Falcon Aviation Services
Falcon Aviation Services provides safe, reliable, and luxurious aviation experiences with VIP charter, aircraft management, airborne support for oil & gas operations, sightseeing heli tours, and maintenance solutions
By Rafael Henríquez
Managing Editor
Founded in that year, the company was established by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Advisor to the President of UAE, to introduce healthy competition into the nation’s aviation sector.
The initial mission was clear – to become a supplier of helicopter services for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
This foundational goal, however, was merely the launchpad. The company expanded its horizons quickly, acquiring business jets for corporate travel and helicopters for VIP charter.
Soon after, it added sightseeing tours to its portfolio with the Airbus H130, strategically positioning itself to capitalize on the UAE’s booming tourism industry.
Over time, the company further evolved, growing its capabilities to include maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, reinforcing its role as a full-spectrum aviation provider.
In just under 2 decades, this deliberate diversification transformed Falcon Aviation from a niche oil-and-gas support player into a multifaceted aviation powerhouse, now operating a fleet of 40 aircraft across different missions.
The test pilot at the helm
CEO Captain Ramandeep Oberoi has guided Falcon Aviation’s complex and diverse operation for the past 11 years. His own history is as storied as the company he oversees.
An Indian Air Force veteran, Captain Oberoi’s aviation journey began with flying Russian-built helicopters before he was selected for the role of experimental test pilot. He spent a year and a half at a French test pilot school in Marseille.
Falcon Aviation Services employs a cadre of 100 pilots qualified to fly different aircraft types. Pictured are (L–R) a de Havilland Dash 8-Q400 turboprop captain, a rotary-wing division pilot, and 2 fixed-wing engineers in the cockpit of an Embraer Legacy 600.
On his return to India, he was instrumental in setting up a test flight school for helicopters in Bengaluru, and dedicated 7 years to the prototype testing of the HAL Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH/Dhruv).
After moving into civil aviation and gaining experience in oil and gas operations in Qatar, he arrived in Abu Dhabi 22 years ago, bringing a unique blend of technical mastery and strategic vision to his current role.
Despite the demands of the corner office, Captain Oberoi remains connected to the cockpit. “At 67 years old, I don’t fly commercially any more,” he explains. “But I do keep my license current and fly as an examiner.”
Captain Oberoi emphasizes Falcon Aviation’s decentralized leadership structure. “We run a very large organization,” he says. “We have directors who are leaders in their own right. I do not interfere; my role is to support them. I trust our directors to manage their domains with expert autonomy.”
A rotary-wing giant
With a fleet of some 28 helicopters, Falcon Aviation’s rotary-wing division is the backbone of its operations, executing a wide array of critical missions.
The fleet is a collage of engineering, comprising 6 different types from 3 major manufacturers – Airbus, Bell, and Leonardo.
The workhorse Leonardo AW189s, with their 19 seats, form a significant part of the fleet, alongside the versatile AW169s and AW109s.
The company also operates a fleet of Bell 412s and Airbus H130s, which are dedicated to the region’s thriving sightseeing business.
The fleet is dynamic, with older models being sold off and new types, like the AW139, scheduled for delivery in the coming year. Falcon Aviation relies on Satcom Direct to keep passengers connected on the go.
This diverse fleet enables 3 primary mission sets. The first is oil and gas support, where helicopters based on remote islands like Zirku and Das ferry personnel to and from offshore rigs for ADNOC. The second is tourism, with the H130s alone carrying an astounding 70,000 sightseeing passengers annually.
The third is VIP charter, using aircraft like the AW109 and AW169 to transport CEOs and dignitaries between cities and palaces.
Beyond these core functions, the helicopters are also configured for medical evacuation (medevac), filming for the movie industry, and other special missions, and are supported by a team of approximately 75 pilots.
The fixed-wing side
Falcon Aviation’s fixed-wing operation is a tale of 2 distinct services – a high-frequency commuter airline and a global business jet management service. The fleet of around 12 aircraft is split between turboprops and jets.
The unsung heroes of the fleet are the de Havilland Dash 8 turboprops. This dedicated fleet of 5 aircraft – soon to be 7 – functions as a commuter airline, shuttling oil and gas workers every single day from Abu Dhabi to the offshore islands. This operation is the vital link that feeds the helicopter network on the islands.
Alongside this workhorse fleet, the company manages a collection of long-range jets for private owners, including Bombardier Global, Dassault Falcon, Embraer Legacy, and Gulfstream business jets.
The business model is sophisticated – Falcon Aviation manages the entire operation, from flight planning and maintenance to chartering the aircraft on the owner’s behalf.
Typically, only 20–30% of the flights are for the owner, with the remaining 70–80% being charter missions on flights spanning the globe. Inflight connectivity for the jet fleet is provided by Gogo.
