Who We Are

Incorporated in 1970, to meet the demands of the Oil & Gas Industry of Qatar, Gulf Helicopters Company (GHC) has grown exponentially, becoming a major Regional and International Aviation Provider.

The Company

Gulf Helicopters Company (GHC) is one of the leading commercial aviation services provider. Our global footprint extends from Europe to Africa to Middle East to South Asia to Far East.

Founded in 1970, with the primary objective of catering to the needs of Qatar’s Oil and Gas Industry, we have grown over the years by leaps and bounds to successfully become a leading global aviation services provider. Our outstanding engineering capabilities and multi-type fleet offer cost efficient solutions to address the challenging demands of our esteemed clients with complete focus on performance and safety.

From a single helicopter operator, we have become an operator of 50 plus helicopters, consisting of various type of helicopters, like AW 189, AW 139, S92, Bell 412, Bell 212, Bell 206, MD 902 and EC 155. Our comprehensive fleet gives us the flexibility to cater to the needs of our clients, whether they are onshore or offshore. Our fleet of helicopters have been configured to the highest standards for performing tasks varying from Offshore Support to Onshore Support, Emergency Medical Services, VVIP Transportation, Aerial Photography, Under-slung, Seismic Support and Tourism Flight.

In 2008, we have been brought under the umbrella of Gulf International Services (GIS), which is public limited enterprise listed on Doha Securities Market (DSM).

Our Pursuit of growth coupled with excellence, helped us to grow from being a small regional player to an internationally reputable operator, serving most of the major oil and gas companies in the world. We continue to work with the Oil and Gas Industry to raise the standards of Commercial Rotary Aviation Services in respect to safety and service excellence.

 

Our History

Gulf Helicopters Company (GHC) was originally founded as a Domestic Aviation Service provider in 1970 by recognizing the prospective opportunities for helicopter services within the Gulf States. We began operations in full swing in 1973 with its first operational base in Doha, State of Qatar. The state owned Qatar General Petroleum Corporation (QP) fully acquired GHC in 1998 as a subsidiary. After a decade, in 2008, Gulf Helicopters together with Al-Koot Insurance Company and Gulf Drilling International were consolidated to form Gulf International Services (GIS), a public shareholding enterprise that has been listed on Doha Securities Market (DSM).

From our humble beginning, we have grown over the years as an International Aviation Service provider, serving International and Domestic Oil and Gas Companies and other clients Worldwide. Over the years, we have earned ample recognition across the world operating from Europe to the Middle East to the Far East. Our global footprint covers our current and past operations in countries such as Germany, Denmark, Malta, Libya, Sudan, South Africa, Republic of Yemen, Sultanate of Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, State of Qatar, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

Having completed 45 long and glorious years in this industry, we have gathered excellent know-how and enriching and wide-ranging experience in our sphere of operations. Our aviation activities encompasses helicopter flight services, helicopter maintenance, Aviation training solutions and other related activities.

GHC is a member of Helicopter Association International (HAI) and has been a regular recipient of the popular “Operator Safety Award” over the years including the last three years, i.e. 2019, 2020 and 2021 for accident free flying. In addition to this, in the year 1998 several members belonging to the Engineering Staff of Gulf Helicopters Company were also awarded with the Technical Safety Awards..

 

Mission

  • Work safely and efficiently
  • Continuously review and improve our performance
  • Work in innovative partnership with our Clients
  • Expand our business and extend our horizons
  • Constantly focus and ensure Customer Satisfaction
  • Place value on the contribution of our employees, their job satisfaction and well-being


Vision

TO BE RECOGNISED AS THE NUMBER ONE HELICOPTER OPERATOR AND MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION IN STANDARD AND SAFETY TO MEET ALL OUR CLIENTS EXPECTATION AND TO BE A LEADER IN IMPROVING THE HELICPOPTER INDUSTRY’ SAFETY AND STANDARDS.

