What specific services does PAS deliver to the oil and gas industry?

PAS is the exclusive provider of helicopter and fixed-wing services for both local and international oil and gas companies in Egypt, both onshore and offshore. We offer transportation services for personnel, using fixed-wing aircraft to transport them from our base in Cairo to various oil and gas destinations, and helicopters to transport them from bases to offshore platforms, vessels, and rigs, supporting their exploration and production activities. We have bases located in Ras Shukeir, Ras Gharib, and Zeit Bay in the Red Sea; Alexandria and Port Said in the Mediterranean; and Abu Rudeis in South Sinai. Our main overhaul shops for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are located in Ras Badran and Cairo International Airport, respectively.

What were the main milestones achieved by PAS in 2018?

In 2018, we experienced an increase in helicopter flying hours in the East Mediterranean and a rise in fixed-wing flying hours related to the commercial sector. Our helicopter division flew 19,018 hours, while our fixed-wing division flew 11,725 hours, resulting in a total of 32,000 trips and the transportation of 655,000 passengers. The total turnover for 2018 reached USD 130 million. Additionally, we signed a cooperation protocol with the Egyptian Aviation Academy for training and marketing aviation services, particularly helicopter training for neighboring countries. We also participated in the Lebanon International Oil & Gas Summit and anticipate promising opportunities in that market. Furthermore, we completed the internal and external refurbishment of our Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft in-house at Cairo International Airport. Lastly, we celebrated the launch of our first scheduled flight to Aqaba, Jordan, on March 13, offering one weekly flight.

Could you provide an overview of PAS’ fleet and its planned expansion?

We currently possess 36 different types of helicopters with passenger capacities ranging from 5 to 15, five fixed-wing Bombardier Dash 8 turboprops with a capacity of 50 passengers, and two Jet CRJ 900 Next Gen with a capacity of 88 passengers. All our aircraft are equipped with the highest safety features, comfort facilities, and meet OGP requirements. Our expansion plans include adding two helicopters to our fleet to meet the demand for exploration activities. Additionally, we aim to introduce a third CRJ900 and new fixed-wing jets with a capacity of 120-140 passengers. This expansion is intended to cater to regional range requirements for new clients, the commercial sector, and to serve Egyptian oil and gas companies that have won contracts in Oman, Basra, and Saudi Arabia. We are also in the final stages of completing a state-of-the-art hangar at Port Said El Gamil Airport to support operations, maintenance, and safety activities in the East Mediterranean. Furthermore, we have initiated the architectural design for a new hangar near Borg El Arab International Airport in Alexandria as a replacement for the El Nozha hangar.

What is PAS’ strategy for 2022?

Our strategy for 2022 revolves around fulfilling the requirements of oil and gas companies. We are considering the addition of heavy helicopter types to our fleet to support deepwater operations. We also aim to complete all our new infrastructure projects, including the opening of the Lebanese market for helicopter services. Additionally, we have obtained accreditation as the first authorized service center for Bell CSF in North Africa and the Middle East, and we will soon commence this activity from Cairo International Airport. Our vision is to be the leading organization in providing state-of-the-art technology and the highest quality of aviation services, and we are actively working towards that goal.

How is PAS aligning its activities with Egypt’s goal of becoming a regional energy hub?

We are committed to being part of Egypt’s major economic restructuring and development. PAS has started aligning its activities to fit into the new Egyptian economic map, which aims to transform Egypt into a hub for significant investments in Africa and the Middle East. We are adjusting our activities, strategic goals, and objectives to align with the government’s new framework, which focuses on sustainable development and creating new opportunities and investments. This framework encompasses three main pillars: economic, social, and environmental. Under the economic pillar, we are implementing new cost analysis principles for performance evaluation, optimizing resource utilization, and improving our operations through international quality measures. We are also expanding internationally, opening new markets and segments to generate new opportunities and improve the company’s profitability, benefiting our Egyptian stakeholders, such as EGPC. Furthermore, we are actively engaging with the younger generation and merging their expertise with our current workforce to facilitate knowledge transfer. In terms of the social pillar, we support funding new projects in Egypt and plan to initiate low-cost flights to remote areas like the New Valley to encourage investor interest. Lastly, with regards to the environmental pillar, we are incorporating green practices into our daily operations to comply with international laws. We raise awareness among our employees about the importance of applying these principles through training and practical implementation. We are adapting our strategies to align with Egypt’s pursuit of a green economy.