African operator International Aircraft Services reports that 2021 has been better than expected in terms of offshore activity in the Ivory Coast. Both Total and Eni, two major oil and gas companies, have chosen its helicopters for their exploration campaigns. “Although the latter contract was short, it gave us the opportunity to prove the capacity of a local Ivorian and West African helicopter operator to work for some of the largest O&G companies and to meet the highest standards,” comments company representative Alexandra Rotaru. “The fact that Eni made a promising discovery is both positive for the country and for our company as it opens new perspectives.”

The firm's current offshore fleet is composed of Dauphin N3 aircraft, well suited for the oil and gas projects offshore from Ivory Coast and Ghana. However IAS is waiting for an opportunity that will allow it to cooperate with other rotary wing manufacturers.

“We recently transported a COVID positive passenger thanks to a separation of the cabin allowing us to protect the crew,” Rotaru continues. "Since the start of the pandemic we have gathered all teams in our three operational hubs: Abidjan, Accra and Ouagadougou as we expected restriction of movements. This was a very smart move as it allowed us to continue operations throughout the crisis.”