Milestone Aviation Group, the first global specialty finance company focused exclusively on the helicopter and private jet markets, announced today $205 million in transactions. With this announcement, which was made at the Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo, Milestone has closed on 20 new and pre-owned helicopters totalling $141 million as well as signed Letters of Intent for an additional $64 million in equipment.

The announced transactions include the following Milestone customers:

Aeroservicios Especializados, S.A. de C.V. (ASESA) of Mexico;
CareFlite of the USA;
Global Vectra of India;
Helijet International Inc of Canada;
Inaer of Europe; and
Omni Taxi Aereo of Brazil.
These operators use the helicopters in a range of industries, such as oil and gas, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and government contract transport.

The cumulative total also includes a significant new Milestone helicopter order that will be announced later today at Heli-Expo. Milestone is exhibiting at Heli-Expo Booth 4042 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, through March 8.

“In just six months since we launched Milestone, we have already reached $205 million worth of transactions to provide lease financing to high-quality helicopter and private jet operators,” said Richard Santulli, chairman of Milestone. “We are delighted to have acquired in such a short time $141 million in equipment, with another $64 million committed, to support our partners.”

“We believe a blend of asset ownership and leasing is essential to manage our financial risk, achieve our growth targets and, most importantly, meet the needs of our customers,” said Jorge Diaz-Crespo Cardona, CEO of Inaer, the leading global provider of mission-critical helicopter services. “Milestone offers a customised solution in the marketplace and we are proud to be amongst their first customers.”

Milestone Aviation Group provides short or long-term leases of any amount for new purchases, pre-owned equipment or the sale-leaseback of existing assets, all with 100% financing. Milestone, which secured $500 million of equity last August to provide lease financing to the helicopter and private jet markets, is currently in various stages of discussions with helicopter operators and private jet owners on six continents.

“Our announcement today demonstrates the breadth and global nature of the Milestone business,” said Milestone CEO William Kelly. “Our partnership with first-class companies both large and small provides proof of the value of our product offering and our place in the industry.”

About Milestone Aviation Group
Milestone Aviation Group is the first global aircraft leasing company exclusively focused on helicopters and private jets. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and with operations in Colts Neck, New Jersey and Columbus, Ohio, Milestone’s global aircraft leasing platform addresses the needs of a transforming marketplace. Further information is available at www.milestoneaviation.com.

About ASESA
ASESA, a leader in the aeronautics industry since 1977, is a Mexican company specialized in helicopter air services. ASESA offers cargo and passenger transportation service, maintenance, operation, management, safekeeping and guarding, consultancy service and a FBO. As one of the leading air service providers in Mexico, ASESA has logged over 460,000 flight hours and was awarded the Operator Safety Award by Helicopter Association International from 2006 – 2009. More information is available at www.asesa.com.mx.

About CareFlite
CareFlite, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit Texas company, is sponsored by the leading not for profit and public hospitals in North Texas: Baylor Healthcare, JPS Health Network, Methodist Health System, Parkland Health and Hospital and Texas Health Resources. More information is available at www.careflite.org.

About Global Vectra
Global Vectra Helicorp is India’s largest private helicopter company, with a fleet of 25 aircraft. Global Vectra Helicorp offers offshore transportation services to the oil and gas sector and through Birdie, its onshore division, charter and airport shuttle services throughout the country. Global Vectra Helicorp is a part of the Vectra Group of companies, which is engaged in aviation, heavy engineering, real estate, information and technology and security systems. More information is available at www.globalhelicorp.com.

About Helijet International Inc
Helijet is based in Vancouver, Canada. For 25 years, Helijet has offered commuter service between downtown Vancouver and downtown Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. This was the first scheduled helicopter service in Canada and continues today using Sikorsky S-76A equipment. From that first helicopter and first route, Helijet has grown into a publicly traded company offering a wide range of scheduled and charter services with a fleet of 13 helicopters and airplanes and over 100 employees. Helijet also provides air ambulance service for the British Columbia Ambulance Service and, in late 2010, won the rights to continue that service with three Sikorsky S-76C+ machines for the next eight years. Further information is available at www.helijet.com.

About Inaer
INAER is a global leading provider of helicopter emergency services for mission critical operations such as medical emergency services, civil protection, sea and mountain search & rescue, coast and fishing surveillance, fire fighting, training and maintenance. These services are provided for national, regional and local governments. INAER operates in Spain, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Portugal, North Africa, Chile and Australia, and has a fleet of 298 aircraft and more than 1,800 employees. INAER’s customers profile and concession based contract give the company a high degree of income visibility over the medium to long term period. More information is available at www.inaer.com.

About Omni Taxi Aéreo
Omni Taxi Aéreo is part of the Portuguese Omni Aviation Group. The Brazilian Company was founded in 2000 and started operations one year later with a Bell 212 helicopter. Over the past 10 years the company has grown rapidly and diversified its fleet with several different helicopter models dedicated to the oil & gas industry. Omni is fully certified in Quality, Health, Environment and Social Responsibility to international norms and has maintained a perfect safety record since incorporation. Further information is available at www.omnibrasil.com.br.