You would be crazy to miss this conference. This is the essential conference to attend if you are in Helicopters finance. In fact this should be held twice a year.
Crispin Maunder, LCI
Helicopter Investor London is THE ONLY dedicated helicopter finance and transactions event.
Helicopter Investor London 2024 now into its 14th year, will bring together over 270 of the industry’s most senior executives and key decision-makers to discuss and debate the latest topics.
Attendees will have the chance to connect with the industry’s most important operators, financiers, OEMs, leasing companies, appraisers, lawyers, investors and all other leading figures involved in growing the helicopter market at a conference like no other to close deals and make new connections!
What is included in your Helicopter Investor Pass?
Exclusive access to the two day conference
Pre-conference cocktail reception
Cocktail reception
Networking lunches
All refreshments
Conference documentation
Event app
Delegate list
VAT which may be reclaimable
Helicopter Investor is the premier industry event.
William Sturm, Aero Asset
SCAM WARNING: We never share your data or sell delegate lists. If you are contacted by someone trying to sell you a list please delete the email.
Oliver Althoff is currently a Managing Director at Seabury Capital advising clients in the aviation, aerospace and defense industries. Over the past seventeen years, Oliver has been a senior investment and corporate banker as well as corporate finance executive. Prior to joining Seabury Capital, Oliver held the financial officer role of Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets & Treasury for Waypoint Leasing, a private-equity owned, global helicopter leasing company.
Prior to joining Waypoint, Oliver was a Director for CIT’s Transportation principal finance business, originating and structuring financing solutions across the debt capital structure and supporting M&A advisory transaction in A/D/G. Oliver raised capital in buy-out leveraged cash flow transactions as well as asset-based and -backed transactions for acquisition financing, growth capital and general corporate purposes. These financings included senior, second-lien, mezzanine and uni-tranche transactions. His clients included middle market private equity firms, aviation and aerospace and defense industry suppliers. Separately, Oliver supported several sell-side M&A transactions in the sector for both direct clients and sponsors active in the industry.
Previously, Oliver was part of GE Capital’s executive management trainee program assessing risk and analyzing financing opportunities for reorganizing businesses, predominantly in the aviation and aerospace industry. Before that, he was a new product and technology development manager in consumer finance for Bank of America, after beginning his career in management consulting at Mitchell Madison Group focusing on the telecom/IT and financial institutions sectors.
Oliver received his B.A. Economics and M.P.A. in Political/Macro-Economy from Cornell University, and a M.B.A. in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. After emigrating solo from Germany to the U.S., during High School, he lives today with his wife and three children in Connecticut.
Andy leads the Aviation and Marine Finance team’s activities across the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Andy has an in-depth knowledge of marine and aviation financing solutions for both corporate and personal clients, with a financed portfolio covering superyachts, commercial & leisure vessels and general aviation, business aircraft & helicopters. With over 35 years’ experience in banking & finance, Andy has been at Close Brothers for 8 years and was previously at Barclays Corporate Banking and Lombard, where he held a number of senior roles.
Based in London, Andy’s team of industry specialists ensure that clients of Close Brothers Aviation and Marine consistently receive the best quality service available.
Russell has invested in the aviation markets for over a quarter century. Most recently, he led deal origination and sales & marketing for RPK Capital, a former portfolio company of The Carlyle Group dedicated to aircraft leasing. Before that, Russell worked at GAAM UK Pty Ltd, a private equity firm specializing in commercial aircraft, and at First Greenwich Kahala, where he originated and structured transactions related to aircraft coming off lease or returned early.
Tony was appointed as Shell’s Vice President Aircraft and Managing Director Shell Aircraft in May 2016.
With Shell since in 2003, he has global experience in working with aircraft operators supporting oil and gas operations, undertaking assurance, air accident investigations and providing specialist advice to Shell’s extensive business stakeholder group. Championing initiatives to enable safe and efficient operations in some of the most diverse and challenging environments, he has worked closely with OEMs on aircraft design specifications and represents the Company on several industry and national regulatory bodies, including currently chairing the IOGP Aviation Cttee.
Prior to joining Shell, he served 19yrs in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot and instructor, commanded a Naval Air Squadron and a Warship and served as the media spokesman for overseas military operations.
David Crick is an Accredited Senior Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA). He has just completed his term as the International President on the ASA International Board of Governors and also recently served as the Chair on the Finance & Leasing Committee of the Helicopter Association International.
David is the Managing Director of the DavAir Group, a company providing international aviation inspection, appraisal and advisory services.
He has an unparalleled passion for the aviation sector performing appraisals of both fixed wing & rotary aviation assets in Australia, the Asia Pacific Rim, the USA and various countries in Europe & the Middle East.
