Entrepreneur Andi Siebenhofer

siebenhofers former gyrocopter-base in hungary

early – 2005 – became aware of so-called gyrocopters in europe. established gyrocopter distribution , training headquarters in austria, hungary, slovakia, denmark , spain. foundation meidl airport in fertőszentmiklós, hungary, established flight training school.

other manufacturers committed siebenhofer test pilot.

today – since 2009 – owner of “the 7 group ltd”, erbil, iraqi kurdistan. in year, receive assignment establish first training headquarters kurdish pilots in iraq, kurdistan regional government in erbil, iraq, in cooperation army. gyrocopters, (as of 2011) helicopters, deployed.

2010 , 2011, further gyrocopters delivered kurdish interior ministry , pilots trained. prevent terroristic encroachments, interior ministry monitor approach- , take off paths of airports in erbil , sulaymaniyah.

beginning in 2011, siebenhofers company delivered helicopters of type eurocopter ec 120b traffic police in iraqi kurdistan. gyrocopters, train pilots ground crew.

14 january 2014 historic day in kurdish history: first time ever, kurdish-only crew flew helicopter (ec 120b) on arbil. crew brigadier khalid ali barzinji , first lieutenant sarhang barwari, both trained 7 group.

during advancement of islamic state towards kurdistan, siebenhofer did not leave kurdistan, although knows target of is. still involved in training , coordinating missions of kurdish police.

in august 2013 7 group ltd deployed 2 eurocopter ec135 helicopters kurdistan kurdistan ctu (counter terrorism unit). 7 group ltd has re-equipped helicopters. 1 (s/n 661) prior owned roman abramovich , other 1 (s/n 681) ordered spanish police, due financial crisis spanish government has step order. 7 group took on brand new helicopter airbus helicopters, @ time still called eurocopter.

during run of so-called islamic state towards capital of iraqi kurdistan, erbil, 7 group assisted peshmerga. although helicopters far on duty kurdish police not equipped medevac missions, siebenhofer , company, kurdish aviation team, did utmost , risk lives when flying front line evacuation of wounded peshmerga fighters. on these missions, helicopters fired @ twice , on 1 occasion pilot wounded in leg. fortunately , due excellent training provided, no total loss recorded. in addition, ems squad established in dohuk.

in june 2014 andi siebenhofer awarded contract counter-terrorism , security unit of province sulaymaniyah establish new aviation department. since then, department continuously expanded. of june 2016, 16 pilots , 8 aviation technicians trained.

during time 4 gyroplanes (type autogyro mto sport) deployed used basic training equipment. @ same time 3 airbus helicopters as350b3+ (new designation: h125; s/n 4636, 4743 , 8063) 1 cessna caravan ex (s/n 5043) delivered add fleet of ministry of interiors. while ec135 stationed in erbil, as350 operate out of sulaymaniyah.

in july 2016, andi siebenhofer met federal minister europe, integration , foreign affairs of austria, sebastian kurz, in erbil.

on july 17, 2016 andi siebenhofer , company 7 group ltd awarded minister karim sinjary new contract provision of services, maintenance , training of complete aviation fleet of kurdish ministry of interiors. @ time, fleet comprises 39 aircraft: 2 md902, 2 ec135, 4 ec120b, 3 as350b3, 12 md530, 1 md500, 1 cessna caravan ex, 12 autogyro mto sport , 2 autogyro calidus.