In Malaysia, Weststar Aviation Services has signed contracts with five major oil and gas industry organisations to provide them with helicopter support for the next 10 years.  The deals are worth an estimated RM4.2 billion (US $1.4 billion)

Group MD Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim said the company will fly for Petronas Carigali, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia, Newfield (Malaysia), Petrofac (Malaysia-PM304) and Talisman Malaysia, using bases at Kerteh and Kota Bharu.

The contracts, secured through open tendering, are the largest in Weststar Aviation’s history, further strengthening its position as a leading aviation service provider in the South East Asian region.  It currently flies a total of 19 helicopters, and will fulfil these contracts primarily using its newly-delivered fleet of nine AW139s.  It has two more aircraft in the fleet dedicated to offshore work, servicing Carigali Hess under a separate agreement from its Kota Bahru base

Syed Azman sees great potential in the offshore sector for Weststar, and is looking to other countries in South East Asia for further expansion.  They expect to participate in the upcoming tender with PTT Thai, for example.

Jeremy Parkin, HeliHub.com