Abu Dhabi Aviation and AgustaWestland form UAE Joint Venture

Abu Dhabi Aviation and AgustaWestland have reached an agreement to set up in the UAE a joint venture to operate in the field of maintenance and training for helicopters.

The two companies agreed to participate in the formation of a limited liability company to carry out certain services and activities in the fields of helicopter repair and overhaul, customisation, modification and upgrading, and the sale of helicopter spare parts and accessories.

Also the JV shall work in association with other local companies in the development of a fully integrated helicopter pilot training center to be set up in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

In addition to its other helicopter and fixed wing fleets, Abu Dhabi Aviation also owns Maximus Air Cargo, the largest air cargo provider in the Middle East and is a 50% shareholder of Royal Jet, the leading VIP charter company in the region. Abu Dhabi Aviation operates one of the world's largest civil fleets of 20 AW139s and has been an AgustaWestland Service Centre since 2005.

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. There are now nearly two hundred of these sophisticated, third-generation helicopters operating in both civil and military roles with many in the Middle East region.

Capitalising upon the depth of their respective resources, the synergies created through the Abu Dhabi Aviation and AgustaWestland joint venture shall deliver a new level of customer support and services locally within the region. Customers can expect to see a wide range of services in Abu Dhabi that have historically been available only from the manufacturer in Italy or the United States.

Given Abu Dhabi Aviation's goals of becoming an even more global aviation enterprise than its current international business scope, this joint venture with AgustaWestland is yet another initiative to extend the Abu Dhabi and AgustaWestland brands.