A Bombardier Challenger 605, currently being modified into a critical care transport jet with a full aeromedical kit, will soon open a new frontier – long-range medical repatriation from Abu Dhabi to Europe and the US.
Falcon Aviation Services offers a fleet of premier corporate jets, including Dassault Falcon, Embraer, and Gulfstream models, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
A global pilot corps
Falcon Aviation has a 100-strong pilot corps. “In total, we have close to 650 employees,” says Captain Oberoi. “And they’re made up of 54 different nationalities, so we’re like a United Nations operation here.”
The company employs a dual-track hiring philosophy. For critical roles like oil and gas helicopter captains, they seek experienced aviators with a background in multi-crew environments and strong crew resource management (CRM) skills.
Simultaneously, they bring in junior first officers (FOs) with less experience, promoting from within to cultivate talent.
Schedules are tailored to the mission. Pilots on the touring and VIP side often live locally with their families. In contrast, the demanding oil and gas sector operates on rotations such as 8 weeks on followed by 4 weeks off. This is a standard practice for the industry that ensures crew readiness during long postings.
Training is as diverse as the fleet itself. For some types, like the AW189, pilots are still sent to Leonardo in Italy. For others, such as the AW169 and Bell 412, simulators in Abu Dhabi are used.
The company also leverages its in-house expertise, using its own training examiners for the H130 and AW109, blending this with periodic simulator sessions in Switzerland to ensure the highest standards are met for every aircraft type.
In-house maintenance
Falcon Aviation’s maintenance capability is a strategic pillar of its operation, designed to ensure maximum availability for its diverse fleet. The structure is split into 2 dedicated departments – fixed-wing and rotary-wing.
Each division has its own hangar at AZI (Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, UAE), supplemented by additional hangars in Kuwait and client bases.
Falcon Aviation has extensive in-house capabilities. For helicopters, they are an authorized service center for both Airbus and Leonardo, performing everything from line maintenance to heavy D checks on types like the AW189, AW169, and Bell 412.
For the fixed-wing fleet, they are a designated service center for the Dash 8, performing all checks and even servicing 3rd-party aircraft from countries such as Kazakhstan and Pakistan. They also conduct base maintenance for Embraer aircraft and line maintenance for Bombardier and Gulfstream jets.
Director of Maintenance Costas Georgiou pursued his passion for aviation through aeronautical studies in the UK.
He is a licensed engineer with qualifications on both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, from Airbus and Bell helicopters to the entire fleet under his charge.
He joined Falcon Aviation in 2014, starting as a base supervisor and rising through the ranks over a decade to lead the entire technical operation.
Today, Georgiou stands at the helm of a vast maintenance machine.
He is responsible for all technical operations, from the hangars to a team of nearly 200 personnel at the main base alone.
His role also carries significant regulatory weight, as he serves as the nominated post holder for multiple aviation authorities.
To manage this colossal task, Georgiou relies on software and rigorous processes. The company uses the Aerotrac system as the primary maintenance tracking platform for its owned fleet, while employing CAMP for client aircraft.
These integrated systems provide a complete solution, governing everything from scheduling upcoming maintenance events and documenting ongoing work to tracking Falcon Aviation’s own spare parts inventory, currently valued at more than $20 million.
This extensive stock is a strategic necessity, a buffer against the global supply chain issues that Georgiou confirms have challenged the entire industry.
The maintenance department’s capability is underscored by its status as an authorized service center for Airbus Helicopters, de Havilland, and Embraer, performing everything from line maintenance to heavy base checks.
(L) The Falcon Aviation Operations Crew Control team in action, ensures seamless flight coordination. (R) De Havilland Dash 8-Q400 twin turboprop on the ramp at AZI (Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, UAE).
As Falcon Aviation prepares for fleet expansion with the addition of the Challenger 605, AW139, and Dash 8 Q300, the challenge for Georgiou only grows. It’s a challenge he readily embraces.
“Let’s just say that Falcon Aviation does not allow you to get bored,” he says. “Work around here is very diverse, and every day is different than the previous one. No two days are the same.”
Eyes on the horizon
Never content to stand still, Falcon Aviation is constantly looking beyond the UAE’s borders. The company already has a foothold in Kuwait and had operations in Sudan before the recent conflict, with plans to return once stability is restored.
They are actively exploring new opportunities in oil and gas and business aviation across Africa and south Asia, often responding to requests from organizations like the United Nations.
But the most ambitious expansion is technological. Falcon Aviation is positioning itself at the forefront of the electric aviation revolution.
After years of monitoring the market and partnering with pioneers like Joby and Archer, the company has decided on a path.
The plan is to launch cargo operations for oil and gas using electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Chinese manufacturer Autoflight, with the goal of being among the first in the world to do so.
This progressive approach – starting with cargo to gain operational experience before moving into passenger air taxi services – signals that Falcon Aviation intends to remain a leader in the region’s skies for the next 20 years and beyond.