Story ID: 
Petroleum Air Expands Leonardo Helo Mx Capabilities
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Egypt-based company is expanding in the Red Sea and Mediterranean
Word Count: 195
Leonardo has granted authorized service center status to Egypt-based Petroleum Air Services, enabling the flight and maintenance provider to expand the services it offers to third-party customers and operators of Leonardo helicopters in the region. Previously, Petroleum Air was a Leonardo-recognized service center.
Petroleum Air Services operates a fleet of eight Leonardo AW139 medium twins for offshore energy service transportation in Egypt. The company’s AW139 fleet has logged nearly 24,000 flight hours since it began flying in Egypt in 2009.
As a joint stock company owned by shareholders Egyptian General Petroleum and Bristow Group, Petroleum Air Services operates a fleet of 31 helicopters and eight airplanes in Egypt and outside the country for oil and gas, tourism, and other segments. The company flies charter and scheduled flights and performs powerline insulator washing with helicopters, as well as providing aircraft maintenance. Its bases are located around the Red Sea, Mediterranean, and South Sinai areas.
Plans call for adding to the helicopter fleet to serve customers with new concession rights in Egypt for offshore oil and gas activities in either the Red Sea or the Mediterranean, according to Petroleum Air Services.