Southern North Sea helicopter transport provider NHV Helicopters is to boost its offshore business after ordering 10 new aircraft from Eurocopter in a deal worth about £93million.
NHV, whose UK base is in Norwich, will take delivery of the EC175 helicopters Eurocopter’s manufacturing plant in France between 2013 and 2015, taking its total fleet to about 40
Colin Hancy, NHV’s UK commercial manager, said the firm was looking to grow its global and Norwich-based offshore services in oil and gas and offshore wind.
“This deal represents a major investment for NHV,” he said. “We operate throughout Europe, Africa and South America, and are looking to further expand our global services in offshore oil and gas and wind farm development.
“We are also looking to expand our operations at Norwich airport, which currently include the transfer of service and maintenance crews to Tullow’s Ketch and Schooner gas production platforms about 90 miles off the north Norfolk coastline.
“We’ve also just completed a three-month contract for Shell, flying maintenance crews to various gas production platforms in the UK and Dutch sectors of the southern North Sea.
“The additional helicopters will bring our worldwide fleet to nearly 40, and their introduction will give us greater flexibility and the capacity for much more additional work.”
The newly-launched twin-engine helicopter will be used for offshore crew transfer flights as well as search and rescue operations, security roles and emergency medical flights.
It has a 434 cu ft cabin, the largest in its class, and can transport 16 passengers a distance of 135 nautical miles and back or take 12 passengers on a return journey of 190 nautical miles.
NHV was founded in 1997 and is based in Ostend, Belgium. Its UK operation is based at the Klyne Business Aviation Centre at Norwich Airport.
Recommended for you
