UAE firm to manufacture helicopters

Dubai, November 17, 2011

A UAE firm is planning to set up a helicopter manufacturing facility in Umm Al Quwain, a newspaper report said.

Quest Investment will invest $50 million in the new helicopter venture, Yousuf Al Ansari, chief executive officer of the new Quest Helicopters, was quoted as saying by a Gulf News report.

The multi-functional helicopters, which will cost $2.95 million each, are aimed at the region's growing needs of VIPs, security agencies, police surveillance units, emergency response and humanitarian teams as well as the oil field supplies market, the report said.

'We want to bring in the latest technology available in the market that will help create value to the overall aviation industry in the region and create employment for young Emiratis,' he said in the report.

Al Ansari said the helicopter was currently in the design and development stage and it is sexpect to enter into commercial production by 2014.

The prototype helicopters were designed by Ukraine's Volodymyr Udvenko and will feature a new series of engines built in the Ukraine.

Mike Creed, commercial and deputy project director of Quest Helicopter, said the facility in Umm Al Quwain will be able to assemble 50 helicopters a year.

Tags: UAE | Helicopter | Quest Investment |