Milestone Aviation Group Limited (“Milestone”), a GE Capital Aviation Services company and the global leader in helicopter leasing, announced today that it has leased two new Airbus H130 helicopters to HEMS999 Company Ltd. (“HEMS999”), a Chinese air ambulance operator subsidiary of MIT Group, to support emergency medical service operations in China’s Shandong Province.

“There is currently a substantial unmet need for helicopter emergency medical services in China, and this partnership with HEMS999 represents an exciting opportunity for Milestone to enter a new region with significant opportunities for growth and development,” said Milestone President Daniel Rosenthal. “Milestone is committed to forging long-term relationships with our customers and partners all around the world, and we take great pride in supporting life-saving operations in China. We are pleased that we could work with Airbus to provide HEMS999 with these aircraft.”

“Shandong is experiencing a sharp rise in motor vehicles, as well as an expansion in highway infrastructure, and air ambulance services are needed now more than ever before in what is China’s second most populous province,” said Gai Fang, President of the MIT Group. “Milestone and Airbus Helicopters have been great partners as we work to establish HEMS999 as the country’s first provincial HEMS network covering traffic accidents, and we greatly value Milestone’s ability to support our expansion needs by providing an optimal lease solution.”

The two H130 aircraft should begin conducting missions within the next few months. Milestone reached this lease agreement with MIT Group in collaboration with Airbus Helicopters. Airbus Helicopters previously announced a purchase agreement with MIT Group to provide HEMS999 with seven H130 helicopters for use in emergency medical services and rescues for road and highway accidents across Shandong.