CHC orders another helicopter for UK ops

Offshore helicopter operator CHC will be adding another helicopter to its fleet operating in the UK through an agreement with Lease Corporation International (LCI).

LCI, the aviation division of the Libra Group, is expanding its partnership with CHC through the placement of a second Airbus Helicopters H175 aircraft with the operator.

The helicopter is due to enter service in December 2018 and will be supporting CHC’s operations in the UK, LCI said on Tuesday.

This will be LCI’s second aircraft placement with CHC in recent months, and follows the delivery of the lessor’s first H175 in December 2017, which was immediately placed in service with the operator. This unit is based out of Aberdeen, Scotland, supporting oil and gas production activities in the North Sea.

Karl Fessenden, President and Chief Executive Officer of CHC, said, “LCI Helicopters is a valuable partner for us as we continue to introduce the H175 in the UK.”

The Airbus Helicopters H175 is a new generation 7.8 tonne, 16 passenger aircraft, in the super- medium category, whose primary mission is to support offshore oil and gas activities.

It is configured with the Pratt & Whitney PT-6 engines, a Helionix avionics suite with 4-axis autopilot, and fully certified to the latest FAR/JAR 29 certification standards.

LCI’s fleet comprises of approximately $750 million of assets in service and on order manufactured by helicopter OEMs, including Leonardo, Airbus and Sikorsky.