Helicopters

Saudi Arabian aerospace manufacturer and supplier Sofab is looking to cash in on a growing domestic market for helicopters, writes Helen Massy-Beresford.

Dan Krishnan, general manager of the Jeddah-based company, says a law requiring buildings over a certain height to be equipped with helipads will boost its business when it is enacted in the next few years.

The company has a "strategic business relationship with aviation companies that provide aviation services" based outside Saudi Arabia, including Chicago-based JSSI, which offers maintenance services for private and corporate aircraft operators. "There's going to be tremendous growth of the aerospace market in Saudi Arabia," says Krishnan.

As part of a long-term plan to increase passenger capacity at Jeddah's King Abdul Aziz airport, Saudi Arabia's general authority of civil aviation, GACA, plans eventually to dedicate one of the existing terminals to general aviation, says the airport's special projects director, Talal Al-Saati. The airport, which has capacity for 8.5 million passengers, processed 14.5 million last year, and expects passenger numbers to continue to grow by 7.5% annually.

Sofab is discussing the supply of heliport equipment - including water separators, firefighting systems and landing lights - with US-based manufacturer Heliport Systems. Krishnan says Sofab would also consider teaming up with a helicopter manufacturer. Rotary-wing aircraft could eventually account for between 30% and 40% of the company's business. "The helicopter market in Saudi Arabia is growing strongly," says Krishnan.

The company is currently holding discussions with Indian companies for similar deals to those it has in place with US-based companies.