Falcon Aviation Services
Encyclopedia
Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) is a VVIP charter
airline
based in Abu Dhabi
, United Arab Emirates
. It operates business jet
and helicopter
charter services, MRO services, aircraft management, consulting, Oil and Gas support, as well as, search and rescue (SAR)
operations for the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. Its main base is Al Bateen Executive Airport.
helicopter in June 2007 and in 2008 the country's first commercially operated Gulfstream G450
business jet to operate on the Abu Dhabi to London
and Singapore
routes. The FAS fleet represents an investment of over $120 million. The company has over 280 staff and is under the guidance of the Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Helicopters
Aircraft
The company plans to add more Gulfstream G450, Embraer Legacy 600, and Sikorsky S-76
D helicopters to its fleet in 2011 and 2012.
Air charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats...
airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. It operates business jet
Business jet
Business jet, private jet or, colloquially, bizjet is a term describing a jet aircraft, usually of smaller size, designed for transporting groups of up to 19 business people or wealthy individuals...
and helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
charter services, MRO services, aircraft management, consulting, Oil and Gas support, as well as, search and rescue (SAR)
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
operations for the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. Its main base is Al Bateen Executive Airport.
History
The airline was launched in December 2006. It took delivery of a third AugustaWestland A109 PowerAgusta A109
The AgustaWestland AW109 is a light-weight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter built by the Anglo-Italian manufacturer AgustaWestland...
helicopter in June 2007 and in 2008 the country's first commercially operated Gulfstream G450
Gulfstream G400/G450
The Gulfstream IV and derivatives are a family of twin-jet aircraft, mainly for private or business use. The aircraft was designed and built by Gulfstream Aerospace, a General Dynamics company based in Savannah, Georgia, United States from 1985 until 2003.-Design and development:Gulfstream, in...
business jet to operate on the Abu Dhabi to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
routes. The FAS fleet represents an investment of over $120 million. The company has over 280 staff and is under the guidance of the Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Fleet
As of January 2011 the Falcon Aviation Services fleet includes:Helicopters
- 2 AgustaWestland A109 PowerAgusta A109The AgustaWestland AW109 is a light-weight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter built by the Anglo-Italian manufacturer AgustaWestland...
(for VIP transport and air taxi charters) - 2 Eurocopter AS365N3 (for VVIP transport)
- 1 Eurocopter EC 135Eurocopter EC 135The Eurocopter EC135 is a twin-engine civil helicopter produced by Eurocopter, widely used amongst police and ambulance services and for executive transport. It is capable of flight under instrument flight rules .-Development:...
(for aerial work and tourism) - 4 Eurocopter EC 130 B4 (for aerial work and tourism in Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
- 2 Bell 206L (for aerial work and utility)
- 11 Bell 412Bell 412The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.-Design and development:...
(for offshore operations and military support)
Aircraft
- 3 Gulfstream G450
- 2 Embraer Legacy 600
- 2 Embraer Lineage 1000
The company plans to add more Gulfstream G450, Embraer Legacy 600, and Sikorsky S-76
Sikorsky S-76
The Sikorsky S-76 is an American medium-size commercial utility helicopter. The S-76 is powered by two turboshaft engines, which drive both the main and tail rotors, each with four blades...
D helicopters to its fleet in 2011 and 2012.