 

Values

  • Safety – above all else
  • Integrity – do the right thing
  • Resourcefulness – be practical and innovative
  • Teamwork – transparency and respect for one another
  • Quality and excellence – set and achieve high standards in everything we do

 

  • The key objective of Gulf Helicopters is to offer its clients, passengers, crew and aircrafts the utmost care with an efficient and safe operation.
  • We have created a niche in today’s helicopter service industry owing to our unmatched standards of quality, safety and of course excellence.
  • Our Quality and Safety Management teams play a pivotal role to our operations and are indeed integral to our business.
  • We showcase our experience, knowledge and expertise in our operations accumulated over 45 years Worldwide.
  • Our team pays topmost importance to safety and we boast of one of the finest safety records within the industry. Safety remains our highest commitment and priority.
  • For truly offering on the safety commitment, we recognize that indeed it is not sufficient in simply implementing a safety framework. Safety and security at Gulf Helicopters is a way to conduct business.
  • Our crew remain up to date and stay at the summit of their competence always.
  • We follow standard maintenance practices, which are governed by the stringent regulatory authorties regulations.
  • We provide advanced training programs that are complemented and covered by our in-house training facilities.
  • We use cutting edge technology which includes HUMS (Health and Usage Monitoring System), TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) and Skytrac (Satellite Communications and Tracking system)..
  • The company is firmly committed towards continuous improvement with the help of the audit process, and constantly monitoring our processes and procedures for ensuring compliance with standards and universal regulatory needs.

 

  • Mohamed Al Mohannadi

    Chief Executive Officer

    Mr. Mohamed Al Mohannadi has been associated with Gulf Helicopters since November 1994. Earlier to this, Mr. Mohannadi held the position of Customer Services Manager with Gulf Air in Doha. He has vast wealth of aviation management experience combined with business acumen and strategic leadership thinking. He holds an aviation management degree from Florida Institute of Technology, USA.

     

  • Capt. Mohd Hilal O Al-Hilal

    Director of Operations

    Capt. Mohd Hilal O Al-Hilal is holding a B.S. Air Transport Management from UK in addition to his Airline Transport Pilot License (Fixed Wing and Helicopters), and a certificate in Management and Leadership from QLC. Captain AlHilal has a vast experience in the aviation industry (Rotor and Fixed Wing Operations) for more than 25 years. He joined Gulf Helicopters as a Helicopter Pilot in 1998, and had flown with Qatar Airways as a Fixed Wing Pilot in 2001-2003. Upon re-joining the company, Capt. Al Hilal has followed a career in Management, where he worked initially as a helicopter pilot ,instructor and then examiner , and later on took over the Chief Pilot position in the Company’s Private Category operations which operates not only regionally but also all across Europe. In January 2017, he was promoted as the  Director of Operations to head the Commercial and the Executive Transport Operations of the Company.

  • Hamad Hamdan Al Abdulla

    Director of Engineering

    Mr. Al Abdulla has joined Gulf Helicopters as Trainee Engineer in year 1998 and has risen through the ranks to become the Director of Engineering in October 2019. 

    He brings to the table a wealth of over 18 years of progressive and hands-on experience in Aviation Industry.  He has worked as Line Supervisor, Base Maintenance Supervisor, Supervisor for Workshop and Main Gear Box, Maintenance Manager before taking over as the Director of Engineering. He has worked both in Commercial operations and Executive Transport operations and gained experience and  expertise across these sectors.

    His academic and professional records comprise of Airframe and Power Plant Engineering and Masters in Transportation management.

     

  • Capt. Khalifa Al Mohannadi

    Operations Manager (International)

    Capt. Khalifa Al Mohannadi joined the Company as a Trainee and risen through the ranks to become part of the company’s Senior Management team. He held the positon of Operations Manager – Commerical before taking over the reins of Operations Manager – Private Category in 2016. He holds experience in the Aviation industry for over a decade and has an Airlines Transport Pilot License and Executive Masters in Aviation Management.

  • Markos Kandilakis

    Director of QHSE

    Markos Kandilakis joined Gulf Helicopters as Quality Assurance Engineer and promoted as Quality Assurance Manager in 2015. His career includes more than 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, both in major commercial airlines, Air Force and Hellenic Air Accidents Investigation and Safety Board. Over the years, Mr. Kandilakis gained good aviation experience cutting acorsss the varied functions of maintenance, safety, quality and investigation. He has completed his aircraft engineer course from Oxford Air Training School, U.K. and received his first license from U.K.C.A.A in Gas turbine Engines and Airplane II. His academic records comprise of accident prevention and investigation techniques in the aviation safety promotion as well as studies in auditing and total quality management. Markos holds an Masters degree in Quality Assurance.

