Story ID: 
Milestone Places Eight AW139s with China's Kingwing
By: Mark Huber
Caption: This is “the largest helicopter lease placement ever in China,” said Milestone Aviation CEO Daniel Rosenthal.
Word Count: 230

Helicopter lessor Milestone Aviation Group announced the delivery and lease of eight Leonardo AW139 medium twins to Shanghai Kingwing Aviation. The medium twin-engine AW139s will join Kingwing’s existing fleet of 32 helicopters that provide emergency medical services (EMS) in China and will facilitate expanded services to 22 provinces nationwide.

Milestone leased its first helicopter in China in 2014, and its parent, General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), has been active in China since 1988. Last year, the companies collaborated to found a leasing platform in the Tianjin Free Trade Zone. Established in 2006, Kingwing is the largest EMS helicopter operator in China, providing not only EMS services, but also aircraft hosting, consignment stock, crew training, and helicopter maintenance services.

This is “the largest helicopter lease placement ever in China,” said Milestone CEO Daniel Rosenthal. “We have long believed China was prime for growth in civil helicopters and look forward to supporting operators such as Kingwing as they provide critical life-saving helicopter services across China.”

Milestone has a worldwide fleet of helicopters worth more than $4 billion, as well as a loan portfolio and debt commitments of approximately $400 million. The company has a forward order book of firm and option aircraft worth an estimated aggregate purchase price exceeding $3 billion.

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