Falcon Aviation and Leonardo Helicopters partner for new helicopter offshore and onshore contract for Kuwait Oil Company

Wednesday 17th January 2018

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Falcon Aviation, one of the UAE's leading aviation companies specialising in business aviation services, charter and aircraft management, confirmed today (17th January 2018) at the Kuwait Aviation Show that three new Leonardo AW169 helicopters (signed for at the recent Dubai Airshow) will be deployed on a five-year contract with The Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).  The helicopters will perform onshore and offshore Oil & Gas operations.

With this debut in Kuwait, marks a significant expansion for Falcon Aviation, which will be adding additional personnel in Kuwait, including offshore pilots and supportive administration personnel, plus line and base engineers to start the contract. The first two AW169s will arrive in March and the third in April 2018.

Emilio Dalmasso, SVP Commercial Business Unit, Leonardo Helicopters said: "We congratulate Falcon Aviation Services on this major achievement and are proud to contribute with additional AW169s to meet the operational requirement.  The new contract builds on our successful 10-year partnership including Falcon's commitment as launch customer of the AW169 in the Middle East. We are convinced the Kuwait Oil Company will significantly benefit from the capabilities, versatility and safety of this new generation helicopter, along with the great service and operational expertise of Falcon Aviation." 

"This is a significant strategic contract for us, it was a strong international competition and fortunately we won the contract, which takes us into Kuwait for the first time," said Falcon Aviation COO Captain Raman Oberoi. "We see a unique opportunity to provide safe and reliable services to KOC. We will work together to build a sustainable oil & gas aviation support services increase efficiency and productivity," he added.

MRO expansion into Kuwait

 Falcon Aviation will establish all the required infrastructure, including the building of a brand new hangar to house the three Leonardo AW169s and create facilities to carry out line and base maintenance on the type.

"The KOC contract specified two helicopters, but Falcon Aviation added a third helicopter as backup to provide continuous services," noted Nicolas Tejera, Director of Maintenance, who is expanding Falcon Aviation's rotary MRO team, by recruiting helicopter engineers for the project.

"It is an honor to win this contract and we are excited to be entering into this new project in the new territory of Kuwait with Leonardo.  We know and understand the aircraft well and have enjoyed excellent customer satisfaction with the AW169 since introducing the type with TOTAL in ABK Field, UAE in January 2016," he added.

Falcon Aviation is the lead aircraft operator of the AW169 worldwide and confident of its suitability to provide reliable services to KOC for its offshore and onshore requirements.

The AW169 is a modern, multi mission twin-engine class A performance helicopter, renowned for its superior performance and safety standards and featuring 8/10-seat passenger layout.

Falcon Aviation to participate at Kuwait Aviation Show

Falcon Aviation will be in Kuwait next week, participating at the Kuwait Aviation Show. (17th to 20th January)  Stand B24. "I am very much looking forward to our expansion here, with this vitally important contract and beyond," he concluded.

 

About Falcon Aviation

•    Falcon Aviation, founded in 2006, is a leading business aviation services company, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  Since its creation, under the patronage of HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, has built up a sound reputation for high quality and innovative services, serving a significantly large customer base.  It has become synonymous with safety, quality and excellent customer service.  

•    Falcon Aviation is based at Al Bateen Executive Airport, the premier VIP airport in the UAE, within Abu Dhabi City.   Falcon Aviation delivers a variety of aviation services from private jet and executive helicopter charter with a diverse fleet of business jets and helicopters; third party aircraft management, MRO, CAMO, commercial aircraft leasing and oil and gas aviation support.

•    It operates 11 strong fixed wing fleet including one Embraer Legacy 600, one Lineage 1000, three Gulfstream G450/G550s and six Bombardier Q400 turboprops.  Three of the six Q400s are currently leased to Qazaq Air in Kazakhstan. Falcon Aviation also operates a variety of helicopters consisting of - 10 Bell 412EPs; four Airbus Helicopters EC130B4s; four AW109S/SPs, two AW189s and two AW169s.

•    In December last year, coinciding with the MEBAA Show, it opened its luxurious new FBO at the VIP Dubai South Terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).  The 1,000 sqm state-of-the art facility offers two VIP lounges, with en suite bathrooms; a refreshment and coffee bar; cigar lounge, boardroom-style meeting facilities; prayer room; shower facilities and access to a dedicated VIP Terminal Duty Free.  The facility extends to a children's play area and pets room.

•    In April this year Falcon Aviation inaugurated a Heliport, adjacent to Dubai South VIP Terminal at DWC.  Run and managed by Falcon Aviation personnel, the Heliport is open to all operators, corporates and private individuals arriving with their business jets at VIP Terminal.  It is the first in the region to facilitate quick and convenient helicopter charters between Dubai and Abu Dhabi in just 30 minutes. Other significant time savings on popular destinations include: Dubai South to Ras Al Khaimah - 45 minutes; Dubai South - Diba, 45 minutes; Dubai South- Fujairah 40 minutes and to Qasr Al Sarab Resort - 1 hour, 15 minutes.

•    In May Falcon Aviation achieved approval from the GCAA to perform third party line maintenance at its new Dubai South facility at Al Maktoum International Airport base in Dubai, co-located with its FBO facility in the VIP Terminal.   Aircraft types it has been cleared to work on include the Gulfstream G450/G550; Embraer 135/145 regional jets and Embraer 190/Lineage 1000. (Falcon Aviation is already an Authorised Service Centre for Embraer Executive Jets at its Abu Dhabi Al Bateen Executive Airport base.) as well as the Pilatus PC-12 turboprop.

Falcon Aviation is a founding member of the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) and an authorised service centre for Embraer Executive Jets and warranty service centre for Gulfstream. The MRO is also providing services for Bombardier, Gulfstream, Leonardo, Pilatus, Airbus and Bell helicopters.

www.falconaviation.ae