How Helicopters Are Changing the Way Business Gets Done

Whoever said that time is something that cannot be bought probably hasn't spent hours in traffic. (Likely not, since it's 1/4 of a quote from American sportscaster Craig Sager, according to Google.) If you have almost P200,000 to burn, you can get from Quezon City to Pasay in just 15 minutes via chopper instead of spending about two hours switching from one public transport to another.

For decision-makers and executives who need to maximize every second, helicopters are no longer a luxury—they’re a necessity. INAEC Aviation Corporation, one of the oldest aviation companies in the Philippines, has been instrumental in transforming the way business gets done, offering unparalleled convenience, efficiency, and reliability through its aviation services.

INAEC has three hangars in Manila. Two (Hangars A and Hangar B) are located in the General Aviation Area,  Domestic Airport, Pasay City. Hangar D is located along Andrews Avenue, Domestic Airport, Pasay City.

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End-to-End Air Transport

Founded by Eugenio Lopez, Sr., INAEC began as the Philippines' first civil airline. After World War II devastated its fleet, the company pivoted, creating a business model centered on air transportation services. By 2001, INAEC had become a standalone unit, expanding into a multifaceted aviation enterprise.

"Essentially, INAEC has six pillars supporting the business," shared Dexter Ampong, General Manager of INAEC, in an interview with Esquire Philippines.

First, air transportation contracts with corporations provide long-term revenue for the company. They support major projects like the Malampaya Gas Project and Galoc Oil Production, transporting crew between offshore platforms and mainland Palawan.

INAEC has two hangars, Hangar E1 and Hangar E2, located in Lio Airport, El Nido, Palawan. Hangar E2 supports the helicopter services for the Malampaya Project, currently operated by Shell Philippines Exploration (SPEX).

Second, the company manages private helicopters for elite clients such as Ayala Corporation and Wilcon Depot, ensuring optimal maintenance and operations.

Third, aircraft under INAEC’s management are often chartered out when not in use, offering cost efficiency for owners and flexibility for clients.

"The owners of aircraft that we manage don't use their aircraft that much, that often. Sometimes, they use it once a month, sometimes once every two months. So they ask us to charter their helicopter so it helps offset their cost of owning that aircraft."

Fourth, INAEC facilitates foreign aircraft arrivals, handling everything from entry permits to ground support. Its operations also include fuel sales in remote areas like El Nido.

Fifth is Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO), which is a venture that INAEC explored when "the growth of the oil and gas exploration in the Philippines is stagnating." This meant a reduction in offshore platforms and, thus, a reduction in the need for air transport.

"When we started providing support to the oil and gas industry, we supported six platforms. Now, we're down to two. So obviously, we need to grow."

MRO, through the support of Airbus, allowed INAEC to grow beyond what the initial four pillars provided for the business. INAEC provides specialized maintenance for helicopters and aircraft, supported by partnerships with Airbus and other manufacturers.

Finally, they have training. The company addresses a high turnover of mechanics by training graduates to become experts in maintaining specific aircraft models.

"Last year, 10 mechanics left INAEC for Australia, Cambodia, Canada, and UAE. So the only way we can ensure that there's a replacement is to train graduates and give them actual experience in maintaining aircraft."

INAEC North, a fully owned subsidiary of INAEC, operates at the Clark International Airport, providing aircraft maintenance and fixed base operations services.

On-Demand Travel for Busy Professionals

INAEC’s on-demand travel services offer a game-changing solution for busy professionals who need to be in multiple locations within tight schedules.

"If they want to check some of their offices, some of their bases in a short period of time. For example, in the morning, they have to go to La Union, but in the afternoon, they have to be back in Manila. So if they're going through land travel, you cannot do that in a day. So even international clients and bosses that come from another country will have only two days to visit all their sites in the Philippines," shared Lexie Espinosa, Marketing and Sales representative at INAEC. This efficiency empowers executives to manage their commitments without the logistical hurdles of traditional travel, allowing them to maximize productivity and minimize downtime.

King Air 350

The company’s fleet includes the King Air 350, an airplane that's usually used for airport-to-airport or for longer destinations; the Airbus EC135, a twin-engine civil light helicopter that can endure a trip all the way to El Nido; and the AW139, a medium-sized helicopter that can accommodate up to 10 passengers for longer distances.

AW139 (Executive)

Clients can book trips with as little as a day’s notice, whether for last-minute business meetings or critical site visits. INAEC’s ability to provide tailored itineraries, from urban centers like Manila to remote locations such as El Nido, ensures professionals can access even hard-to-reach destinations with ease.

EC135

"Sometimes clients prefer to be picked up in helipads instead of going to airports. So, we have several contacts with helipads in Makati, Mandaluyong, and Quezon City. Sometimes, some of the businessmen also have their own business in Manila. So that's why we have different contacts for helipads that they can utilize, and we can coordinate this for them," Espinosa added.

Their current rate per hour is P185,000 for a twin-engine EC135.

Luxury and Efficiency

Aside from catering to corporate and business people, INAEC also provides routes to popular destinations like El Nido, Siargao, and Boracay. The company even comes up with bespoke itineraries, combining helicopter rides with jet transfers.

One of their clients, who has been with them for two years, uses up to three aircraft for a single trip. INAEC's service would pick him up via chopper from a helipad in Makati, bring him to a private hangar at the airport to get on the King Air, and then get on another chopper en route to El Nido.

Another high-profile client based in the U.S. has also come to the Philippines twice in the past four years.

"They come here in two yachts. One is the family yacht, the big one, and then the support yacht is where the helicopter, the boats, all the toys you can imagine when they're going around Palawan for three to four weeks," said Ampong. INAEC's chopper just parks on the second yacht as the family goes around on their all-out vacation.

The personalized touch and high standards of service have kept clients loyal for years.

"We got the business primarily because they sent a team to audit or to check all the operators in general aviation. Eventually, they chose INAEC," Ampong said about the U.S.-based patron, beaming with pride.

The Future of Air Transport

"In general, it follows with the growth of the economy. We're a third-world country and charter, unlike in Europe and the US, where it's very mature. Small celebrations in the family, they charter aircraft; they're following football team in another city, they charter an aircraft to watch their team play. So, it's relatively easy for people to charter an aircraft in that area. But in the Philippines, very select or very few can afford to charter aircraft," Ampong explained.

Still, there is hope that the future of air transport in the Philippines is bright. As the economy continues to grow, the demand for efficient and convenient travel is expected to increase.

"In the post-COVID-19, we started to see the market really rebound, whether it's on the civil market, private buyers who want to own aircraft, or even in a part-time charter, as Dexter was mentioning. So we start to see people buying more helicopters. And that's, again, as Dexter mentioned, going directly with the GDP growth, the market growth, and the financial growth. So that's good news for us," echoed Jussi Hoikka, Managing Director of Airbus.