correspondent activities were developed and implemented together with the plant departments.
The existing system of aero engines operation observance from outside sometimes didn't allow to settle technical issues promptly and competently.
Late in the year 1947 a team of specialists was created to take direct part in pilot engines testing at aircraft and helicopters of flight development bases of Tupolev, Iljushin, Mil and Jakovlev Chief designers as well as at Flight Research Institute and Central Institute of Aviation Motors. This team became responsible for final development of test engines at aircraft and flying test-beds.
In 1960 the next step was made and a dedicated Operations Team was established vested with a wider range of responsibilities. It was the time of completing the final development of D-20P turbojet engine designed for Òu-124 high-speed passenger airliner for short and medium-range operation.
The D-20P was the first bypass engine implemented into mass production and operation at aircraft of the USSR Civil Air Fleet. The engine was more cost-efficient and had better operational performance.
Simultaneously for Ìi-6 heavy helicopter the final development of D-25V turboshaft engine was completed (the first engine in the world fitted with a free turbine) as well as the unique R-7 gearbox capable to work at one shut-down engine and even with two shut-down engines in case of autorotation.
To ensure these engines and the gearbox proper implementation into mass production and operation and their support in operation, the Engine-building design bureau established the Operations Team. The team was responsible for review of defects revealed in operation, gathering their statistics, monitoring engines operation condition at sites (designer`s supervision), rendering engineering support for operators, control of activities aimed at elimination of defects revealed in operation, issue and updating of operational & engineering documentation.
From this very moment the activity of Aviadvigatel Operations Department has been dated.
The year 1967 was marked with the start of operation of Òu-134 passenger airliner powered by new D-30 engines of the design bureau, and in 1968 the International Aviation Association awarded the international airworthiness certificate to the D-30 engine. By this time a large fleet of Òu-124 aircraft with D-20P and Ìi-6 helicopters with D-25V was in operation. To enhance in-service support management, in 1968 the Operations Team was restructured into Reliability Team vested with development and monitoring of measures aimed at products reliability improvement, recording and processing of statistical data on products failures and defects, operational reliability assessment and execution of analytical reports on reliability status.
By 1972 the amount of work for products being in operation increased significantly and the Reliability Team was restructured into the Department.
In 1976 flight tests of D-30F6 engine for the unique MiG fighter-interceptor began, first at Flight Research Institute and then in Akhtubinsk city. In 1977 to provide on-line support of the D-30F6 flight tests an expedition was sent to Akhtubinsk city of Astrakhan Region. In 1982 in accordance with the company structure approved by the Ministry of Aviation Industry, the Reliability Department was expanded with the Flight Tests and Operations Department which included Operations Team, Reliability Team, Moscow Technical Bureau and the Expedition in Akhtubinsk city.
In the eighties Aviadvigatel initiated works at creation of PS-90À new generation turbofan engine with a large bypass ratio, electronic control system and turbine radial clearances automatic control. The engine was designed to power long-haul IL-96-300 airliner and medium-haul Òu-204 airliner. Modular design together with advanced diagnostic and condition monitoring systems enabled to achieve the engine reliable operation on the basis of on-condition approach.
Considering expanded amount of tasks connected with flight and performance tests of the PS-90À engine as well as support of failure-free operation of mass-produced engines for aircraft of civil aviation (major customer) and foreign customers in December 1991 the Flight Tests and Operations Department was replaced with Operations Division which consisted of Operations Department, Reliability Department, Diagnostics Department and Operational & Engineering Documentation Department. 
In early nineties of the 20th century Aviadvigatel came into the market of aero-derivative industrial gas turbines and GT generating sets. Therefore in 1993 the Operations Department structure was expanded with Industrial Engines Team and its specialists took direct part in provision of test industrial operation of the first modifications of gas turbines as well as installation supervision and commissioning of mass-produced gas turbines.
In 2003 in connection with increasing amount of work the Industrial Engines Team was restructured into the Industrial Gas Turbines and GT Gensets Operations Department.
