Luxaviation Group late last week launched a global VIP helicopter management company with services that include crew provisioning and training, maintenance coordination, charter services, sales and acquisitions. With a presence in “key locations” in Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, Luxaviation Helicopters will manage VIP helicopters for private and business clients. In fact, the company claims Luxaviation Helicopters will become one of the first VIP helicopter operators in Europe holding EASA approval to operate flights to offshore yachts and cruise liners.
Charlotte Pedersen, formerly the COO of Luxaviation Group, will lead Luxaviation Helicopters as CEO. Pedersen has nearly 30 years of aviation experience, including 17 years of military helicopter pilot experience as an officer in the Danish Royal Air Force. “Luxaviation Helicopters will bring the luxury service standards of business jets into the helicopter world,” she said. “Helicopter management is a natural complement to the services that the Luxaviation Group already provides and we see significant potential in this area.”
The new division will continue to expand worldwide via organic growth, company acquisitions and joint-venture agreements with existing helicopter companies that meet Luxaviation’s safety and quality standards, the company said. It has immediately taken responsibility for the 20 existing rotorcraft in the Luxaviation group fleet, including those managed by its ExecuJet subsidiary. The fleet currently includes a mix of Bell, Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo twin-engined models.