With over 20 years of specialised valuation and consulting experience to many different sectors, David has considerable knowledge of corporate valuation requirements for financial reporting, mortgage security assessments, insurance & liquidation disposals. He performs appraisals for finance and leasing, aviation sales, mergers and acquisitions, insurance disputes, and expert witness for the legal fraternity.
David has presented at various international forums addressing current issues in aviation assets and appraisal methodologies. He also lectures on Aircraft Appraisal methodology and processes in the USA and has recently been appointed as a Member of the Technical Standing Committee of The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation.
As an economist by training, Gérard Deterne formed PTERON Valuations in 2021 with the intent to build new valuation services upon many years of experience as a Business Developer in the aerospace industry.
Prior to creating PTERON Valuations, Gérard worked for Airbus Helicopters in Marignane, France, where he developed inhouse appraisal & valuation expertise, put together marketing campaigns towards lessors and lenders, engineered lease-based projects, organized briefings and webinars for the investors community and promoted sales boosters in support of the helicopter lessor’s business and the banking community.
Gérard has also worked in the UAV Business Unit at Airbus Defense & Space where he contributed to the development of the drone and UAV business while managing all aspects of market analysis and UAV asset management strategies.
Gérard has been an Accredited Senior Appraiser – Machinery & Technical Specialties – Helicopters, for some years now. He is also a member of the American Society of Appraisers.
Jason is passionate about everything related to Aviation, and in his words, “working at Eagle is living my dream each day.” Hailing from Mumbai, India, he watched helicopters launch from Juhu Aerodrome and the fixed-wing aircraft traffic out of Mumbai International Airport – aviation became a passion from a very young age. Jason wanted to become a pilot and even started flight school, but aviation was facing significant headwinds at the time. He instead completed his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in the US, and worked for a few global organizations in the USA and Canada, mainly in the Manufacturing and Mining sectors. In 2019, Jason joined Eagle as the VP of Sales & Marketing. This role allowed him to manage and develop a centralized strategy across all sales channels and business lines. After a year, he pursued other mining opportunities, but his passion for aviation and Eagle was alive and well all along. After two years, he is now back at Eagle Copters and focused on doing what’s best for stakeholders, customers, and the industry at large.
Alastair joined IBA in 2015 and is responsible for IBA’s Helicopter appraisals. With over thirty years of aviation experience in civilian and military operations, Alastair regularly represents IBA at international events hosted by aviation groups, financial bodies and helicopter manufacturers.
Alastair previously served as a commissioned Officer in the RAF before retiring; research work into ETOPS aircraft development by Boeing and Airbus at City University followed, then he became course director of the undergraduate program for cadet pilots on the BSc Air Transport Operations (which included training up to commercial pilot license standard). Alastair is an elected member of the Royal Aeronautical Society (MRAeS) and holds the (ASA) Accredited Senior Appraiser status in Materials & Technical Specialties – Aircraft’ (MTS-Aircraft).
Will Fanshawe, a former British Army helicopter pilot, founded Halo Aviation in 2009 to specialise in the management and charter of Agusta helicopters. Having grown the company to be one of the larger corporate helicopter operations in the UK, Halo was acquired by Flexjet in the spring of 2020 along with New York S76 operator, AAG. Shortly after, Flexjet announced the launch of its Vertical Lift Division and an order for 200 EVE eVTOL aircraft from Embraer.
Will has been flying professionally for 30 years and still regularly escapes the office to fly the company’s S76 and AW109 helicopters.
David Fowkes is a member of FTI Capital Advisors (“FTICA”), FTI Consulting’s investment banking subsidiary. Mr. Fowkes has 25+ years of experience in the aviation, aerospace and advanced air mobility (“AAM”) industries, having helped clients execute assignments in 30 countries across six continents.
David focuses on investment banking assignments for clients across the aviation, aerospace and advanced air mobility spectrum, providing capital raising, M&A and restructuring services for clients including airlines (passenger, regional, cargo), maintenance organizations (MRO, parts and engine repair), private aviation clients (charter, fractional and FBO), leasing companies, training organizations (pilots and mechanics), helicopter operators and aviation and aerospace-related private equity investors.
Mr. Fowkes has recently added a focus on new technology advanced air mobility clients including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), drone and other new aviation technology passenger, cargo and services businesses.
Prior to joining FTICA, David was a Managing Director and Co-Head of Aviation, Aerospace and Advanced Air Mobility Banking at Raymond James. Prior to that, he was a Managing Director at Imperial Capital and has held senior roles at Seabury group, Salomon Brothers, Citibank, Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank, and ran M&A and integration for global helicopter operator Bristow Group.
