Falcon Aviation Services expects its overall business development to benefit from an exclusive maintenance deal with Eurocopter. The agreement included the launch of a Eurocopter Maintenance Centre at FAS's Al Bateen airbase which will service Eurocopter helicopters in the Gulf region.

Xavier Hay, Eurocopter's vp in the Middle East and Africa comments: "There are over 650 Eurocopter helicopters in operation in the Gulf region and demand is increasing."

FAS is expanding its helicopter fleet to 12 with an order of four helicopters from Eurocopter - two EC130s and two AS365N3s. Capt. Salem Al Kayoumi, FAS chairman, says: "We're a young company but we are growing fast. Looking at the growth trend in this sector, we are aiming to have expanded our fleet to include another 15 helicopters and corporate jets by the end of 2011, an investment of U.S.$192 million."