At the show yesterday, representatives of both companies signed an agreement to upgrade PAS’s status from its current level of recognised service centre for Leonardo’s commercial helicopter products.

PAS has deployed Leonardo’s AW139 helicopters since 2009 to provide services for Egypt’s oil and gas industry. The aircraft are used to support the oil and gas industry through offshore transport and expansion in the eastern Mediterranean. The company provides maintenance services for Leonardo aircraft operated by several third-party operators, including Saudi Aramco and the Royal Jordanian Air Force. Authorised service centre status will allow PAS to add more services and greater spare parts management to benefit customers.

PAS has a fleet of 31helicopters from AgustaWestland, Airbus and Bell and is the sole provider of air transportation services to Egypt’s oil and gas industry. The operator is owned 75% by the Egypt Petroleum Company and 25% by US-based helicopter operator Bristow.

PAS also has a fixed-wing fleet of three De Havilland Canada (DHC) CRJ900 regional jets and five DHC Dash 8-300 turboprops that are used for recently introduced scheduled and charter flights. Most flights are domestic, with regional services to neighbouring countries such as Turkiye, Cyprus and Lebanon. Charters are a B2B business, with flights sold to tourism companies, which then sell the seats to the public.

The CRJs operate one scheduled international service between Cairo and Aqaba, Jordan, with services to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, due to begin “very soon”, according to PAS general manager, public relations, Nancy Sameh.

“We want to upgrade and increase the fleet – more helicopters and upgrade the fixed-wing fleet,” Sameh added, with more helicopters being the priority, to meet growing demand from customers. Both helicopters and the DHC 8-300s can be outfitted with a VIP cabin configuration, if necessary.

The company is headquartered in Cairo, but has eight sites around the country, with an MRO base at Alexandria’s Borg El Arab airport.

It has been a showcase for Egyptian aerospace industry but deals with partnerships and collaboration have been announced over the three days.

There was anticipation for a formal announcement by the Egypt MoD for additional C-130s and others among the 300 odd exhibitors from 100 countries were smiling as promising leads were realised.

As SHOW BUSINESS revealed, there were new models on show from Egyptian drone manufacturers and new orders planned by airlines.

In all, it was a show well done.

Read the digital edition of Day 3 here.

Read the digital edition of Day 2 here.

Read the digital edition of Day 1 here.

Then, as Day 2 of SHOW BUSINESS reports, it was all down to business.

Honeywell and the Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI) put a previous dispute behind them and signed a new engine overhaul agreement, meanwhile LCC Air Cairo announced it was in the market for extra A320s to meet demand for more regional routes.

The USAF outlined its relationship with Egypt while Europe’s Thales explains how Ukraine experience has stimulated interest in its integrated air defence systems.

Read the digital edition of Day 2 here.

Read the digital edition of Day 1 here.

The event is witnessing support from many of Egypt’s neighbours with military aircraft from across the region joining together at the event’s static park.

In the SHOW BUSINESS Day One issue we hear from Egypt’s minister of civil aviation, Sameh El-Hefny about the event’s role as a catalyst for the industry in North Africa; Boeing and Rolls-Royce talk about their relationships with Egypt; while Egyptian industry shares plans for development.

The publication features images from the event’s flying display as validation is underway ahead of today’s official opening by the country’s president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Read the digital edition of Day 1 here.

Bell will showcase a Bell 505 aircraft on static display, one of the fleet recently acquired by the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) for military training.

The Bell 505, featuring advanced avionics and a reliable engine, is set to play a crucial role in training Jordan’s next generation of pilots, supported by a comprehensive training programme that includes both basic and advanced rotorcraft flight training.

His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, the President of GACA, handed the license for Shebara Resort to RSG’s Group CEO John Pagano at The Red Sea destination. 

The President stated the license award formed part of GACA’s aviation transformation programme to boost competition and investment in support of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda.