After years in management consulting and sales, Oliver Freiland has been Managing Partner at Heli Service International GmbH since 2016.
With a fleet of 10 helicopters, HeliService is the leading helicopter operator supporting the Offshore Wind Industry.
HeliService conducts hoisting and crew change flights to all leading Offshore Wind companies within the European North and Baltic Seas and HEMS operations in the UK.
As one of six Leonardo Excellent Service Centres worldwide, HeliService has established base maintenance locations in Emden and Munich
and offers maintenance and CAMO services of the Leonardo model AW109, AW139 and AW169 as well as the Airbus H145C2 and H145D2.
Pauline is Head of Sustainability at RIVE Private Investment. She leads RIVE’s ESG team, where she oversees the operational implementation and improvement of the processes and procedures constituting RIVE’s ESG strategy. She works closely with the RIVE ecosystem, both with portfolio companies and partners, to promote ESG culture and optimize the alignment of RIVE’s activities with the European taxonomy.
Pauline has 6 years of experience in sustainable development consulting in particular. She started her career as a process engineer for VA Tech Wabag in India, then expanded her expertise by completing a thesis at the European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technologies. Before joining RIVE, Pauline Gasquet contributed to the strategic transformation and environmental value creation of investment funds and their portfolio companies at Ansa, a specialized consulting firm dedicated to funds in the infrastructure and consumer goods sectors.
head up Investec’s Aviation Finance team in Johannesburg. Our team focuses on providing financing solutions for corporate jets, commercial aircraft, and freighters throughout Africa as well as to lessors of commercial aircraft, freighters, and helicopters globally in conjunction with our global aviation finance team.
We provide senior debt, mezzanine debt, pre-delivery payment finance, and Export Credit Agency finance in commercial aircraft, helicopter, corporate jet, or freighter transactions.
We are a relationship-focused lender who partner with our clients to tailor funding solutions that best meet our clients’ specific needs.
Regional Business Development Lead – FIREHAWK & Advanced Concepts
Kate Grammer is Sikorsky’s Regional Business Development Lead for FIREHAWK and Advanced Concepts
Kate Grammer started her Sikorsky career in 2006, working in sustainment before transitioning to a role as a TA in the Office of the President. She’s worked in Business Development since 2011.
Her experience includes a Six-year stint as a Lead in Latin America standing up as Forward Stocking location in Brazil, executing a multi-National Aircraft Demo Tour and supporting International Military and Offshore Oil customers throughout the region.
For the last 11 years she has been in various roles in Strategy and Business Development during which time she grew the fleet of Black Hawks in Mexico from six to 48 and established key relationships both domestically and internationally to help grow Sikorsky’s Innovations Opportunities. She also oversaw the expansion of our Sikorsky international blade repair business.
From 2011 through 2024 Kates’s area of responsibility included International Military, US/CAN Commercial Market, FIREHAWK and Innovations/Advanced Concepts
She has a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Southern Connecticut State University.
Joseph A. Hawke is founder of Hawke Aerospace Group, a private equity firm that is actively pursuing platform company acquisitions in the aerospace industry, with a special focus on the rotorcraft segment of the market, and a managing director and principal of Defense Systems Redeployment Group (DSRG), a US company involved in financing, brokering, repairing, upgrading, integrating, training and operating aerospace and defense assets for operations and training deployment to US allies.
Prior to forming Hawke Aerospace Group in 2007, Joe was General Partner of Meridian Venture Partners and MVP II, where he led the investments in and acquisitions of Keystone Helicopter Corporation, Composite Technology Inc., and Air Evac Lifeteam, which resulted in the formation of Air Medical Group Holdings, now GMR.
Joe began his career as a middle market commercial lender and holds a MBA degree from Temple University and a BA from Haverford College.
Jaspal Jandu is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LCI and is responsible for running all facets of the business, including strategy and planning.
He was previously LCI’s Chief Financial Officer and played an instrumental role in developing its proven leasing platform and robust financial strategy. He spearheaded the development of the company’s partnerships with many leading financial institutions.
Prior to joining LCI in 2007, Jaspal worked for Morgan Stanley where he was responsible for numerous aviation investments. During this role, he transferred to the then in-house lessor, AWAS, remaining with the company until its divestment to Terra Firma. Jaspal has also held posts with the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) and has an established track record in the aviation industry.
Jaspal graduated from Essex University with a degree in Economics and completed his Economics Masters in 1996. Jaspal is also an alumnus of Harvard, Wharton, and London Business School, where he has completed a number of Executive Development programmes
Following a management career in the manufacturing industry Marwan started Gama Aviation Ltd in 1983 in the UK with his business partner Stephen Wright. He has overseen the group’s expansion from its foundation to its current multinational status encompassing many varied markets and areas in the aviation industry. Marwan continues to take a very active and hands on role in all aspects of the group’s development and has also headed the group’s expansion into the US market.