  • Capt. CKS Ahluwalia

    Safety Systems Manager

    Capt. CKS Ahluwalia joined the Company in Sep 2011, was appointed as the Air Safety Officer in Apr 2013 and Safety Systems Manager in Sep 2015. After joining the Safety Department he has attended various Safety courses related to SMS, Auditing, Risk Management and Helideck Inspections. Prior to joining GHC, he spent about 20 years with the Indian Army Aviation, as an Aviation Instructor, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and gained extensive Aviation and Management experience. He then operated in the Indian offshore industry for four years before joining GHC. He brings a wealth of Operational experience, and a strong background in Safety Management Systems, to Gulf Helicopters.

  • Shea Brown

    Continuing Airworthiness Manager

    Mr. Shea Brown joined Gulf Helicopters Company’s Engineering department in December 2019 as a Licensed Aircraft Engineer for an outstation project. Excelling within the Engineering department, he was promoted within the outstation to the role of Maintenance Manager, overseeing all technical and operational matters. With more than 19 years of aviation experience Mr. Brown has risen through the engineering ranks, gaining a wealth of knowledge across multiple aircraft and regulatory environments. In October 2023 he was transferred to Gulf Helicopters Company’s CAMO and is currently serving as the Company's Continuing Airworthiness Manager, Mr. Brown is responsible for the management and supervision of all Gulf Helicopter Company’s airworthiness activities.

Gulf Helicopters Company considers Safety to be a corporate value of the company and believes in providing its employees and customers with a safe environment.

Gulf Helicopters Company is committed to provide the highest standards of Safety and Compliance Monitoring in all facets of operations and maintenance and will resolutely strive to improve these standards with the goal of continuous improvement. The Company and its employees are committed to comply with, and where possible, exceed, legislative and regulatory requirements and standards. The Company is committed to human factors awareness, and for that reason trains organisation staff in order to be aware of human factors and sets a continuous training programme in this field.

Management is committed to the establishment of a safe and healthy place of work together with safe work practices, provision of safe equipment and effective management systems to ensure the integrity of all resources and processes. Safety is considered by Management to be a vital and integral part of the successful performance of any task and to the overall success of the Company. In order to achieve this goal, every employee is responsible to integrate safety into the performance of all their duties.

Management is committed to a Just and open safety culture, and actively encourage and promote the reporting of all occurrences, errors, incidents and hazards  so that they may be investigated and corrective action taken to avoid future re-occurrence. Management is committed to ensure that employees are not inappropriately punished for reporting occurrences or cooperating with investigations.

Management staff are responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that safety is always the prime consideration, resources are adequate, employees are suitably qualified, trained and are provided with the required resources and that all work processes are properly planned and monitored to complete all jobs safely. The direct responsibility for the safe performance of an operation shall rest with the supervisor and with each employee.

The overall safety objective is proactive Hazard Identification and Risk Management. Occurrence Reporting, Management of Change, Risk Assessment and Mitigation, are all considered to be parts and tools of the Safety Management Systems implementation within Gulf Helicopters Company.

Gulf Helicopters Company encourages every employee to inform the Management personnel if neglect of this policy is witnessed, and identify areas that may benefit from further strengthening. All Gulf Helicopters Company employees shall comply with this policy and the standards and procedures set forth in the Safety Management Systems Manual.


