Month: August 2024

30^th August, 2024:  LCI, a leading aviation company, has delivered two new Leonardo AW139 helicopters to Babcock Australasia (Babcock) for emergency medical services (EMS) operations across the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula of Queensland, Australia.

The helicopters, which were delivered to Australia to begin modification for their EMS role in late August, have been placed in LCI’s joint venture with SMFL: SMFL LCI Helicopters Limited. The aircraft will be based at Horn Island and support Babcock’s operations for the Queensland Government, including the delivery of 24/7 EMS and search and rescue (SAR) services across the Torres Strait.

The new aircraft offer flexibility, high performance, and reliability. Travelling further, faster and with greater capabilities than the previous generation aircraft they are replacing, the helicopters will provide local communities in the Torres Strait and Northern Cape York Peninsula with improved patient care.

The AW139s are fitted with a power loading stretcher system, a winch and an Electro Optic/Infra-Red Camera for enhanced SAR, EMS and other lifesaving work within the remote island community.

Accomplished Torres Strait Islander artist, Alick Tipoti, has designed two dramatic liveries for the helicopters which will be instantly recognisable to the Torres Strait Islander communities of North Queensland that they will serve.  Torres Strait Islander Peoples use the word ‘Kuyup’ in reference to the rescue helicopter, which translates to dragonfly.  The overall design is known as ‘Kuyupaw Yabu’, which translates to the flight path of the dragonfly, and incorporates elements such as migrating birds, sea spirits, reefs and lagoons.  The Kuyup (dragonfly) is central to the design.

Nigel Leishman, Chief Commercial Officer of LCI, says: “We are delighted to be providing two new AW139 helicopters, equipped with latest equipment for EMS and other mission critical services, to our longstanding partner Babcock. These state-of-the-art helicopters will improve the speed, range and capability of its operations in Queensland.

“The striking Kuyupaw Yabu liveries will boost the visibility of emergency operations across remote communities in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula, and we are proud to have co-sponsored the artwork alongside Babcock and Leonardo.”

LCI is a longstanding leasing partner to the Babcock group, and now provides 18 helicopters for a wide variety of operational roles in markets across the globe.

Duncan Milne, Managing Director Aviation & Critical Services for Babcock Australasia, says: “LCI has helped us to deliver EMS and mission critical solutions of exceptional quality across the globe for many years. These latest helicopters are a significant step forward for both LCI and Babcock in our support of highly effective emergency services in the harder to reach parts of Australia.”

Each of these aircraft deliver this mission critical support to local communities and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good health and well-being (SDG3), Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG9) and Sustainable cities and communities (SDG11). Over half of LCI’s fleet is deployed on EMS operations.

LCI is a signatory of Aircraft Leasing Ireland’s (ALI) Sustainability Charter, with a commitment to driving forward and achieving ESG related goals, centred around 10 priority sustainability principles, including a commitment to achieving net zero by 2050.

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About LCI 

LCI is a leading aviation company that is uniquely positioned across the commercial fixed-wing, helicopter and advanced air mobility sectors. Since its inception in 2004, LCI has undertaken approximately US$10 billion of aviation transactions and provides leasing services to operators, Governments and end-users.

LCI is owned by Libra Group (www.libra.com), a privately owned global business group with assets and operations in nearly 60 countries, and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL) (www.smfl.co.jp).

For more information, please contact:  

Charlie Hampton / Anshika Nagar  

Tel: +44 (0)7570 662925

E-Mail: lci@pembrokeandrye.com  

13^th August, 2024:  LCI, a leading aviation company, has placed two H145D3 helicopters on lease, one direct to Santos Limited (Santos) and one to Pacific Helicopters (PHL). The placement with Santos represents LCI’s first ever direct lease to an end-user. 

Santos is a global energy company with operations across Australia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Timor-Leste and the US.  PHL is the leading provider of helicopter services for energy, mining, construction and telecommunications companies in Papua New Guinea, and will operate both aircraft on behalf of Santos subsidiary, Oil Search (PNG). 

The two new helicopters will be leased from LCI’s joint venture (JV) with Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL). They have been delivered in recent weeks on long term leases and will support liquid natural gas (LNG) and other energy facilities in PNG with a significant export content to Japan. The helicopters will also support Santos Foundation activities in PNG and its work to build resilient communities. 

The Airbus H145D3 is the quietest helicopter in its class and has a proven track record of performance, capability and flexibility. Its combination of a small footprint and a large, flexible cabin make it well-suited for a broad variety of missions. 

Nigel Leishman, Chief Commercial Officer of LCI, says: “We welcome this new partnership with Santos and Pacific Helicopters, and are excited to support their operations in Papua New Guinea. This transaction demonstrates that end users of helicopters can step into leases, thus benefitting from our availability and efficiencies directly.” 

Michael Sleightholme, Aviation Manager EA / PNG of Santos, says: “LCI’s wide ranging experience and bespoke approach made them a natural partner for a direct lease, and the helicopters are already bringing greater efficiency, performance and reliability to our operations.” 

Eddie Matane, Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Helicopters, says: “LCI’s proven track record supporting energy operations across the globe made them a natural choice as a leasing partner. The new and versatile helicopters will help enable us to deliver reliable and efficient operations in Papua New Guinea.” 

PHL has supported and engaged PNG Nationals since its inception, employing over 160 people and creating opportunities for locals to become pilots and engineers. PHL adheres to international safety standards and provides reliable and secure aerial solutions in challenging environments. PHL were supported in the arrangement of its lease by Russell Allen & Partners, an aviation company that provides asset management, lease and technical services. 

Santos (ASX: STO) is a global energy company headquartered in Adelaide, which reported revenues of US$5.9bn for financial year 2023.  Its goal is to be a global leader in the energy evolution to low carbon fuels that help the world decarbonise and continue to provide the reliable, affordable energy the world needs for modern life and human progress. 

– Ends – 

About LCI 

LCI is a leading aviation company that is uniquely positioned across the commercial fixed-wing, helicopter and advanced air mobility sectors. Since its inception in 2004, LCI has undertaken approximately US$10 billion of aviation transactions and provides leasing services to operators, Governments and end-users.  

LCI is owned by Libra Group (www.libra.com), a privately owned global business group with assets and operations in nearly 60 countries, and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL) (www.smfl.co.jp).

For more information, please contact:  

Charlie Hampton / Anshika Nagar  

Tel: +44 (0)7570 662925

E-Mail: lci@pembrokeandrye.com