Marwan is both Chairman of the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) and a board member of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA).
Marwan holds an Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence and occasionally flies the Beech 200.
Jason Kmiecik, ASA, is President and Owner of HeliValue$, Inc., the world’s most trusted helicopter appraisal firm, and publisher of The Official Helicopter Blue Book®, the accepted standard for helicopter resale pricing information.
Jason is responsible for the execution and management of HeliValue$’ corporate business strategy, internal appraisal processes, and programming of proprietary algorithms, appraiser staff, and Editor of The Official Helicopter Blue Book®. He frequently consults in aviation finance and lease sectors and participates in industry forums.
Before joining the HeliValue$ team, Jason entered the United States Marine Corps in 1998 to begin his career in the Aviation Industry. He worked as a mechanic on various models of airplanes and helicopters such as the F/A 18, C-130, T-34, CH-46, CH-53, and UH-1N during his ten years of Active Duty, reaching the rank of Sergeant and becoming a Quality Assurance Inspector serving in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Jason is an Accredited Senior Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), holding accreditations in Machinery & Equipment and Aircraft Specific designations.designations.
Born in Scotland, Nigel has been involved in commercial aviation for over 35 years including several management roles providing broad experience in all aspects of the air transport business. Prior to his current role which he assumed in 2023, Nigel was LCI’s Executive Vice President & Global Head of Marketing.
He joined LCI in 2008 from aircraft leasing company AWAS where he was Vice President Sales based in Singapore. During his seven years with AWAS he concluded many transactions throughout Asia including China.
Prior to joining AWAS, he was Customer Marketing Director for Airbus for six years, based in Toulouse and latterly Sydney. In this role he was instrumental in several new aircraft deals in Europe and Asia-Pacific region.
Earlier in his career he also worked with DHLWorldwide Express in the Middle East and airline Air Europe based in London-Gatwick.
Nigel holds a Masters degree in Air Transport Management from Cranfield University, where he graduated top of his class, and previously studied at Edinburgh University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Clark McGinn has been active in the helicopter sector for fifteen years and has closed around USD7Bn in transactions as a financier (managing RBS’s rotary business), as an operator (heading CHC’s Dublin leasing company), and as a lessor (leading Waypoint’s global sales group). He now advises new capital investors on stressed opportunities in the helicopter world Clark has been active in the mission-critical helicopter sector since 2004, closing over USD 8Bn in transactions. Uniquely, he has held senior roles in leading a global bank’s rotary business (at RBS), creating a captive lessor/asset finance hub in Dublin for the then largest helicopter operator (CHC), and building out the international network of relationship managers at the then biggest independent lessor (Waypoint).
Through his consultancy, Uplifting Advice, he now acts as a trusted advisor to significant investors across the spectrum of the helicopter industry and is a regular keynote speaker at Helicopter Investor (and other conferences).
Beyond helicopters, Clark is Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Robert Burns Studies in the University of Glasgow, having completed his PhD there on the history of the Burns Supper. Amongst his published books, and academic articles, his popular The Ultimate Burns Supper Book (Luath, £7.99) was first published in 2006 and is now in its Third Edition and is based on his experience having spoken at over two hundred Burns Suppers in twenty countries. He also serves on committees for The Caledonian Club in London, the Robert Burns World Federation.
Alan O’Rourke is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of LCI, with overall responsibility for financial strategy and treasury management. Alan is based out of LCI’s London office.
Alan joined LCI in 2013 as VP Finance where he was responsible for management reporting, transaction accounting and system implementations. Since 2019 he has been responsible for developing relationships with our financial partners in order to source and originate capital for the organisation, and in 2021 he was promoted to SVP Finance where his responsibilities also included oversight of the accounting team.
Alan holds a BA in Accounting and Human Resource Management and is a qualified Certified Chartered Accountant. He previously worked for Capita, AIB and Deloitte, and holds a Diploma in Aviation Leasing and Finance from The Law Society of Ireland.
John Petkovic is a transformational finance and business executive with 20+ years of experience in global aviation finance. With a specialty in helicopters, he is recognized for leading Macquarie’s helicopter finance business, Macquarie Rotorcraft. He excels in challenging environments and has an extensive background in guiding large-scale business transformations and turnarounds.
Chief Executive Officer of Macquarie Rotorcraft since 2015, John guided the business through one of the worst downturns in industry history. He stabilized the business by investing in the right assets, developing a new lending model, and leading the integration of Waypoint, the world’s second-largest helicopter lessor, following its acquisition out of bankruptcy in 2019. Since then, he has taken the business to new heights and positioned it for its next stage of growth including EVTOLs. Over the past two years, he and his team centralized the U.S. operation in Dallas, TX.
