Saudi to get rotorcraft support centre
Boeing has signed an agreement with Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) and Alsalam Aircraft Company to create a rotorcraft support centre in Saudi Arabia, the company announced on 26 August.
The joint venture rotorcraft centre will have locations in the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, where it will offer in-country maintenance, repair and overhaul support for the nation's rotorcraft. It will support commercial as well as defence rotorcraft, including the Boeing AH-6i light helicopter gunship, CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter and AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.
The joint venture is expected to be formed in late 2015 or early 2016, subject to completion of customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
Leanne Caret, president, global services & support business, Boeing, said: 'Boeing is always looking at innovative ways to offer our customers the highest level of service and support. The Saudi Rotorcraft Support Center builds upon our decades-long partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. When it’s fully operational, the Saudi military will have a national asset that affordably enhances the readiness of their rotorcraft personnel and fleet.'
Nader Khalawi, chief executive officer, SAEI, said: 'This project will strengthen and diversify the Saudi nationals’ skills and provide long-term investment in our company’s future workforce, contributing to the Kingdom goals of localisation, economic growth and transfer of state-of-the art technology and know-how. Designed to meet the growing demand for support to the kingdom’s expanding fleet of military and civil helicopters, this is an in-country capability of which we can all be proud.'
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