Leonardo and the helicopter operator Falcon Aviation Services of the UAE launch a brand new concept of terminal dedicated to helicopters and tilt-rotors at the Dubai Air Show. The initiative aims to meet the growing demand for modern and sustainable vertical mobility and an increasing level of accessibility to urban areas.
The new terminal will combine a heliport, commercial areas and lounges in a single integrated solution. The terminal will allow the development of a network of point-to-point connections for transfers within urban areas and between cities. Users and passengers who use VIP and charter transports will be provided with service levels generally available only in larger private airport facilities far from the city center and urban areas. The terminal has a highly eco-compatible and modular design with the use of recyclable materials and the possibility, if necessary, to be transported to other locations.
A terminal with these characteristics will be built in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, next year near the Expo 2020 area, to support helicopter transport operations to and from the Universal Exposition site. UAE helicopter operator Falcon Aviation Services will use the new terminal to provide its transportation services. For this initiative, Leonardo and Falcon Aviation Services will leverage their solid partnership in the region, offering customers exclusive flight experiences.
With a market share in the United Arab Emirates equal to 90% of the VIP helicopter fleet, Leonardo will confirm its leadership also in terms of innovation in vertical passenger transport, exhibiting the AW609 tiltrotor at the new terminal. The world's fastest vertical take-off and landing commercial aircraft is set to usher in a new era of inter-city connections, with unprecedented benefits also for the urban areas of the UAE and the Gulf region.
Alessandro Profumo, CEO of Leonardo, said: “This unique initiative demonstrates how Leonardo, together with its historical partners, leaders in the sectors and areas of reference, are shaping the way we will fly in the coming decades. We are proud to have started this project in Dubai with Falcon Aviation Services and that it will provide transportation services of unprecedented quality during a world-class event such as Expo 2020 ″.
Alyazia Bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairperson of the Executive Managing Committee Falcon Aviation, said: "We are happy to work with Leonardo for this innovative sustainable air mobility project that will be implemented in Dubai to provide unprecedented transportation services for millions of visitors during the largest public event in the world ”.
Thanks to its skills and solid leadership in the world market of VIPVVIP and executive helicopters, Leonardo will be able to build terminals like the one in Dubai also in other geographical areas including Europe, North and South America and South-East Asia to respond in an innovative way to different and increasing mobility needs and related service levels.
Leonardo
Leonardo, a global high-tech company, is among the top ten companies in the world in Aerospace, Defense and Security and the leading Italian industrial company. Organized in five business divisions, Leonardo boasts a significant industrial presence in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the USA where it also operates through subsidiaries such as Leonardo DRS (defense electronics) and some joint ventures and investments: ATR, MBDA, Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space and Avio.
Leonardo competes on the most important international markets by leveraging its areas of technological and product leadership (Helicopters; Aircraft; Aerostructures; Electronics; Cyber Security and Space). Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in 2018 Leonardo recorded consolidated revenues of 12,2 billion euros and invested 1,4 billion euros in Research and Development. The Group has been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) since 2010 and in 2019 becomes Industry leader in the Aerospace & Defense sector.
Falcon Aviation Services
Falcon Aviation Services is one of the leading commercial aviation services companies in the UAE, headquartered in Al Bateen Airport and Dubai (Al Maktoum International Airport). It was created on the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed AlNahyan. Falcon Aviation has been in operation for over 12 years during which time the company has built an unrivaled reputation in charter, VIP transport and in support of the government Oil & Gas sector.
With a modern and diversified fleet of executive jets and corporate helicopters, Falcon Aviation offers a multitude of general and business aviation services including Business Jet / VIP Helicopter Charter, Fixed Based Operations (FBO) Services, Aircraft Management and full support assistance technical and maintenance.