Author: anshika@pembrokeandrye.com

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. 

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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  

21^st May, 2024:  LCI, a leading aviation company, and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL), have announced an order for up to 21 of the latest generation helicopters from Airbus.  

The major new order from LCI and SMFL’s joint venture leasing operation, SMFL LCI Helicopters (SMFLH), consists of 14 firm​ orders​ plus 7 options. It is made up of a mix of light twin H145, medium twin H160 and super medium H175 helicopters.  

The new helicopters will be delivered through to 2028 and will be aimed at a variety of operating segments such as emergency medical services (EMS), search and rescue (SAR), and offshore energy, including wind.  

The order marks the next phase of the pioneering Flight Path partnership between LCI and Airbus Helicopters, which aims to address the long-term capacity and financing requirements of the industry in a responsible manner.  

The new Airbus helicopters will offer superior performance, flexibility, and lower CO2 emissions than comparable types and other transportation modes. In addition, they will be equipped with the latest suite of navigational and safety features and will also be capable of ​using ​blended Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs). 

Jaspal Jandu, CEO of LCI, says: “We are delighted to announce our continued business with Airbus. The helicopter marketplace is facing a number of key capacity decisions as it looks to match supply with underlying demand requirements. This order for up to 21 latest generation helicopters reflects our combined determination to deliver solutions for operators and end users in a lasting, efficient and pragmatic way.” 

Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, says: “This substantial new helicopter order from LCI and SMFL marks the next exciting phase of our Flight Path partnership, and aims to provide the required support, at the substantial scale needed, to the mission critical sector. With our combination of technical and financial innovation, and market knowledge and presence, I’m confident there will be many more chapters to come.” 

The Flight Path partnership builds upon a 20-year relationship between LCI and Airbus, and the initial phase will see the committed delivery of at least seven latest generation Airbus helicopters by 2025. 

LCI and SMFL’s combined fleet currently includes over 40 Airbus helicopters. They are deployed by 12 operators in over 10 countries across the globe on a range of missions including EMS, SAR and offshore wind, all of which align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The new helicopters align with LCI and SMFL’s long-term commitment to sustainable growth. LCI is a signatory of Aircraft Leasing Ireland’s (ALI) Sustainability Charter, with a commitment to driving forward and achieving responsibility goals, centred around 10 priority sustainability principles, including a commitment to achieving net zero by 2050. 

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Notes to Editors 

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, visit www.lciaviation.com 

For more information, please contact:  

Charlie Hampton / Simon Wheale  

LCI 

Tel: +44 (0)7884 187297  

E-Mail: lci@pembrokeandrye.com 

VAI Heli-Expo, Anaheim – 28^th February, 2024: LCI, a leading aviation company, has unveiled a new Flight Path partnership with Airbus Helicopters, which will address the long-term capacity, sustainability and financing requirements of the industry.   

Airbus predicts demand for over 16,000 new helicopters by 2041, with a combined value approaching $130 billion. The new partnership will see LCI and Airbus Helicopters leveraging their combined knowledge, experience and analytical capabilities to identify the infrastructure and financial innovations that will address this demand.

Flight Path builds upon a 20-year relationship between the companies, which most recently culminated in a collaboration agreement to develop advanced air mobility ecosystems around the CityAirbus Next Gen programme. Going forward, it will also include investment in further helicopter units, types and technologies, with a growing emphasis around sustainability.  

The first phase of Flight Path will see the committed delivery of at least seven latest generation Airbus helicopters to LCI by 2025.   

LCI has ordered five new Airbus H145 helicopters, all of which are being placed in its joint venture (JV) with Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL). The first two aircraft are being delivered by the end of March 2024 and will be operated in Oceania.   

In addition, LCI will deliver two H175 helicopters by the end of March 2024. The aircraft will be operated in South America. 

Jaspal Jandu, CEO of LCI, says: “This strategic partnership between LCI and Airbus signals our collective commitment to deliver long-term, sustainable capacity solutions to the market. The combination of Airbus’ long-standing expertise in business development, forecasting and planning, with LCI’s track record in leasing, investing and financial innovation, will enable us to sustainably address the multibillion dollar requirements of the market.” 

LCI’s fleet currently includes over 45 Airbus helicopters. They are deployed by 14 operators in over 10 countries across the globe on a range of missions including emergency medical services, search and rescue and offshore wind. 

Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, says: “LCI and Airbus have worked together in close cooperation for almost two decades, culminating most recently in the delivery commitments for seven next generation helicopters. This new partnership is a natural elevation of this relationship and one that reflects our shared capabilities. Together with our partners, Airbus Helicopters is committed to delivering sustainable growth and innovation to its customers as they undertake their mission-critical work.” 

The new partnership aligns with LCI’s long-term commitment to sustainable growth. LCI is a signatory of Aircraft Leasing Ireland’s (ALI) Sustainability Charter, with a commitment to driving forward and achieving responsibility goals, centred around 10 priority sustainability principles, including a commitment to achieving net zero by 2050. 

– 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 international business group whose subsidiaries own and operate assets in nearly 60 countries and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL) (www.smfl.co.jp). For more information, visit www.lciaviation.com 

For more information, please contact:  

Charlie Hampton / Simon Wheale  

LCI 

Tel: +44 (0)7884 187297  

E-Mail: lci@pembrokeandrye.com  

HAI Heli-Expo, Anaheim – 27^th February, 2024: LCI, a leading aviation company, and Airbus have announced a collaboration agreement to ​jointly develop ecosystems for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). 

