Press Release

Issued by Kale Air.

March 23, 2011

On March 22nd 2011 WIKING Helikopter Service GmbH bought the majority share of KALE Air, a Turkish helicopter company. In order to meet the strong growing demand for outsourced helicopter maintenance services in the south-east European and Asian regions, WIKING will further develop KALE Air’s service station capabilities. KALE Air is a Part-145 maintenance organisation, conforming to pending licensing requirements. WIKING Helikopter Service GmbH has been operating as an offshore specialist in the North and Baltic Sea for more than 35 years. Originally founded for sea-pilot transfer operations, WIKING has logged more than 40,000 transfers in 90,000 flight hours. In addition to the sea-pilot transfers, WIKING has established partnerships with leading companies in the offshore wind energy business. Transfer of service personnel and material to offshore converter platforms and onto wind turbines, is part of this new area of work. WIKING has recently expanded its fleet by adding an AgustaWestland AW-139 with a capacity of up to 15 passengers in order to meet this new demand. Together with ADAC-Air Rescue, WIKING provides Emergency Medical Services and as partner of the ARGE Küstenschutz also protection and services in case of salvages along the cost. As a certified EASA Part-145 Maintenance Organisation, and also being a SIKORSKY Customer Support Center®, WIKING maintains its own fleet and 16 customer aircraft from throughout Europe besides. With the opening of a maintenance station in Turkey, WIKING is expanding this area of its business and will further meet customer demand for on-site maintenance. WIKING will continue the employment of Turkish personnel and use the logistics and hangar near Atatürk Airport. KALE Air was originally a 100% subsidiary of the KALE Kalip Group. For 15 years the company served as a maintenance organisation for aircraft of the KALE Kalip Group. Today, KALE Air is an approved Part-145 Maintenance Organisation, specializing in the maintenance of S-76 aircraft. “With the purchase of KALE Air, we are meeting the growing demand for professional helicopter maintenance services in the south-east Europe and the Middle East region“, says Nils Hermann, CEO of WIKING Helikopter Service. “WIKING is initiating an important step towards its customers in this rapidly growing economy and will create the necessary capacities to meet new challenges.”