Omni Helicopters International S.A. (“OHI”), parent of Brazil’s leading offshore aviation specialist Omni Taxi Aéreo S.A. (“OTA”), and Omni Blu Aviation Ltd. (“Omni Blu”), the independent provider of aviation services in Nigeria, today announced their strategic alliance to launch, promote, and develop Omni Helicopters Nigeria (“OHN”).

OHN will make use of OHI’s technical expertise, access to aircraft and track record in safety and operating performance, as well as Omni Blu’s local capabilities and strong service reputation. The joint venture, which is crafted to meet the more demanding OGP standards in offshore aviation as well as local content requirements in Nigeria, aims to create a solid source of safe and reliable service for the Nigerian oil and gas market, one of the world’s most developed with c. 60 helicopters in use.

The strategic alliance between OHI and Omni-Blu will help requalify Nigerian offshore aviation by accessing resources that will lead to the introduction of new aircraft technologies and safety systems, in turn boosting investment, training and formation. This will benefit the broader Nigerian aviation sector and impact the overall economy by elevating local capabilities and promoting increased employment, professional development and sustainable competition.

Captain Sunny Adegbuyi, Managing Director of Omni Blu, said “This alliance is great news for Nigeria and a welcome development for her economy, as well as the aviation and O&G sectors. At a time when aviation companies are divesting and pulling out of the industry, OHI has demonstrated its faith and confidence in the aviation policy of the present administration, carefully crafted and piloted by the Hon. Minister of State (Aviation) Senator Hadi Sirika, as fully endorsed by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. We are delighted to partner with one of the world’s best helicopter operators at a critical time for Nigerian offshore aviation.

“We aim to meet the rising demands of this market with a unique balance of operational strengths and local content. We have known the founders of OHI for two decades and hold them in high esteem. OHI’s achievements in Brazil, the world’s fastest-growing offshore aviation market, are testament to the capabilities of our partner.”

Cpt. Rui Almeida, founder of OHI, in his comment said “We are excited to join forces with Omni Blu in the development of a safe and reliable offshore aviation market in Nigeria. The current situation In Nigeria is similar to the environment we found in Brazil in 2006, when tightening regulations and substantially upgraded demands from oil and gas clients offered opportunities to new entrants.

“We succeeded by transferring know-how, granting access to assets and empowering local excellence. We are familiar with Nigeria, having operated there in the past, and understand the standards of oil and gas clients, having serviced many of these clients in Brazil already. We share the ethos and ambitions of our valued partner Omni-Blu, and are confident that this alliance will truly make a difference to the Nigerian offshore aviation market.”