Aviation firm soars on €73m investment

Irish air services company, Starlite Aviation, has announced a $100m (€73m) investment aimed at significantly expanding its services across Europe, Asia and Africa.

The Dublin-headquartered firm, which specialises in the supply of helicopters to international energy firms, NGOs and government bodies, is buying four new C1e Super Puma helicopters from Airbus in a deal being financed by Deutsche Bank.

“This investment — alongside our focus on safety enhancements, technologies advances and training — ensure that Starlite Aviation Group is confident in our ability to go head-to-head in competition with other aviation players, from our headquarters in Dublin,” said Starlite’s director Alan O’Neill.

The company counts amongst its clientele the UN and the EU. The first of the new aircraft — Starlite has nearly 50 helicopters — has already been deployed to Kosovo for use by the EU’s Rule of Law Mission there. The second of the four new helicopters will, later this month, be deployed for an EU training mission in Mali. All four aircraft will come on stream this year.

According to Mr O’Neill: “These new aircraft give us the confidence to continue to grow the company in Europe, Africa and Asia. Starlite Aviation was the first air operators certificate-holder in Ireland to receive Helicopter Emergency Medical Service approval.

“In addition, the Irish Aviation Authority has approved our Irish air operators certificate-holder scope of operation for night-vision imaging systems operations. No other civilian helicopter operator has this capability in Ireland. This Helicopter Emergency Medical Service approval — coupled with the NVIS approval — allows Starlite to continue to engage in the highest standard of aviation safety practices.”

He said that the new ultra-safe helicopters will enable the company to cement its status as “company of choice” for international relief programmes. Starlite also qualifies as the first customer for Airbus’ newest line of helicopters, something which it says is “a strong endorsement” of its helicopter unit.