Milestone Aviation Group

All posts tagged Milestone Aviation Group

Milestone Signs Lease Agreements with Aramco for Five Helicopters.

Posted by dgualdo on 08/03/2023
Posted in: Airbus Helicopters NEWS, HAI Heli-Expo 2023 ... Atlanta, GA, Leonardo Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – ATLANTA, GA – Monday, March 06, 2023

The Milestone Aviation Group Limited (“Milestone”), theglobal leader in helicopter leasing, today announced it has signed lease agreements for five helicopters with Aramco.

The agreements include the placement of three Leonardo AW139 helicopters and two Airbus H145 helicopters. All five aircraft are factory new and will be deployed on critical offshoreoil and gas missions in Saudi Arabia with deliveries scheduled throughout 2023.

Milestone’s relationship with Aramco began in 2016 and the addition of these five units brings Aramco’s total helicopter fleet on lease from Milestone to 35 helicopters. Speaking at HAI Heli-Expo in Atlanta, Michael York, the Head of Emerging Markets, Milestone Aviation, said, “Aramco has pioneered offshore oil and gas helicopter operations in the Middle East for decades and we are honored to support Aramco as their trusted leasing partner, as they continue to expand and modernize their fleet.”

Airbus Helicopters – Milestone becomes first leasing customer for multi-mission H160.

Posted by dgualdo on 05/10/2020
Posted in: Airbus Helicopters NEWS, HEMS / SAR, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – Dublin, 5 October 2020

Milestone Aviation and Airbus Helicopters have agreed to include six H160s in Milestone’s orderbook.

The helicopters will be destined for a range of missions including offshore transportation and emergency medical services, the first of which is set to deliver in 2023.

“Today’s announcement will see us enhance our orderbook to include the H160 which we believe will be an important player in the market in the years ahead. It is a versatile, multi-mission aircraft with the opportunity to be used in a number of scenarios, particularly serving EMS operations. It will be a valuable addition to our fleet and we’re already in discussion with operators to place the aircraft into service as soon as they are available,” said Pat Sheedy, CEO of Milestone.

“We are proud that a longstanding customer such as Milestone is renewing its trust once again in Airbus helicopters. I am convinced that the level of innovation that the H160 brings to the market, whether it is passenger comfort, advanced pilot assistance, or its competiveness thanks to its increased fuel efficiency and simplified maintenance eco-system, combined with its inherent flexibility will make it a valuable asset to their  operations,” said Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. 

With 68 patents, the H160 integrates Airbus Helicopters’ latest technological innovations aimed at providing passengers with superior comfort thanks to the sound-reducing Blue Edge blades and superb external visibility for both passengers and pilots, not to mention the additional safety features provided by Helionix’s accrued pilot assistance features. The aircraft’s compact size will be an added advantage to landing on oil platforms as well as hospital heli-decks.

MILESTONE AVIATION AND LEONARDO AWARDED ARAMCO MEDIUM HELICOPTER RENEWAL PROGRAM INCLUDING 21 AW139.

Posted by dgualdo on 17/07/2018
Posted in: Leonardo Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – 16 July 2018

MILESTONE AVIATION AND LEONARDO AWARDED ARAMCO MEDIUM HELICOPTER RENEWAL PROGRAM INCLUDING 21 AW139.

Dublin, Ireland – July 16, 2018 – Milestone Aviation Group Limited (“Milestone”), a GECAS company and the global leader in helicopter leasing, and Leonardo today announce they have been selected to renew the medium helicopter fleet of Aramco Overseas Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco (“Aramco”) – a fully integrated, global petroleum and chemicals enterprise. Leonardo and Milestone have signed a contract for 17 Leonardo AW139 helicopters plus 4 options, and Aramco expects to take delivery of a total of 21 aircraft over the next three years, starting this year.

Aramco awarded the contract to Milestone and Leonardo through a competitively tendered process. Milestone’s financial stability, the outstanding capabilities of the modern and proven AW139 and ability of both partners to deliver were key to meeting the needs of the program. Further, Milestone’s leasing solution encompassing the entire medium fleet presented a compelling solution, enabling the energy company to invest in their operations.

Milestone is the largest owner or financier of civil Leonardo helicopters in the world, leasing its first Leonardo helicopter in 2010. Its fleet will exceed 100 Leonardo helicopters following the completion of this transaction. Milestone’s relationship with Aramco began in 2016 with the lease of three new AW139s, then the energy company’s first helicopter lease transaction.

“We appreciate Aramco’s trust in Milestone and are delighted to enable this significant fleet renewal program with a uniquely tailored operating lease solution,” said Milestone President & CEO Daniel Rosenthal. “We credit our highly productive relationship with Leonardo and their very strong family of aircraft for allowing us to meet the complex introduction into service and operating requirements of the customer.”

“We are very pleased Aramco continued to put its trust in the AW139 to meet its helicopter needs,” said Leonardo Helicopters’ Managing Director Gian Piero Cutillo. “Likewise, we thank Milestone for their collaboration on this historic transaction and their long-standing relationship as the largest owner of Leonardo helicopters in the civil segment across many mission types. We look forward to working with their highly skilled technical team to bring this large and varied fleet into service for Aramco.”

One of the largest operators of Leonardo helicopters in the Middle East, Aramco has been operating a fleet of 14 AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopters since 2008 and seven AW109 light twins since 2006, mainly to perform offshore transport missions in Saudi Arabia in support of the oil and gas industry. With these new AW139s, Aramco’s fleet renewal program ensures the operator maintains advanced technology, class leading performance, reliability, safety, versatility and cabin space. The aircraft has outstanding one engine inoperative capabilities, even in hot and high operating conditions, making it ideally suited for Aramco’s operations. The AW139 can perform a wide range of roles, and the 21 deliveries to Aramco will include oil and gas, and search and rescue (SAR) configurations.

Milestone announced to lease two AW169 helicopters to Alidaunia S.R.L. of Italy.

Posted by dgualdo on 09/10/2017
Posted in: HEMS / SAR, Leonardo Helicopters NEWS, Website NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – 3 October 2017

Milestone Aviation Group Limited (Milestone) announced it has entered an agreement to lease two AW169 helicopters to Alidaunia S.R.L. of Italy, to support their emergency medical services (HEMS) in Italy.

Alidaunia has provided HEMS services in Italy for more than 20 years and Milestone is proud to bring latest technology aircraft to this service. One of the helicopters provided by Milestone is an extension of a current operating lease, and the second AW169 will be delivered from Milestone’s order book with Leonardo Helicopters in 2018. “Milestone is very proud to continue our strong partnership with Alidaunia, a long established and respected helicopter operator and service provider, and the launch customer for our AW169 order book,” said Milestone commercial vice president for Europe, Sebastien Moulin. “We are very pleased to bring new technology aircraft to Alidaunia’s longstanding EMS contract in Italy. We look forward to continuing to work with Alidaunia as they serve this essential function for the Italian people for years to come.” “Alidaunia has built a strong track record in serving several Italian regions and their EMS needs. Our lease partnership with Milestone continues to be a pillar for our company and our mission,” said Robert Pucillo, CEO of Alidaunia S.R.L. “Milestone understands our business as an operator and service provider. Their flexible financial solution and considerable expertise in delivering new aircraft allowed us to pursue the introduction of a new type into our fleet while minimizing our financial and operational risk.”