Press Release
Issued by Milestone Aviation Group.
November 24, 2020
The Milestone Aviation Group Limited, a GECAS company and the global leader in helicopter leasing, has announced that it has recently delivered a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter to Nigerian operator Caverton Helicopters Limited. This marks the first S-92 to be operated by Caverton and the first to be operated by a wholly locally-owned African company.
The deal will support a recently awarded deep offshore support contract to Caverton for helicopter logistics services, mainly crew change activities. In addition to the helicopter, Milestone will also provide Caverton with a comprehensive training and entry into service package to support the phasing-in of this new type into its fleet.
Michael York, head of emerging markets at Milestone said “The S-92 continues to be the workhorse of the offshore sector, and through this transaction we are not only cultivating a new operator for this aircraft type but expanding its footprint, which is critical for the industry. This is the sixth aircraft Caverton is leasing from Milestone, complementing the three AW139s and two S-76C++ helicopters, and the team has worked hard to put together a creative training programme and entry into service package for them. These packages are key differentiators for Milestone and illustrate the depth of service capability we offer, bringing tailor-made solutions to our customers with certainty of execution. Milestone is proud to have been selected by Caverton as its leasing partner in this transaction.”
Rotimi Makanjuola, MD and accountable manager of Caverton Helicopters said “The introduction of the S-92 onto our fleet marks a significant milestone for the company and further demonstrates our commitment to meet the service requirements of our clients and grow our scope of capabilities as a Nigerian operator. This is yet another testament to our continued success as the leading indigenous aviation logistics service provider in west Africa. Becoming an S-92 operator will undoubtedly enable the company to expand into service provision for clients that require additional payload and extended range for their missions, which the S-92 efficiently and safely provides. We are grateful for the strong support provided by Milestone, and our partnership together has been instrumental in getting the S-92 into our fleet.”
“Sikorsky is proud to welcome Caverton to the S-92® helicopter family and values our longstanding relationship with Milestone,” said Sikorsky's vice president, commercial systems and services, Audrey Brady. “We are confident this aircraft will support the demanding needs of Caverton's offshore oil and gas transportation missions with its industry-leading safety and reliability record.”
