Abu Dhabi Aviation (BAR, Abu Dhabi International) has courted the Maldivian government over its plan to reauthorize commercial helicopter services throughout the Maldives.
In the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) annual report seen by Corporate Maldives, the UAE-based rotary-winged specialist is said to have held negotiations over the last year over its proposed air taxi as well as medevac services. The outcome of the talks is unknown at present.
Following a string of fatal accidents in the early 2000s, the Maldives ceased all commercial helicopter activities. However, given increased demand for travel among the Indian Ocean archipelago's islands, it reconsidered its position last year and tasked the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to assess the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority's (MCAA) ability to adequately regulate the sector.
At present, interisland flights are conducted with turboprops as well as seaplanes and amphibious aircraft operated by carriers that include Maldivian and Trans Maldivian Airways.
For its part, Abu Dhabi Aviation operates sixty-one helicopters, including fifteen Augusta Westland AW139s, twenty-three Bell Helicopter 412s, nineteen Bell 212s, and four Bell 206s, primarily in support of the Abu Dhabi offshore oil and engineering and construction sectors.