Mohamed Al Mohannadi

Chief Executive Officer

 

  • HAI OPERATOR SAFETY AWARD - 2023

  • ISO 45001:2018 Approval Certificate

  • ISO 9001:2015 Approval Certificate

  • HAI - Operator Safety Award 2022

  • HAI OPERATOR SAFETY AWARD - 2021

  • GHC EASA Part 147 Approval Certificate_Page_1

  • GHC EASA Part 147 Approval Certificate_Page_2

  • GHC EASA Part 147 Approval Certificate_Page_3

  • Foreign Maintenance Organization - PACA Oman_Page 1

  • Foreign Maintenance Organization - PACA Oman_Page 2

  • Service center Certificate

  • QCAA Approval Certificate for GHC Part CAMO Page 1

  • QCAA Approval Certificate for GHC Part CAMO Page 2

  • HAI Operator Safety Award - 2020

  • GHC EASA Part 145 Approval Certificate_Page_1

  • GHC EASA Part 145 Approval Certificate_Page_2

  • GHC EASA Part 145 Approval Certificate_Page_3

  • QCAA GHC APPROVAL CERTIFICATE_PAGE_1

  • QCAA GHC APPROVAL CERTIFICATE_PAGE_2

  • QCAA GHC APPROVAL CERTIFICATE_PAGE_3

  • ROTODYNE AEROSPACE GROUND EQUIPMENT Authorized Dealer Certificate

  • EURAMI Board Awards RedStar Aviation

  • HAI - Operator Safety Award 2018

  • HAI - Operator Safety Award 2018

  • RedStar Aviation - Global Mobility Certificate

  • QA GQ0Y FY23 FAA Form 8000-4 Air Agency Certificate

  • Air Agency Certificate - K.S.A. GACA - AMO-439F

  • Leonardo Helicopters - Authorized Service Centre

  • DGCA India, Certification

  • Authorised Training Centre

  • CAA Qatar, Certification_Page1

  • CAA Qatar, Certification_Page2

  • Pratt&Whitney

  • Al Maha Aviation Company ISO Certification

  • Libyan Civil Aviation Authority Part 145 Approval Certificate_Page_1

  • Libyan Civil Aviation Authority Part 145 Approval Certificate_Page_2

  • HAI Operator Safety Award – 2019

About Samana

Samana Helicopter Tours - Qatar’s first and only aerial scenic tours service - is brought to you by Gulf Helicopters and Qatar Tourism Authority in partnership with Regency Travel & Tours. Gulf Helicopters contributes to the partnership with its aviation expertise, while Qatar Tourism Authority provides a strategic tourism perspective. Regency Travel & Tours adds to the project with its travel industry operations and marketing expertise..

Samana Helicopter Tours launch off from Doha Heliport, which is is located at Gulf Helicopters head office, with easy access from Ras Abu Aboud Road – Please visit www.samana.qa for more details.

 

  • The Company

    Gulf Helicopters Company (GHC) is one of the leading commercial aviation services provider. Our global footprint extends from Europe to Africa to Middle East to South Asia to Far East.

    Founded in 1970, with the primary objective of catering to the needs of Qatar’s Oil and Gas Industry, we have grown over the years by leaps and bounds to successfully become a leading global aviation services provider. Our outstanding engineering capabilities and multi-type fleet offer cost efficient solutions to address the challenging demands of our esteemed clients with complete focus on performance and safety.

    From a single helicopter operator, we have become an operator of 50 plus helicopters, consisting of various type of helicopters, like AW 189, AW 139, S92, Bell 412, Bell 212, Bell 206, MD 902 and EC 155. Our comprehensive fleet gives us the flexibility to cater to the needs of our clients, whether they are onshore or offshore. Our fleet of helicopters have been configured to the highest standards for performing tasks varying from Offshore Support to Onshore Support, Emergency Medical Services, VVIP Transportation, Aerial Photography, Under-slung, Seismic Support and Tourism Flight.

    In 2008, we have been brought under the umbrella of Gulf International Services (GIS), which is public limited enterprise listed on Doha Securities Market (DSM).

    Our Pursuit of growth coupled with excellence, helped us to grow from being a small regional player to an internationally reputable operator, serving most of the major oil and gas companies in the world. We continue to work with the Oil and Gas Industry to raise the standards of Commercial Rotary Aviation Services in respect to safety and service excellence.

