The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has awarded a contract to The Helicopter Company (THC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the provision and operation of an AW139 helicopter, crew and maintenance technicians in addition to helicopter flight services during daylight hours.

Signed by TRSDC CEO John Pagano and THC chairman Raid Ismail, the contract will allow TRSDC to carry out EMS ops with alternate configuration change capability for 14-seat passenger utility transport at TRSDC's site on the west coast of Saudi Arabia.

“We're very pleased to award this contract to THC, the Kingdom's first commercial helicopter operator,” says Pagano. “This will give us much-needed aerial support for our staff and construction workers over the vast and remote area of our site. The welfare of our workers is vital to us and this partnership will ensure we are able to respond with speed to medical emergencies, in addition to making us more operationally efficient.”

Under the terms of the contract, THC will work closely with TRSDC's recently appointed medical services provider International SOS Al Rushaid, which will provide medical crew when necessary and medical equipment from the operational base it will share with THC at TRSDC's construction village near Umluj, approximately 145 km north-west of Yanbu.

At the peak of construction activity, TRSDC is expecting to have up to 30,000 workers in multiple locations over a 1,000 sq km development area. Having the ability to respond rapidly to medical emergencies is a critical component of its worker welfare programme.

THC will provide and maintain an Aerolite three-stretcher kit for the transport of up to three patients and stowage of up to four oxygen bottles. The stretcher kit connects to the helicopter power supply and contains various electrical outlets for medical devices.

“Today marks the beginning of our fruitful partnership with TRSDC, and we are proud to be involved in the advancement of a giga-project of the scale and breadth of The Red Sea Project,” states Arnaud Martinez, CEO of THC. “The AW139 is one of the most reliable multipurpose helicopters on a global scale. THC is committed to always providing its clients with exceptional air transport solutions with the latest technology and highest international safety standards."

THC recently signed an agreement to buy 10 Airbus H125 helicopters to grow its fleet, increase access to domestic tourism destinations and provide services such as filming, banner-towing and aerial surveying.

Launching its services in 2019, THC was established by the Public Investment Fund to meet the growing demand for luxury tourism and air travel services.

The Red Sea Project is on track to welcome its first visitors by the end of 2022. The first phase of the development will include 16 luxury hotels offering 3,000 rooms across five islands and two inland resorts. It will also include a marina, entertainment facilities, an airport and the necessary supporting logistics and utilities infrastructure.

Upon completion in 2030, the destination will deliver up to 8,000 hotel rooms across 22 islands and six inland sites.