Milestone Aviation Group Limited, a GE Capital Aviation Services company (GECAS), wrote USD 1bn in leases and letters of intent in 2016, and the value of its helicopter fleet has now surpassed USD 4bn, the company said.
Recent successful transactions serving emergency medical services as well as the search and rescue segment place nearly a quarter of Milestone´s fleet supporting life-saving missions. In addition to Milestone´s focus on diversification, service offerings now encompass many of GECAS´ capabilities, such as debt financing, engine leasing, and fleet advisory.
In 2016, Milestone wrote 23 leases and letters of intent in the emergency medical services sector alone, and another 12 in other parapublic missions. With newly established customers in China, Korea, Australia, Norway and Western Europe, the helicopter lessor is now supporting EMS missions globally. Milestone sees strong demand for fleet renewal and service growth in the EMS segment and recently placed new orders with Airbus and Leonardo focused on new technology light-twin aircraft to meet this demand.
Increases in offshore wind projects have prompted a partnership with GE´s Renewable business, which builds wind turbines, to identify new opportunities for helicopter operators. With the help of GE´s Aviation Digital team, Milestone clients are benefiting from customized digital solutions such as flight operations quality assurance programs.
Milestone partners with helicopter operators worldwide, providing a wide array of financial and productivity solutions, including operating leases, purchase/leasebacks, secured debt financing, engine leasing and fleet advisory. The company supports over 35 customers in more than 30 countries serving a variety of industries, including offshore oil and gas, search and rescue, emergency medical services, police surveillance, mining and other utility missions.
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) provides aviation leasing and financing. The company offers a wide range of aircraft types, plus multiple financing products and services. It owns or services a fleet of over 1,950 aircraft in operation or on order, plus provides loans collateralized on an additional 400 aircraft. GECAS serves roughly 270 customers in over 75 countries from a network of 25 offices.
General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) operates as an infrastructure and technology company worldwide.
