Eurocopter has secured a €150 million order for ten EC175s from Belgian operator NHV. Deliveries of the multirole twin-engined helicopter will begin next year - following European approval - and the final aircraft will be handed over in 2015, says Eurocopter.

Ostend-headquartered NVH provides a range of helicopter services throughout Europe, Africa and South America, including offshore hoisting and deck landings; passenger, freight and medical transportation; search and rescue; and pollution control. The company says it is looking to further expand its global services in offshore oil and gas and wind farm development.

"We are also looking to expand our operations at Norwich airport [in the the UK], which currently include the transfer of service and maintenance crews to Tullow [Oil]'s Ketch and Schooner gas production platforms about 90 miles off the north Norfolk coastline," says NHV.

"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," it adds. "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."

Source: Flight International