Chopper operator NHV have won a new contract to provide flights for Ithaca Energy’s Harrier development.
The Belgian helicopter firm is the latest to try to muscle in on North Sea operations, challenging established operators CHC, Babcock and Bristow for their share of the market.
The Harrier project will be supported using Airbus’s H175 aircraft – unlike the other aviation firms working in the region who rely on Sikorsky S92s.
NHV is to add a third of the “super-medium” aircraft to its fleet in Aberdeen in order fulfill the contract with Ithaca.
Operations are expected to get underway in the second quarter of 2017.
Flights will depart from NHV’s base in Aberdeen to the Harrier well, which is approximately 150nm from Aberdeen.
And a spokeswoman for NHV said the group hope to increase its total fleet of H175s to 16 of the latest generation aircraft.
NHV started operating out of Aberdeen at the beginning of 2016 and announced the opening of a new hangar, apron and passenger handling facilities last October.
Base manager Jamie John said: “The award of this contract and working with a new partner strengthens NHV’s presence in Aberdeen.
“We look forward to the beginning of what we believe will be a long and successful partnership with Ithaca.”
The Harrier field comprises the Harrier Ekofisk and Harrier Tor chalk reservoirs, both containing gas condensate.
The field was originally discovered in 2003 by Maersk.
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