Through the Saudi Aviation Strategy GACA is driving unprecedented growth in Saudi aviation, supporting projects such as Red Sea Global with greater aviation infrastructure and connectivity.

As the Kingdom’s aviation regulator, GACA is ensuring the highest levels of safety and quality across the sector, demonstrating Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in the aviation sector.

Pagano said the license was one of the final steppingstones toward opening Shebara to the world. 

“Soon, guests will be arriving by seaplane to this iconic resort in anticipation of enjoying a truly peerless escape,” Mr Pagano said.

“As owners of the Kingdom’s first seaplane airline and its only two water aerodromes up until now, we are firmly establishing ourselves as leaders within tourism and aviation.” 

The aerodrome is located on Sheybarah Island, home to the iconic Shebara Resort, which opens to guests in the coming month.

Last year, RSG secured the first operating license for a water aerodrome in Saudi Arabia, at Ummahat Island.

More than 520 flights carrying more than 1,200 passengers were completed in the first half of the year on a fleet of Cessnas, and RSG expects to transport 3,800 passengers before the end of 2024. 

In 2023 RSG also announced the launch of its subsidiary business Fly Red Sea, the Kingdom’s first seaplane company and water aerodrome operator.

The Red Sea International Airport has been receiving a regular schedule of domestic flights since September 2023 and international flights began in April 2024, with a twice-weekly route between The Red Sea and Dubai International.

Introducing OEMs of clean-tech aircraft, and start-up operators planning to fly them, to prospective buyers, investors and regulators, this event will celebrate the redefining of commercial air transport in a region widely recognised as one of the ‘first movers.’

The Congress includes an event ‘within an event’ on October 10 – a Showcase, where it will host a selection of eVTOLs, STOLs, Drones, and Next Gen aircraft at The Air Chateau Dubai Helipark, adjacent to Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport.  The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority recently issued Air Chateau with certification to develop new vertiports and heliports to support regional air services in the UAE. The company also pledged to acquire 100 Archer Midnight eVTOLs, plus 10 eVTOLs from Crisalion Mobility.

“We are looking forward to welcoming up to 1,000 delegates from all the over the world in October,” stated AIRTAXI World Congress President Mike Howarth, emphasising its unique formula is all about conducting business and spurring on the rapid development of this emerging industry.

ATWC will include several fireside chats with Next Gen OEMs, complemented by workshops focusing on the critical role of regulators; airlines and airports planning future route network strategies together; plus the needs / and future role of handling agents and infrastructure specialists.

Notable international and Middle East participants to date include the US FAA; Electra.aero; Rolls-Royce; Volocopter; Lilium; AENA; Bristow Group; Korea Airports Corporation; United Airlines; Edmonton International and Houston Airports; SKYTRAC; InterGlobe, FlyNAS and Honeywell.

The event commences with a high-level summit, sessions will include:

•           Airports of Tomorrow: Pioneering AAM Integration

•           Airlines & Operators: The New Reality

•           Regional Air Mobility vs Urban Air Mobility

•           Heavy Cargo Drones and Delivery Services as a New Market

•           USA, China, UK, and Portugal Markets

Initial flights tested automated flight controls, navigation systems and communications stability.

The Rikaz is a multicopter electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicle with four three-blade propellers mounted on arms. Cargo is carried in a net slung under the center of the open, box-like airframe.

With four propellers, the aircraft is designed to carry a 50-kg (110-lb.) payload 30 km (19 mi.) at 60 kph (37 mph) and be recharged in 15 min. By adding propellers, the payload can be increased to 200 kg.

Founded in 2023 by a group of United Arab Emirates and European executives, Eanan is developing a family of uncrewed aircraft with the goal of entering the urban air mobility market.

In addition to the Rikaz, Eanan is flight-testing a subscale model of the J-500 vertical-takeoff-and-landing uncrewed cargo aircraft developed with Jetoptera and fitted with the U.S. startup’s fluidic propulsion system.