Angola's state-owned petroleum firm, Grupo Sonangol E.P., has enlisted two strategic partners to help rejuvenate its struggling Sonair (SOR, Luanda 4 De Fevereiro) unit.
In a statement, Sonangol said it had signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with Luxembourg-based Heliconia and CHC Helicopters International (RBD, Vancouver International) which should set in motion Sonair's revitalization. Heliconia and CHC specialize in rotary-wing operations with contracts in several countries around the world, mainly in support of offshore operations.
As such, priority will be given to the oil operations sector where Sonair has lost several key contracts among them Chevron which cancelled its capacity purchase agreement in June last year citing serious safety deficiencies.
To that end, the agreement comprises two phases, the first of which involves a full due diligence of Sonair's organization, processes and systems, while the second, depending on the outcome of the first, could see Sonair entering into a consortium with the two foreign firms, aimed at relaunching its operations.
Sonair operates around 57 aircraft. In terms of its rotary wing operations, it provides offshore helicopter shuttle flights ferrying personnel to and from offshore oil platforms where most Angolan oil and gas drilling takes place. In terms of fixed-wing operations, it operates two B737-700s, seven DHC-6-300s, and thirteen Beech 1900Ds on regular and chartered passenger flights throughout Angola.
