Abu
Dhabi Aviation (ADA) is the largest
commercial helicopter operator in the Middle East, operating 54
helicopters(16 Augusta Westland AW139s, 15 Bell 412s,19 Bell 212s
and 4 Bell206s), three fixed-wing aircraft (DHC-8). The company
employs over 800 personnel, including 150 pilots and 150 air craft
maintenance engineers. The bulk of the company's business
activity is in support of Abu Dhabi offshore oil and engineering
and construction companies. Other business activities include
medical evacuation, survey, photography and charter.
Additionally, all aerial spraying of crops in the UAE and the
majority of aerial spraying in Oman is carried out by ADA.By 1983,
the fleet size had increased to a total of 34 aircraft, flying over
38,800 hours annually, an average of over 100 hours per day. In
1985, Abu Dhabi Aviation was authorised to operate fixed-wing
aircraft and to conduct third-party aircraft main tenance. In 1991
Abu Dhabi Aviation was awarded its first fixed-wing aircraft
contract. This contract, with the largest oil company in the UAE,
is now operated with three new DHC-8 aircraft.
Abu Dhabi Aviation has also expanded its
operations to cover the region and has completed numerous contracts
throughout the Middle East and beyond, including Saudi Arabia,
Qatar, Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman. Republic of Yemen, Spain,
Pakistan, Eritrea, Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Australia, India,
Afghanistan and Indonesia. Seismic surveys in search of oil and
other natural resources have been completed utilising specialist
under-slung load techniques using a 100ft "long line", thus
enabling the helicopter to remain well clear of all obstructions.
This same technique has also been used most successfully to conduct
other work, such as erecting pylons, as part of government schemes
to bring electricity to remote areas, and construction of microwave
towers. ADA has operated one Bell212 helicopter in support of
long-term contracts for a major oil company in the Republic of
Yemen. The company also has an ongoing firefighting contract in
Spain. The company's marketing department actively pursues new
business opportunities worldwide.
In July 2011, Abu Dhabi Aviation
reported a net profit of AED 181.612m for the six-month period that
ended in June, a jump of 150.4 per cent over the corresponding
period last year. This significant increase was due to profit on
sale of aircraft in Maximus, as well as increase in flying hours
and a more favourable product mix in Royal Jet," the company said
in a statement to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its
shares are listed. Its shares rose 0.31 per cent yesterday to close
at AED 3.20. For January to June
2010, the company's net profit stood at AED 72.540m.
Abu Dhabi Aviation's turnover in the
past six months rose by 20.3 per cent to AED 851.03m. For the same
period, its operating profit jumped by 69.2 per cent to AED
255.03m from AED 150.75m, while earnings per share rose to
AED 0.41 from AED 0.19.
As of the end of June, the company's
total assets were valued at AED 3.2bn, up from AED
3.17bn in December, while its total liabilities were valued at AED
1.44 bn. The total shareholders' equity was worth AED 1.76bn at the
end of June, up 4.7 per cent from the end of December.
Abu Dhabi Aviation reported a net profit
of AED181 &12 m for the six month period that ended In
June.