Leonardo and Milestone Aviation Group Limited ("Milestone"), the world's leading leasing company belonging to GECAS, today announced that they have been chosen by Aramco Overseas Company, a company in the Saudi Aramco group ("Aramco") operating in the petrochemical sector globally, for its fleet of fleet of medium helicopters. Leonardo and Milestone have signed a contract for 17 AW139 helicopters and options for a further four units and Aramco will receive the total of 21 units within three years starting this year.
Leonardo and Milestone have been awarded the contract with Aramco following a tender. The financial stability of Milestone, the outstanding operational skills of Leonardo's AW139 and the ability of the two partners to meet the customer's requirements were key elements in responding to the Aramco helicopter program. Furthermore, the solution offered by Milestone for the leasing of the entire fleet of medium helicopters, object of the planned renewal, was considered by the persuasive oil company to proceed with its investments in this field.
Milestone is the world's largest owner of Leonardo's civil helicopters, with leasing activities for its models started in 2010. Leonardo's fleet of helicopters belonging to Milestone will exceed 100 units once the 21 units of the recent contract have been delivered. Milestone's collaboration with Aramco began in 2016 with the leasing of three AW139s, the first ever for the oil company.
"We are delighted that Aramco continues to rely on us and can now support the renewal of its helicopter fleet with a personalized leasing formula," said Milestone President and CEO Daniel Rosenthal. "Our solid partnership with Leonardo and its modern family of products has enabled us to fully satisfy our client's operational requirements".
"We are delighted that Aramco continues to trust our AW139 for its operational needs," said Leonardo's Chief of Helicopters Division Gian Piero Cutillo. "We also thank Milestone, the largest owner of our civil helicopters for various operational tasks, for our long-standing collaboration and for the assured contribution to achieving this historic market objective. We are ready to work together towards the entry into service of this new fleet of helicopters destined for Aramco ".
One of Leonardo's largest helicopter users in the Middle East, Aramco employs 14 AW139s since 2008 and seven AW109s since 2006, mainly for offshore transport tasks in Saudi Arabia to support the Oil & Gas industry. With the introduction of the new AW139s as part of the medium helicopter fleet renewal program, Aramco will maintain the highest standards of technology, performance, reliability, safety, versatility and cabin space. The AW139 has extraordinary operational capabilities with just one engine running, even in the presence of high temperatures and at altitude, making it the ideal solution for Aramco's needs. The AW139 is capable of carrying out various missions and the 21 specimens covered by the new Aramco program will be destined for offshore transport and search and rescue tasks.
