Founded 2010 | Number of employees 19 | |
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Number of locations Columbus, OhioColts Neck, New Jersey (United States) Products Aircraft Lease, Helicopter Lease Website www.milestoneaviation.com Founders John Burns, William Kelly, Daniel Rosenthal, Matthew Harris, Richard Santulli, Robert Dranitzke Parent organization GE Capital Aviation Funding Ltd. Subsidiaries The Milestone Aviation Asset Holding Group No. 1 Ltd. | ||
Milestone aviation group signs for 16 ec225s
Milestone Aviation Group is the first global aircraft operating lease company focused exclusively on the helicopter market. Milestone's global aircraft leasing platform addresses the liquidity needs of a transforming marketplace through 100% operating lease financing. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Milestone has additional operations in Colts Neck, New Jersey and Columbus, Ohio in the United States. In June 2015, GE Capital Aviation Services acquired Milestone Aviation Group. All Helicopters leased will be under the GECAS name.
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Exclusive from finmeccanica and milestone aviation group helitech international
History
Milestone Aviation Group was founded in August 2010 by Richard Santulli. Santulli has nearly 40 years of experience in helicopters, private jets and finance industries. He is known for inventing the fractional jet ownership industry and growing NetJets into a multinational corporation. Milestone is based in Dublin, Ireland, where the company can benefit from Ireland’s skill set and tax infrastructure.
After the late-2000s economic crisis that broke some of the world’s biggest financial institutions, helicopter operators lacked the access to capital needed to modernize and invest in new equipment demanded by clients. Milestone Aviation emerged in the helicopter industry as an alternative financing option to address this underserved market niche.
Corporate affairs
The company is run by a board of directors made up of a small number of shareholders and company members. Richard Santulli, founder and former chair and CEO of NetJets, serves as chairman of Milestone’s board of directors. Brian Humphries, president and CEO of the European Business Aviation Association, also serves on Milestone’s advisory board. Santulli brought members of the NetJets management team with him to head Milestone.
Financial
Milestone Aviation Group secured $500 million of equity capital commitments to launch its business. U.S. middle-market private equity firm The Jordan Company led the investor team, in partnership with Nautic Partners. Since launching in August 2010, Milestone Aviation has leased more than 40 aircraft. Some of Milestone’s most notable deals include an order for sixteen (16) EC 225’s (valued at $480 million) and three (3) Sikorsky S-92s, which join a fleet of seven (7) S-76C++ and four additional S-92s. In 2012, Milestone agreed with Bristow Group Inc. (BRS) to lease five helicopters including two EC-225s and three S-92s, estimated value is $139 million. In its first year of operation, Milestone closed deals with Aeroservicios Especializados S.A. de C.V. (ASESA), CareFlite, Global Vectra Helicorp, Helijet International Inc., Omni Taxi Aereo, and Inaer. The company currently has an asset portfolio representing more than $500 million in financing commitments and holds leases with three of the four largest global helicopter operators, including Bristow, CHC and Inaer.
Recent news
In October 2014, it was announced that General Electric’s financial division was in talks to acquire Milestone.