Waypoint Leasing placed two new Sikorsky S-92s on lease with a global helicopter operator. Waypoint also successfully re-leased 16 aircraft with legacy operators, further demonstrating continued global demand for certain medium and heavy aircraft.

Clark McGinn, Waypoint’s senior vice president of Sales & Relationship Management, said, “Despite a period of weak demand for oil and gas globally, and a recent shift in the market for heavy aircraft, we are receiving numerous inquiries and are in multiple, active negotiations to place AW139 and S-92 aircraft for new projects and aircraft upgrades in oil and gas, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Search and Rescue.”

Ian Gurekian, chief risk officer of Waypoint, said, “We are seeing underlying support for oil and gas assets improving anew, with several promising signs emerging at both the macro and micro level. Volatility in the oil and gas market has been significantly reduced since the beginning of 2016 and, with this nascent stability, both oil companies and their service providers are increasing their offshore activity. We have seen several new licenses, projects and full-fledged developments begin in the past month alone, and, concurrently, we are receiving increasing numbers of inquiries for helicopter support services.”

Since its inception in 2013, Waypoint has been active in supporting utility, firefighting and other industrial-focused helicopter operators. Waypoint’s portfolio includes more than 125 aircraft for 17 customers in 27 countries with total assets in excess of $1.5 billion. Additionally, Waypoint has firm and option orders with aircraft manufacturers for more than 125 helicopters valued at more than $1.7 billion, to be delivered over the next five years.

Waypoint is a global helicopter leasing company that provides operating lease and financing solutions to helicopter operators worldwide.