     

  • Our History

    Gulf Helicopters Company (GHC) was originally founded as a Domestic Aviation Service provider in 1970 by recognizing the prospective opportunities for helicopter services within the Gulf States. We began operations in full swing in 1973 with its first operational base in Doha, State of Qatar. The state owned Qatar General Petroleum Corporation (QP) fully acquired GHC in 1998 as a subsidiary. After a decade, in 2008, Gulf Helicopters together with Al-Koot Insurance Company and Gulf Drilling International were consolidated to form Gulf International Services (GIS), a public shareholding enterprise that has been listed on Doha Securities Market (DSM).

    From our humble beginning, we have grown over the years as an International Aviation Service provider, serving International and Domestic Oil and Gas Companies and other clients Worldwide. Over the years, we have earned ample recognition across the world operating from Europe to the Middle East to the Far East. Our global footprint covers our current and past operations in countries such as Germany, Denmark, Malta, Libya, Sudan, South Africa, Republic of Yemen, Sultanate of Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, State of Qatar, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

    Having completed 45 long and glorious years in this industry, we have gathered excellent know-how and enriching and wide-ranging experience in our sphere of operations. Our aviation activities encompasses helicopter flight services, helicopter maintenance, Aviation training solutions and other related activities.

    GHC is a member of Helicopter Association International (HAI) and has been a regular recipient of the popular “Operator Safety Award” over the years including the last three years, i.e. 2019, 2020 and 2021 for accident free flying. In addition to this, in the year 1998 several members belonging to the Engineering Staff of Gulf Helicopters Company were also awarded with the Technical Safety Awards..

     

  • Mission

    • Work safely and efficiently
    • Continuously review and improve our performance
    • Work in innovative partnership with our Clients
    • Expand our business and extend our horizons
    • Constantly focus and ensure Customer Satisfaction
    • Place value on the contribution of our employees, their job satisfaction and well-being


    Vision

    TO BE RECOGNISED AS THE NUMBER ONE HELICOPTER OPERATOR AND MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION IN STANDARD AND SAFETY TO MEET ALL OUR CLIENTS EXPECTATION AND TO BE A LEADER IN IMPROVING THE HELICPOPTER INDUSTRY’ SAFETY AND STANDARDS.

     

    Values

    • Safety – above all else
    • Integrity – do the right thing
    • Resourcefulness – be practical and innovative
    • Teamwork – transparency and respect for one another
    • Quality and excellence – set and achieve high standards in everything we do

     

    • The key objective of Gulf Helicopters is to offer its clients, passengers, crew and aircrafts the utmost care with an efficient and safe operation.
    • We have created a niche in today’s helicopter service industry owing to our unmatched standards of quality, safety and of course excellence.
    • Our Quality and Safety Management teams play a pivotal role to our operations and are indeed integral to our business.
    • We showcase our experience, knowledge and expertise in our operations accumulated over 45 years Worldwide.
    • Our team pays topmost importance to safety and we boast of one of the finest safety records within the industry. Safety remains our highest commitment and priority.
    • For truly offering on the safety commitment, we recognize that indeed it is not sufficient in simply implementing a safety framework. Safety and security at Gulf Helicopters is a way to conduct business.
    • Our crew remain up to date and stay at the summit of their competence always.
    • We follow standard maintenance practices, which are governed by the stringent regulatory authorties regulations.
    • We provide advanced training programs that are complemented and covered by our in-house training facilities.
    • We use cutting edge technology which includes HUMS (Health and Usage Monitoring System), TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) and Skytrac (Satellite Communications and Tracking system)..
    • The company is firmly committed towards continuous improvement with the help of the audit process, and constantly monitoring our processes and procedures for ensuring compliance with standards and universal regulatory needs.

     

  • Gulf Helicopters Company considers Safety to be a corporate value of the company and believes in providing its employees and customers with a safe environment.

    Gulf Helicopters Company is committed to provide the highest standards of Safety and Compliance Monitoring in all facets of operations and maintenance and will resolutely strive to improve these standards with the goal of continuous improvement. The Company and its employees are committed to comply with, and where possible, exceed, legislative and regulatory requirements and standards. The Company is committed to human factors awareness, and for that reason trains organisation staff in order to be aware of human factors and sets a continuous training programme in this field.

