Home-loving ADA targets offshore expansion

In November last year ADA took delivery of two new AW169s. Picture: ADA.

Business for Abu Dhabi Aviation is still going strong as it remains the largest helicopter airline operations centre and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company in the MENA region.

A large part of the company’s business provides aviation offshore oil support and other services worldwide, as well as for Abu Dhabi’s own oil and gas production companies.

“We are dynamic and we are moving fast,” said commercial director, Dr Mark Pierotti.

“We are watching where all the oil and gas finds are; where all the tenders are being issued; and forming close relationships with the big oil and gas companies and the countries with oil fields that need reliable and safe helicopter services to their rigs and locations.

“This is a big part of ADA’s future, but we still understand that the UAE is our home and our local customer remains very important to us, so we make sure any expansion is with the continued service level our Abu Dhabi customer deserves.”

The company also provides VVIP passenger transportation, emergency medical services, search and rescue for the UAE, crop spraying, aerial construction, seismic support, firefighting and third-party maintenance support.

“We can do pretty much everything with a helicopter,” said Pierotti.
The company currently operates and manages a helicopter fleet including 17 AW139s, 22 Bell 412s, 12 Bell 212s, plus EC-135 and seven Bombardier Dash-8 series turboprop transport aircraft.

“In November we took delivery of two new AW169s that will enable us to offer an elevated service to the industry and its clients,” said Pierotti.

The company is also expanding its maintenance field, servicing both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft – both in-house and as a significant provider of third-party maintenance services.

It has fixed and rotary-wing contracts for heavy maintenance and the modification of some of region’s major helicopter fleets, as well as several maintenance support contracts with the UAE armed forces.