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peter shaw smith
March 4, 2023 – 4:00 pm
As a globally focused company, UAE-based helicopter and business jet charter and management operator Abu Dhabi Airways (ADA, booth C4436) is participating in Heli-Expo for the first time and intends to expand its presence across the North and South continents with its participation HAI Heli-Expo.
“We do business in Canada; we recently sold six aging Bell 212s there,” Mark Pierotti, director of ADA’s commercial sector and managing director of consultancy ADA Millennium, told AIN. “We’ve done business in Canada in the past and we’re trying to break into the Brazilian market, which we thought would be interesting. South America is also an important region where we’re looking at tenders. There’s a lot of oil found in Guyana. We did look at Guyana but decided at this time Do not enter.”
ADA provides aviation offshore oil support and other services worldwide, particularly to oil and gas producing companies in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It also provides VVIP passenger services, search and rescue in the UAE, crop spraying, earthquake support, firefighting in Europe, and third-party maintenance support in the Middle East.
As of the end of January, the fleet size was approximately 60 owned aircraft. Two De Havilland Dash 8-200s will leave the fleet soon, while a batch of AW139s is expected to arrive in the second quarter of 2023. ADA has leased two Dash 8-200s to two Kenyan operators, leaving three Dash 8-300s and two -400s in the fleet.
“Abu Dhabi National Oil Company [ADNOC] Still the main customer of the ADA, and the UAE is the main territory of the ADA,” Pierotti said. [HEMS], Fire protection is becoming more and more important. We also manage many aircraft for VIPs. “
The GCC is also listed as an important market for ADA, especially Saudi Arabia. The helicopter market has exploded in the past two years with the emergence of helicopter companies. Sightseeing Concern, Helicopter Tour Dubai, Abu Dhabi-based Falcon Aviation, ground services provider Air Chateau and Dubai Air Wing have all emerged as significant players in the UAE rotorcraft market.
“We are making a big push into Southeast Asia, with existing and new clients,” he said. “We are continuing our African expansion: Nigeria remains very important, as is Angola. Our MRO division in Abu Dhabi is growing rapidly and growing MRO in 2023 is a key part of our business plan.”
ADA is conducting fire operations in Spain and is evaluating new opportunities in Greece. The increasingly stringent operating requirements of the offshore oil and gas industry mean that ADA’s Bell fleet is becoming obsolete. Pierotti said he has not yet decided whether the Bell 212 has a future in fire protection, or whether the Bell 412 will replace them. “I’ll find out when I’m in the US in March,” he noted. “Many countries now have age restrictions,” he said. “India has an age limit of 20 years. There is a limited market for aircraft approaching 20 years or older. That is why they are allocated for firefighting as they are very durable and capable aircraft. Higher standards for oil and gas and Age restrictions in some countries mean the Bell 412 is not eligible.”
ADA, the growing rotorcraft MRO in the MENA region, has included Airbus Helicopters maintenance within its scope of approval. “Our joint venture with Leonardo at AgustaWestland Aviation Services creates exceptional capabilities in Leonardo rotor products,” he said. “In addition to holding Leonardo and Bell MRO approvals, we have also developed Airbus capabilities.”
Commenting on the need for ground infrastructure to meet the region’s growing demand for helicopters and the eventual introduction of urban air mobility in the region, Pierotti said ADA’s presence in Abu Dhabi is key.
“Abu Dhabi is our base,” he said. “Abu Dhabi is our home and we want to grow there. ADNOC is an important part of our business strategy. They are our key customers. We listen to the market in Abu Dhabi. We build what they need.”
Pierotti believes this year will prove reflexive as the company analyzes its fleet in detail and secures its position as a modern and capable aviation service provider. “ADA Millennium has built a solid reputation in the consulting training space with its global programs,” he said.
He added that the ADA takes its sustainability responsibilities very seriously and is working with manufacturer Leonardo to find more sustainable solutions.
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