Before taking the lead of Macquarie Rotorcraft, John served as Chief Financial Officer of Macquarie AirFinance, where he directed accounting, strategy, investor relations, and portfolio management of the company’s $8B in aircraft investments. During his tenure as CFO, he guided aircraft investment and managed the due diligence and execution of a large aircraft portfolio from AWAS.
He previously held roles within the Macquarie Asset Finance team and was instrumental in establishing Macquarie AirFinance, a global aircraft leasing business and being part of the team that acquired GATX Air. Following that acquisition John stayed in San Francisco, CA and joined the Macquarie AirFinance business.
John entered the private transportation leasing and finance space as Head of Corporate Strategy for AWAS (a Morgan Stanley-owned aircraft lessor) and supported the sale of the business to private equity firm Terra Firma in 2006. He then joined the Macquarie team, where he has become a thought leader in aviation finance and leasing.
John previously worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He holds a degree in Commerce from the University of New South Wales. Learn more about him at LinkedIn.com/in/john-petkovic.
Olivier founded the NOVA CAPITAL Group in 2002, a privately owned investment and advisory group of companies fully dedicated to tangible asset finance.
Acting as group CEO, Olivier turned the NOVA CAPITAL HELICOPTERS division into a globally recognized helicopter lessor having acquired 150+ helicopters over a proven 20+ years track-record within the industry.
NOVA CAPITAL HELICOPTERS is a unique full service and highly adaptable leasing platform, exclusively dedicated to the on-shore helicopter services industry.
Prior to the inception of NOVA CAPITAL Group, Olivier held some senior management positions within a leading French banking institution, including among others, Senior Vice President and head of Structured Asset Finance practice.
He headed a team of professionals in charge of sourcing, structuring, and managing complex asset finance transactions in various sectors such as aviation, shipping, rail, energy, and real estate, mostly using optimized structured leasing solutions.
Olivier started his career at the Paris Bar, working as a qualified lawyer with a US Law firm, specializing in asset finance transactions.
Olivier graduated from Institut d’Etudes Politques de Paris (IEP Paris). He holds a postgraduate degree in business and tax law from University of Paris II – Assas and was subsequently admitted to the Paris Bar. Olivier was also a lecturer at University of Paris IX-Dauphine for several years, and is a regular contributor at some major asset finance and leasing events.
David Prevor leads the Marketing department in the Airbus Helicopters Global Business
directorate where he is responsible to understand, anticipate & influence the market and
internal stakeholders in order to bring sustainable growth.
In this role, David and his team are in charge of the future commercial & military helicopter
market understanding. His team is also responsible for assessing short and medium term
demand for helicopters in order to evaluate the impact on bookings and on design changes.
Over the longer term David and his team forecast demand for use in defining generic helicopter
design and establishing business plans for new helicopter launches. The marketing team also
operates on the field, to create customer awareness and promote Airbus Helicopters solutions.
Before joining Airbus Helicopters, David was leading the Market Research and Forecasts
department within the Airbus Strategy and Future Programmes directorate that he joined
eleven years ago.
David began his Airbus career as a marketing analyst working on aircraft investment cash flow
analysis model. He then became an IT project manager, overseeing software development for
Airbus and airlines. Later he joined the Airbus flight test directorate involved in the
development, validation, and certification of auto flight systems (AFS) for the Airbus A340-
600/-500 and A330/A340 enhanced programs.
David graduated from the National School of Civil Aviation (ENAC) as an aeronautical engineer
with a specialization in Air Transport Economy (economics, fleet planning, forecasting,
financing, and statistics) and Aeronautical Techniques (flight operations, aeronautics, avionics,
and control systems)
Dan is Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Lobo Leasing.
Dan graduated from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and qualified as an English lawyer with the law firm Allen & Overy LLP. Subsequently, Dan worked with the commercial fixed-wing leasing company ILFC (now AerCap) and then joined Lobo Leasing in 2014.Dan is Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Lobo Leasing.
Dan graduated from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and qualified as an English lawyer with the law firm Allen & Overy LLP. Subsequently, Dan worked with the commercial fixed-wing leasing company ILFC (now AerCap) and then joined Lobo Leasing in 2014.
Steve leads LCI Analytics and is responsible for the development and creation of its range of reports and bespoke analysis and consultancy. He was previously the Founder and Principal of research and consulting firm Air & Sea Analytics.
Prior to that he spent 17 years at an energy-sector research and consulting business Westwood Global Energy in a number of roles including Director and Board Member. He led the firm’s oilfield services (OFS) research business unit and initiated coverage in several key OFS areas including offshore helicopters.