The collaboration will focus on the development of partnership scenarios and business models in three core AAM areas: strategy, commercialisation and financing.  

Both partners will collectively develop AAM market perspectives and forecasts, conduct industry research, and harness data analytics to understand new applications and missions. They will support the development of new AAM ​solutions​, evaluate new commercial structures in areas including fleet, battery and charging network solutions​.​​ 

As part of the collaboration, LCI will become a key financial partner for ​Airbus’ Advanced Air Mobility projects​ around certain mission types such as emergency medical services and will leverage its network to aid global take up and acceptance. It will also explore innovative leasing and finance solutions for potential​ customers for CityAirbus NextGen​. 

Jaspal Jandu, CEO of LCI, says: “We are delighted to be forging this new partnership with Airbus. For two decades, LCI and Airbus have delivered capacity and financing solutions to airlines and operators across the globe, and we are now extending that to advanced air mobility.” 

“Transportation and logistical networks have a duty to be efficient, sustainable, and scalable. Both LCI and Airbus take a holistic and pragmatic view of advanced air mobility, including vehicles and also infrastructure, financing, and network adoption. By combining our respective strengths, we will incubate and accelerate an entirely new generation of aviation.” 

Balkiz Sarihan, CEO and Head of Urban Air Mobility at Airbus, says: “We are excited to extend our long-standing relationship with LCI, an innovative lessor that is globally unique in its positioning across the commercial fixed wing, helicopter and advanced air mobility sectors.” 

​​“LCI’s combination of operational expertise, customer networks, and financial insights, complements Airbus’ technical innovation in flight technologies, and will enable us to collectively drive the development of advanced air mobility. Together, we will take concrete steps towards the co-creation of next generation ​AAM​ ecosystems and our decarbonisation roadmap.”​​ 

Airbus finalised the assembly of its CityAirbus NextGen and powered on the vehicle at the end of 2023. In the next phase, the company will commence the vehicle’s test campaign, during which it will make use of its dedicated new AAM testhouse in Donauwörth, Germany. Airbus is also expanding its global network and partnerships to create a unique ecosystem that will foster a successful and viable AAM market. 

– 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 a signatory of Aircraft Leasing Ireland’s (ALI) Sustainability Charter committing to Net Zero by 2050. 

LCI is owned by Libra Group (www.libra.com), a privately-owned international business group whose subsidiaries own and operate assets in nearly 60 countries and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL) (www.smfl.co.jp). For more information, visit www.lciaviation.com 

For more information, please contact:  

For LCI 

Charlie Hampton 

LCI 

Tel: +44 (0)7884 187297  

E-Mail: lci@pembrokeandrye.com  

22^nd February 2024:  LCI, a leading aviation company, has announced a framework agreement for up to 21 of the latest generation helicopters from Leonardo, comprising of 10 firm plus 11 options. 

The innovative new framework agreement covers the latest generation light-intermediate AW169, intermediate AW139 and super-medium AW189 helicopters, which will collectively address industry renewal and replacement requirements. 

The new helicopters will be delivered through to 2028 and will be aimed at a variety of missions including Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Search and Rescue (SAR), offshore energy, including wind.  The helicopters will be strategically allocated between LCI and SMFL LCI Helicopters, LCI’s joint venture with Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL). 

They will offer superior performance, flexibility, and lower CO₂ emissions than comparable types and other transportation modes, thereby helping operators to reduce their carbon footprint whilst maintaining mission-critical and life-saving operations.  

In addition, they will be equipped with the latest suite of navigational and safety features and will also be cleared to use Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) in the future, leveraging the certification standards already obtained by Leonardo for SAF use. 

Jaspal Jandu, CEO of LCI, says: “We are extremely pleased to extend our deep and long-standing relationship with Leonardo.  The helicopter market is seeking to review, renew and replenish capacity in a disciplined and pragmatic way. We want to help customers, operators and end-users to grow sustainably whilst using some of the most modern, efficient and technologically innovative helicopters in the skies.” 

These commitments build upon LCI’s decade long partnership with Leonardo during which it has already taken delivery of over 50 helicopters making it one of the manufacturer’s largest customers for new equipment. 

Stefano Villanti, SVP Marketing and Sales of Leonardo Helicopters, said: “We are delighted to strengthen our long-standing partnership with LCI as they continue to rely upon our technology to meet multiple requirements in the market. This will bring greater efficiency to LCI’s customers and help them reduce their environmental impact whilst offering significant performance enhancements.” 

LCI’s fleet currently includes 77 Leonardo helicopters in operation in 20 countries across the globe. Many are deployed on mission critical and socially responsible sectors such as EMS, SAR and offshore wind energy. 

The new helicopters align with LCI’s long-term commitment to sustainable growth.  LCI is a signatory of Aircraft Leasing Ireland’s (ALI) Sustainability Charter, with a commitment to driving forward and achieving responsibility goals, centred around 10 priority sustainability principles, including a commitment to achieving net zero by 2050. 

– 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 international business group whose subsidiaries own and operate assets in nearly 60 countries and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL) (www.smfl.co.jp). For more information, visit www.lciaviation.com 

For more information, please contact:  

Charlie Hampton / Simon Wheale  

LCI 

Tel: +44 (0)7884 187297  

E-Mail: lci@pembrokeandrye.com