Kocoglu Aviation Inc of Turkey has passed the milestone of 10,000 flight hours with its fleet of AW109 Power light twin helicopters in just two years.

The eight helicopters, operated by Sky Line Transportation Trade Inc, a Kocoglu Group company, have been successfully operating across Turkey in demanding hot and high conditions, achieving 97% dispatch reliability. Over 3,800 EMS missions have been performed. Three Izmir-based Power pilots, out of the total of 73 pilots employed by Sky Line Aviation, have now logged more than 1,200 flying hours each on the AW109.

Ugur Nusret Kocoglu, ceo of Kocoglu Aviation Inc says: "This latest achievement highlights our personnel's dedication and the AW109 Power's exceptional reliability."

Kocoglu Aviation was awarded a contract by the Turkish Ministry of Health to provide EMS helicopters as well as doctors and paramedics, for a sun-up to sun-down service, following a tender process in 2008. The Ministry of Health contract established the first EMS helicopter service in Turkey to serve a large part of the community, using bases in 16 cities.

Kocoglu Aviation is part of Kocoglu Group which is involved in several sectors including construction, tourism, energy, transportation and aviation. Established in 2005, Kocoglu Aviation currently owns the largest commercial helicopter fleet in Turkey. It has 16 heliports, 18 hangars and maintenance facilities with almost 300 employees following an investment of more than €120 million so far. Sky Line, a Kocoglu Group company and an authorised JAR 145 organisation for repair and maintenance services, was appointed as an AgustaWestland Service Centre for the AW109 Power and Grand models in Turkey in June 2009.

Sky Line is offering on-site support services to Kocoglu Aviation's fleet and to other AW109 Power and Grand operators in Turkey. Its main maintenance centre is located at Ankara airport with line maintenance hangars available in other cities. A second base maintenance hangar at Istanbul's Ataturk airport is under construction and is expected be completed shortly.