AgustaWestland, the global helicopter company owned by Italy’s top industrial group Finmeccanica, has partnered with Abu Dhabi Aviation to set up a joint venture company in the UAE for helicopter maintenance.

Abu Dhabi Aviation is the largest commercial helicopter and fixed wing aircraft perator in the Middle East.

A leading player in the regional market, Abu Dhabi Aviation also owns Maximus Air Cargo, the largest air cargo provider in the Middle East and is a 50 per cent shareholder of Royal Jet, the leading VIP charter company in the region.

The new company, AgustaWestland Aviation Services will carry out a range of services and activities starting from the sale of helicopter spare parts and accessories to helicopter/component repair and overhaul, customisation, modification and upgrading.

The JV will be of mutual benefit for both partners to further expand their range of services, capabilities and presence.

The demand for helicopter maintenance across the Middle East is growing and providing this service right at the doorstep of our clients is a benefit that will see huge returns in terms of overall industry growth, remarked Nader Ahmed Mohammed Al Hammadi, chairman of Abu Dhabi Aviation.

'The customers will be offered a wide range of services in Abu Dhabi that have historically been available only from the manufacturer in Italy or the US,' said Al Hammadi.

'We aim to be a global aviation company beyond its current international business scope, and the new joint venture is a step in the right direction,' he added.

From its large and modern maintenance facilities located at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Abu Dhabi Aviation is uniquely positioned to support AgustaWestland’s remarkably successful AW139 and other models, said the official.

“Our current capabilities provide services to our clients on a global basis with 40 per cent of the business coming from outside the UAE, noted Al Hammadi.

With 30 years of experience in the oil industry and having logged over 1,000,000 hours flying helicopters, Abu Dhabi Aviation will be able to leverage its business performance strength to this partnership,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service