The Canadian Helicopter Company (CHC) is planning to form a joint venture with Ali al Aufy Trading Co (AATC) after the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) opened up the private helicopter service sector in December.

On Tuesday company officials met with representatives from PACA ROP as well as potential private sector clients.

The new company will apply for an operating permit from PACA which is expected to take around six months. If successful they will become the first permanent civilian helicopter company in Oman.

'CHC looks forward to a long and productive relationship with Ali al Aufy and the wider aviation community in Oman over the forthcoming years' said Jamie Bowden sales manager CHC.

'There is great depth of aviation knowledge and skill within the Sultanate of Oman. CHC in partnership with AATC hopes to use that expertise to provide a beneficial service for our customers.'

Previously private organisations had to loan helicopters from the ROP.

The new Augusta Westland helicopters would be identical to ROP helicopters according to Bowden. He said the company intends to station two helicopters in the country: An AW139 for industry and an AW109E for tourism.

Helicopter services could be used in telecommunications energy and construction to help ease transport of people and equipment.

For example telecommunication masts could be transported directly by helicopter rather than assembled on site.

Helicopter service could allow quick access to oil production sites both in the interiors and off shore. For tourism Bowden said helicopters could be used for sightseeing or for ship to shore transfer. They could also be used to transport VIPs directly from the airport to their destinations within Oman.

He said the service is perfectly suited to the country due to its difficult mountainous terrain Bowden said adding that CHC helicopters can reach all parts of Oman if based out of Muscat Duqm and Salalah.

CHC is based in Richmond British Columbia Canada and operates 250 aircraft in 30 countries.