He also led and contributed to hundreds of bespoke consulting projects including commercial due diligence mandates relating to oilfield services and also helicopter companies such as CHC, NHV, Bond (now Babcock), Weststar and Pathfinder Aviation.
João Paulo Servera leads Veirano’s Aviation & Aircraft Finance group and focus his practice on corporate law, aircraft and engine financing and general aviation matters. JP advises in a variety of matters, including foreign investment and crossborder transactions, with significant experience in asset financing transactions, especially in respect to commercial aircraft and engines, general aviation, offshore helicopters and spare parts acquisition. JP assists ECAs, banks, financiers and lessors, as well as borrowers, lessees and operators and holds extensive background in aircraft-related commercial litigation, mostly involving aircraft repossession, insolvency procedures and bankruptcy. Important clients also rely in JP for corporate, regulatory and customs matters
support.
Mr. Sheedy was appointed to the position of President and CEO of Milestone Aviation in December 2019, following his appointment as Managing Director in February 2015. He has over 20 years of international financial services experience, including having previously led the underwriting and portfolio management function at Milestone Aviation and also having overall risk responsibility for GE Engine Leasing and GECAS’ Cargo business. Prior to joining Milestone, he spent the majority of his career working in commercial aircraft leasing, with a particular focus on Emerging Markets, covering the Middle East, Africa and Russia. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte in Ireland, where he spent 4 years in several roles including audit and assurance, corporate finance and corporate recovery, prior to joining GE in 2004. Mr. Sheedy obtained his Bachelor of Business Studies degree from University of Limerick and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland.
Andrew Woofson joined AirFinance in 2012 and is a founder, Vice President and Partner. Prior to joining AirFinance, Andrew was a Director of International Sales for Textron Financial Corporation where he was responsible for all operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Andrew also worked at RBS and Flybe. Woolfson holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Bristol and is a graduate of Thunderbird School of Global Management Executive Leadership. Andrew spends much of his leisure time cycling and he is a season ticket holder at Arsenal Football Club.
“As the global leader in helicopter leasing, we are excited to be the Event Partner for Helicopter Investor London 2024. Helicopter Investor is a must-attend event for anyone in the helicopter sector and offers a packed agenda of updates and insights from some of the industry’s leading experts. Bringing together end users, financiers, operators and manufacturers from across the globe, it is also a fantastic opportunity to meet with industry leaders. Pat Sheedy, Milestone Aviation”
Milestone Aviation Group, an AerCap company, is the world’s leading helicopter leasing and financing company. Milestone partners with helicopter operators worldwide, providing a wide array of financial and productivity solutions, including operating leases, purchase/leasebacks, secured debt financing, engine leasing and fleet advisory. The company supports approximately 50 customers in approximately 35 countries serving a variety of industries, including offshore oil and gas, search and rescue, emergency medical services, police surveillance, mining, fire-fighting, and other utility missions. www.milestoneaviation.com
Lead Sponsors
Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In the helicopter area, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.
The unique operational capabilities of Airbus helicopters enable them to perform vital missions around the world: saving lives, protecting populations, and delivering critical services, thereby contributing to the building of a safe, united and sustainable world.
Aero Asset is a global helicopter trading firm, headquartered in Toronto. It specializes in remarketing & trading preowned twin engine helicopters. Aero Asset also publishes Heli Market Trends, a preowned helicopter market report released quarterly.
Eagle Copters is a global one-stop shop for all your helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul, and fleet management needs.
Headquartered in Calgary, Canada, Eagle has been providing complete fleet management support to operators since 1975. Historically specializing in Bell Medium Utility helicopters, Eagle has successfully transitioned from a small, family business to a global team of experts, with a network of affiliates across multiple OEM platforms.
Eagle Copters has industry-leading capabilities in helicopter leasing, completions, product development, engineering, and is an MRO provider to major OEM platforms including Bell, Leonardo, Sikorsky, and others.
Eagle is well-equipped to meet your helicopter needs. Our team specializes in:
• Maintenance including aircraft maintenance, inspections, and refurbishment using our extensive inventory of certified parts and components for major OEM models.
• Repair & Overhaul including engine, component, fuel, machining and welding, custom installations, and paint capabilities.
• Logistics including part sales, shipping, and sourcing.
• Eagle Part & Component Solutions (EPCS): Offering operators the ability to obtain parts at a competitive price point and with faster lead times than some traditional OEM new part orders. EPCS provides high-quality certified components (Form-1 or 8130) obtained through Eagle’s part-out and recertification process. With a large inventory of Bell, Sikorsky, and a growing inventory of Leonardo AW139 parts, EPCS is becoming a go-to for operators looking to reduce downtime and spend more time flying.
