LEONARDO AW109SP JOINS HSML FLEET

We are happy to announce a VISTAJET's Leonardo 109SP on the Maltese Registry and under HSML's Management in Malta. PlEASE click here for a news feed

Helicopter Services - the experts in helicopter maintenance

Yacht Investors recent article on Helicopter Services Malta Limited demonstrates that for those clients with helicopters on board ensuring maintenance is carried out wherever the helicopter or yacht is necessary. 

Helicopter ownership can be a complicated and costly business especially when combined with operation on a yacht. Increased logistics and safety issues contribute to the work required from aircraft managers or operators.

It was for this very reason that Helicopter Services was established. Helicopter Services wanted to bring together all aspects of helicopter ownership under one roof. Based on this concept, Helicopter Services was established to provide a premium one stop shop service to helicopters based on yachts.

The CEO of Helicopter Services, Alessandro Rostirolla, a well-respected industry veteran, discussed the limitations of current service providers which a number of helicopter owners had previously experienced “Helicopter operators struggled to find ideal maintenance service provider for their aircraft which was close to their yacht. Helicopters were regularly flown hundreds of kilometres from the yacht for maintenance as operators were unable to find a facility which was international enough to provide a premium service close to the aircraft”.

Alessandro is well versed both in helicopter maintenance as well as operations. He is personally qualified as both a pilot and holds an aeronautical engineering degree. He is an expert in vibration and turbines as well as complex diagnostics. He regularly consults with a number of manufacturers on the continued development of some of their models.

In the beginning, Helicopter Services initially provided maintenance services for Leonardo and Airbus helicopters, however, swiftly responding to their clients demands Helicopter Services has developed an operation to satisfy the requirements of all helicopter owners and operators. The concept was to bring together all the components of helicopter ownership and to provide a clear menu driven service. From maintenance, to refurbishment, to management and corporate ownership structures to aircraft registration services; all the while providing support for contracted operators.

It was obvious to Alessandro that it was important to have the right team from the outset. Drawing on the knowledge of experienced specialists who are well known in the industry he has built a team of specialists that cover all make and model of aircraft.  Amongst the specialists employed are some of those who worked on the original prototypes of certain aircraft; giving Helicopter Services an in-depth knowledge and breadth of experience which few other MRO’s can match.

Amongst the services offered by Helicopter Services is a fully mobile technician support service. Helicopter Service technicians can travel to an aircraft wherever it is located. Agreements with manufacturers and spare part suppliers ensure that an aircraft can be returned to service with minimum down time.

The surprise of unexpected costs is a clear annoyance to many operators. Most aircraft owners know unexpected and complex technical issues do arise but the team’s experience ensures that they can effectively deal with these whilst also communicating clearly with the aircraft owner or manager so that there is clear understanding of the issue and quantum of work and costs. Many successful business people realise that clear and timely communication with clients provides for an effective relationship. Certainly, most of the owners and managers we spoke to were of this opinion.

Looking at the financial aspects of ownership is clearly important to many owners and family offices. Keeping up to date with changing financial regulations in numerous jurisdictions while understanding complicated aviation laws is vital to ensuring cost effective ownership. Helicopter Services can offer an almost unique service where they can provide advice on the ownership structure of an aircraft.

In discussing Helicopter Services capabilities, Alessandro was keen to point out that Helicopter Services can, if required, provide an AOC for aircraft which provides financial advantages as well as a number of other operational advantages while operating in Europe.

More importantly he mentioned that Helicopter Services has established a favourable package of corporate service options which can establish Maltese owning company structures to hold aircraft, whilst also registering the aircraft and allowing the asset owning company to benefit from favourable tax rates.

Alessandro commented that “When an individual is considering the ownership and operation of an asset as complex and valuable as a helicopter, for whatever reason, they are not likely to do so in their own personal capacity and would generally look to establish an owning entity/structure. In the first instance, establishing an appropriate ownership and use structure would provide the benefits and protection of asset segregation and limitation of liability; in addition, a carefully established ownership structure could also unlock fiscal and other advantages. For example, one of the many advantages of establishing an aircraft owning structure in Malta is the low tax regime which can see tax rates as low as 5% (and in some cases zero)”.

The Maltese Government look very favourably on tax efficient structures for Aircraft. Malta is considered to be transparent and compliant within the European Union and OECD regulations. The corporate services arm of Helicopter Services also provides management and pilot services to clients.

Malta is a well establish location for maintaining superyacht based helicopters. Superyachts regularly visit Malta for maintenance work or refuelling before transiting to other EU and non-EU destinations. During a stop-over we are able to undertake heavy maintenance for the aircraft and can also provide hangar space during wintering periods.

Helicopter Services can provide advice on the purchase of aircraft. Most aircraft have varying maintenance requirements and these may influence the choice of aircraft especially given the harsh corrosive environment the helicopters operate under while on a yacht.  Newly launched models may have the latest equipment but bugs often take years to iron out.