    Management is committed to the establishment of a safe and healthy place of work together with safe work practices, provision of safe equipment and effective management systems to ensure the integrity of all resources and processes. Safety is considered by Management to be a vital and integral part of the successful performance of any task and to the overall success of the Company. In order to achieve this goal, every employee is responsible to integrate safety into the performance of all their duties.

    Management is committed to a Just and open safety culture, and actively encourage and promote the reporting of all occurrences, errors, incidents and hazards  so that they may be investigated and corrective action taken to avoid future re-occurrence. Management is committed to ensure that employees are not inappropriately punished for reporting occurrences or cooperating with investigations.

    Management staff are responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that safety is always the prime consideration, resources are adequate, employees are suitably qualified, trained and are provided with the required resources and that all work processes are properly planned and monitored to complete all jobs safely. The direct responsibility for the safe performance of an operation shall rest with the supervisor and with each employee.

    The overall safety objective is proactive Hazard Identification and Risk Management. Occurrence Reporting, Management of Change, Risk Assessment and Mitigation, are all considered to be parts and tools of the Safety Management Systems implementation within Gulf Helicopters Company.

    Gulf Helicopters Company encourages every employee to inform the Management personnel if neglect of this policy is witnessed, and identify areas that may benefit from further strengthening. All Gulf Helicopters Company employees shall comply with this policy and the standards and procedures set forth in the Safety Management Systems Manual.


    Mohamed Al Mohannadi

    Chief Executive Officer

     

    • HAI OPERATOR SAFETY AWARD - 2023

    • ISO 45001:2018 Approval Certificate

    • ISO 9001:2015 Approval Certificate

    • HAI - Operator Safety Award 2022

    • HAI OPERATOR SAFETY AWARD - 2021

    • GHC EASA Part 147 Approval Certificate_Page_1

    • GHC EASA Part 147 Approval Certificate_Page_2

    • GHC EASA Part 147 Approval Certificate_Page_3

    • Foreign Maintenance Organization - PACA Oman_Page 1

    • Foreign Maintenance Organization - PACA Oman_Page 2

    • Service center Certificate

    • QCAA Approval Certificate for GHC Part CAMO Page 1

    • QCAA Approval Certificate for GHC Part CAMO Page 2

    • HAI Operator Safety Award - 2020

    • GHC EASA Part 145 Approval Certificate_Page_1

    • GHC EASA Part 145 Approval Certificate_Page_2

    • GHC EASA Part 145 Approval Certificate_Page_3

    • QCAA GHC APPROVAL CERTIFICATE_PAGE_1

    • QCAA GHC APPROVAL CERTIFICATE_PAGE_2

    • QCAA GHC APPROVAL CERTIFICATE_PAGE_3

    • ROTODYNE AEROSPACE GROUND EQUIPMENT Authorized Dealer Certificate

    • EURAMI Board Awards RedStar Aviation

    • HAI - Operator Safety Award 2018

    • HAI - Operator Safety Award 2018

    • RedStar Aviation - Global Mobility Certificate

    • QA GQ0Y FY23 FAA Form 8000-4 Air Agency Certificate

    • Air Agency Certificate - K.S.A. GACA - AMO-439F

    • Leonardo Helicopters - Authorized Service Centre

    • DGCA India, Certification

    • Authorised Training Centre

    • CAA Qatar, Certification_Page1

    • CAA Qatar, Certification_Page2

    • Pratt&Whitney

    • Al Maha Aviation Company ISO Certification

    • Libyan Civil Aviation Authority Part 145 Approval Certificate_Page_1

    • Libyan Civil Aviation Authority Part 145 Approval Certificate_Page_2

    • HAI Operator Safety Award – 2019

  • About Samana

    Samana Helicopter Tours - Qatar’s first and only aerial scenic tours service - is brought to you by Gulf Helicopters and Qatar Tourism Authority in partnership with Regency Travel & Tours. Gulf Helicopters contributes to the partnership with its aviation expertise, while Qatar Tourism Authority provides a strategic tourism perspective. Regency Travel & Tours adds to the project with its travel industry operations and marketing expertise..

    Samana Helicopter Tours launch off from Doha Heliport, which is is located at Gulf Helicopters head office, with easy access from Ras Abu Aboud Road – Please visit www.samana.qa for more details.