• Structures including fixture manufacturing, tooling, structures repair, and modification using our custom-built jigs, suitable for specific aircraft models.
• Avionics including repairs, upgrades, and custom installations tailored to your missions.
• Paint offerings including fully customized paint schemes designed to meet and exceed exact customer requirements. This includes three paint booths, custom colour matching, media blasting, and environmentally friendly refinishing technologies.
• Engineering including design approvals as a TCCA Design Approval Organization, the ability to obtain Supplemental Type Certificates, and airworthiness certification approvals.
• Minister Delegate including aircraft import and export capabilities.
Leonardo, through its Helicopter Division, performs research, design, development, production, customer support and marketing of the AgustaWestland’s extensive range of products. They cover all the main helicopter weight categories, from the 1.8-ton single engine, to the 16-ton three-engine helicopter.
The AW139, AW189 and AW169 are new generation helicopters serving the market as the AWFamily of products featuring the same design philosophy and providing equivalent safety & technology standards and cost effective solutions. The Family’s models also share many component parts and the same approach to maintenance and training. This translates into significant advantages in terms of operational efficiency and a reduction in through-life costs for the users.
Leonardo Helicopters is also committed to the study and introduction into the market of innovative technologies and platforms, including the AW609 TiltRotor and the remotely controlled/optionally piloted rotorcraft.
A great emphasis to customer satisfaction is placed by Leonardo Helicopters, able to offer a great supportability level for both maintenance and training. Several service centres can provide spares, repair and overhaul throughout the product lifecycle worldwide 24 hours per day around the world.
LCI is a leading aviation lessor that provides operators worldwide with an attractive alternative to buying, and financing the purchase of, rotary and fixed wing aircraft. LCI’s rotorcraft fleet is focused on the latest technology medium and super medium helicopters manufactured by leading OEMs including Leonardo, Airbus Helicopters and Sikorsky. These are in operation across four continents in multiple sectors including emergency medical services, offshore wind, search and rescue, maritime pilot transfer and energy sector transportation. LCI’s highly experienced management team has built strong relationships with manufacturers, customers and leading financial institutions, and has undertaken in excess of US$8 billion of transactions in the fixed wing and helicopter markets since its inception in 2004.
Lobo is an independent, management-owned platform specialised in the sourcing and management of investments in leased helicopter and specialist fixed-wing aircraft. Headquartered in Ireland with offices in UK, USA, Brazil, The Netherlands and Portugal, Lobo originates and manages aviation investments across the world in both the existing helicopter market as well as the fast-developing eVTOL and advanced air mobility sectors. These aircraft provide critical firefighting, medical support, transportation and search-and-rescue services across four continents. Lobo team is comprised of a diversified team of seasoned helicopter operators, technicians and finance professionals with extensive experience in the commercial helicopter industry which combines all key disciplines as legal, technical, finance, accounting, marketing and business development into a single coordinated service offering platform for investors and operators.
Sponsors
Cirium is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. It delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. Equipping airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.
HeliValue$, Inc. is best known for its publication, The Official Helicopter Blue Book®, which has been sold worldwide since 1979. HeliValue$ is the trusted advisor and industry-wide interpreter for an international clientele of manufacturers, vendors, helicopter operators, banks, leasing and insurance companies, and aviation law firms.
HeliValue$ is the world's only dedicated helicopter appraisal firm. With the powerful combination of decades of resale data, our internal component pricing data, and insight into the helicopter industry, our accredited ASA appraisers go well beyond the "appraiser" role. Our advice and consultations have helped lenders, lessors, and other funding participants: by advising on final "go/no-go" decisions for many by discussing the pros and cons of participating in helicopter lending, whether in general or in a specific deal, signifying changing the lending/credit industry's opinion of helicopters' long-term values through our 40+ years of evaluations, advice, and counsel.
HeliValue$ continues enhancing the helicopter industry's position with in-person and telephone presentations for senior management, asset, and credit personnel.
Macquarie Rotorcraft was established in 2013 as part of Macquarie Group Limited (Macquarie Group), a global financial services group with over $A737 billion of assets under management.
Macquarie Rotorcraft (MR) offers customized leasing and helicopter financing solutions to a global customer base supporting applications in offshore energy, EMS, SAR, and other mission critical segments.
MR’s executive cadre consists of helicopter industry professionals with experience in MRO, OEM, operator and aircraft finance and leasing.
The company has a worldwide presence with offices in Dallas, Limerick, London, and Singapore.