Helicopter Services are registered in Malta and have CAMO, Part-145 and AOC registered. Having recently carried out a refurbishment of an EC135 from their part 21J operation based in the UK, Helicopter Services are able to showcase their complete service range.

With locations throughout the world, including Malta (HQ), Cannes, Mandelieu, St Martin (Caribbean), Reunion Island, Helicopter Services can offer its clients complete support throughout the globe.

Within a very short period of time Helicopter Services have established themselves as key service providers to owners and operators of helicopters based on yachts.

This article was published in the October 2017 issue of Superyacht investor magazine. 

Get in touch with Alessandro or Samantha at the Monaco Yacht Show. 

“The Only Way is by helicopter"

It’s easy to understand why people fly by private helicopter. Private air travel offers unmatched comfort, privacy, and not to mention convenience; with the benefits of no security screenings, no crowded commercial flights, no lost luggage, and fewer flight delays.

If you’ve made the choice to fly private, and decided on whether you prefer a fixed-wing aircraft or a helicopter, then addressing the related financial and regulatory compliance requirements is your next step. In this article, we’ll show you the benefits and option of purchasing a helicopter and why your choice will stand you in good stead. As always, the ownership and management of helicopters is very complex, so it is important to always work with tax and legal counsel before making final decisions that match your specific goals and needs.

At What Cost?

Owning a helicopter can be complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. It is important to understand the pre-tax and post-tax cost implications; besides the sizable initial investment owners need to hire pilots, provide for ongoing maintenance, manage scheduling, and pay for deadheading (or repositioning) of the helicopter (making sure it is always where you need it at any given point in time). These functions can be outsourced to a third-party flight management company, but whether they are handled in-house or outsourced to a third-party provider the costs are significant. Full ownership can also decrease flexibility for owners if they need different size aircraft at different times.

Helicopter ownership options are quite varied and you might find that you may not need to actually buy a helicopter to fly privately. The truth is that the costs and responsibilities of such a large purchase may not match the investment. For the majority of those who need private helicopters, there are attractive partial ownership options available as well.

Leasing Options

There are a number of ownership options including outright ownership, fractional, joint, and charter.

How often you’ll use a private helicopter is an important consideration. In situations where it is difficult to predict usage, it usually makes sense to start out by chartering a helicopter or purchasing a flight card until you have a better understanding of how often, how far, and how many people will be flying. Especially if passenger loads will tend to vary widely from trip to trip, the flexibility of charter and flight cards may be advantageous, as they allow you to size the aircraft to meet each flight’s requirements.

With full ownership, you have complete control over the helicopter and crew. You know where the helicopter has flown, who has been on it, how many hours it has logged, and when it was last inspected and maintained. You have control over whom you hire to fly the helicopter and what their experience level is in that particular type of aircraft. You can equip the helicopter any way you wish, and you can be certain that it is maintained up to your personal standards.

Every helicopter owner is looking for the most efficient way to fly at the best possible price. Whether you are a wealthy individual, a closely-held business owner, an entrepreneur or any other type of aircraft user, the issues involved in flying private are complex. If you are ready to move forward, the discussion needs to take into account numerous factors so don’t be surprised at the amount of questions you will be expected to answer. Understanding the tax implications of flying and owning a helicopter either privately or commercially can help you choose the ownership structure that appropriately addresses your specific needs and circumstances.

Yachts and Helicopters – A Great Team

If you’re adding to your already glittering portfolio of ultra-high net worth assets, the addition of a yacht helicopter and helicopter tenders represent a small but interesting element of executive operations.

Landing a helicopter on a superyacht helideck is relatively straightforward it still takes skill and nerves. And with more and more superyachts being built each year, yachts are increasing in size so that the larger yachts often include up to two helicopter landing areas. The request for helicopter landing pads on yachts is increasing every year.

Helicopter access to a yacht can turn what might be a long and harrowing journey across rough seas into a smooth, safe and short trip; significantly reducing time; and we all know that age old adage - time is money!

Responsibility

With ownership of a helicopter comes greater liability compared to other forms of private flying. Under normal circumstances, you as the owner are generally deemed to be in operational control of the aircraft, which carries with it greater responsibility and potential liability. This can be contrasted with a charter flight, where the charter operator is deemed to be in operational control. An owner also has the economic risk of depreciation on the aircraft, resulting in a higher or lower residual value at the end of the period of use. This residual value depends on such factors as general economic conditions, the make and model of the helicopter, and the supply of used helicopter on the market at the time of sale. Variable operating costs can be defrayed by making the helicopter available for charter to third parties; however, doing so typically reduces flexibility, not to mention the wear and tear on the aircraft and its engines.

Finally, full ownership may be the most expensive option, but depending on your usage, it can be the cheapest option in cost-per-mile terms if you use it heavily. It is important to examine each variable to make a final choice that is a good fit for your specific needs.

Why Malta?

Another important consideration is where the helicopter will be registered. Under Transport Malta, the aircraft registry in Malta is seeing exponential growth due to its efficiency and transparent operations. In conjunction with the excellence of the Malta shipping registry it’s a winning combination. 

“