Founded in 2002, Nova Capital is a privately owned aviation leasing company, with offices in Ireland, France, and Portugal. The company provides asset financing solutions and a full service, highly adaptable leasing platform to Helicopter and fixed-wing Aircraft operators primarily in the on-shore mission critical services space. Nova Capital has established a wide network of business partners including major aircraft and helicopter operators, manufacturers, as well as financial institutions and private investors.
With over 70 professionals in Chicago, New York, Washington, DC, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Singapore and Dallas, the Global Transportation Finance team of Vedder Price is one of the largest, most experienced and best recognized transportation finance practices in the world. Since 2016 Vedder Price has been ranked Band 1 in Private Aircraft (Global-wide) of Chambers High Net Worth, recognizing the world’s leading high-net-worth advisers.
With one of the largest and most experienced Business Aircraft and Helicopter Finance practice in the world, Vedder Price is able to provide counsel in all aspects of business aircraft and helicopter financing transactions, particularly large jet aircraft but also small jets, turboprop aircraft and helicopters. Attorneys in the group are considered to be thought leaders regarding commercial and contract law matters pertaining to aircraft finance and leasing transactions, whether governed by U.S. law, English law or the commercial laws of other jurisdictions, or international treaties. You can expect to work with creative, experienced attorneys who have both deep practical experience and broad transportation industry perspectives insight that can support you in matters ranging from simple to highly complex.
Pre-conference cocktail reception hosted by Lobo Leasing
Wednesday June 5th & Thursday June 6th
Helicopter Leasing – the next 10 years What is the economic life of a helicopter delivering this year? Are lenders returning to helicopters How resilient is the offshore fleet if a helicopter is grounded? Are ESG issues making finding finance harder Offshore opportunities versus onshore Is now the time for lessors to place orders Moderator: Alasdair Whyte, Helicopter Investor Jaspal Jandu, LCI Pat Sheedy, The Milestone Aviation Group John Petkovic, Macquarie Rotorcraft Olivier Piot, Nova Capital Dan Roberts, Lobo Leasing
The offshore helicopter market – the customer view How do you chose an operator How healthy is the market Should leasing companies get more involved? Tony Cramp, Shell
Helicopters and ESG Does the sector have a problem? Does the social value get enough focus? Pauline Gasquet, RIVE Private Investment
Nigel Leishman, LCI
What is going on in the US EMS market Has consolidation worked? Are more Chapter 11s on the way Oliver Althoff, Seabury Corporate Finance
David Fowkes, FTI Capital Advisors Joe Hawke, Uniflight Global
Finding homes for older assets Do you want to be the last owner? The economics of tear downs Russell Christopher, Thora Capital
Jason Diniz, Eagle Copter
Finding helicopter debt How do banks view economic lives? Do they get comfort from lessors? Is it getting harder to find debt? How are ESG policies impacting Andy Blundell, Close Brothers Aviation & Marine
Bradley Gordon, Investec Alan O’Rourke, LCI
The state of the market 2024-2025 What are the hottest models Where are we in the cycle Sara Dhariwal, Cirium Ascend Consultancy Steve Robertson, LCI Analytics Will Sturm, Aero Asset
Gama Aviation – finding long-term value What drove the Specialist Aviation Service Growing EMS business How competitive is the North Sea? Marwan Khalek, Gama Aviation
The heavy helicopter market What’s driving the market Looking beyond off-shore Tim Evans, Bel Flight
Jason Kmiecik, Helivalue$
David Prevor, Airbus Helicopters
Keeping the rotors turning Negotiating supply chain challenges to keep helicopters flying. Senior representative, Airbus Helicopters
Simulating the future Financing simulators
Fighting fire with helicopters How demand is growing
What’s holding the sector back? Is it just a pre-owned market? What are the best aircraft? Jason Diniz, Eagle Copter
Fred Goig, Aero Asset Kate Grammer, Firehawk
Using export credit finance Export credit versus traditional debt What are export credit agencies looking for? Andrew Woolfson, Airfinance
Offshore wind: the customer perspective Helicopters v ships How big can the market get
Opportunities in offshore wind Jens Oliver Freiland, HeliService
Doing the utilitylifting Opportunities with Super Puma v Black Hawk v Chinook Managing certification Are there enough parts for older aircraft Choosing different missions
Opportunities in the European emergency medical services market What are operators looking for Financing expansion Armin Ortmann, NHC Northern Helicopter
VIP helicopter transport: What’s limiting their take-off? Why has this sector never reached its full potential Is the sector finally winning the confidence of HNWI? Will Fanshawe, Flexjet Helicopters
Tilting at the future What does the future hold for tiltrotors? How they combine the benefits of fixed and rotary wing designs
Here is this year’s news Uplifting Advice forecasts the future of the global helicopter industry Clark McGinn, Uplifting Advice
