This morning during Heli-Expo, Mr. Ken Norie, President and CEO of VIH Aviation Group of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, alongside President & CEO Lutz Bertling, announced the purchase of two new Eurocopter EC225s.
The helicopters will be used for offshore oil and gas transportation around Australia. The machines will be operated by HNZ Cougar Helicopters Pty. Ltd., a new joint venture launched during October 2009 that combines the VIH Aviation Group and New Zealand’s HNZ Helicopters in order to serve the Australian offshore market.
The EC225 offers the offshore oil and gas industry superior speed, range, payload, safety and reliability. It is the newest member of the Super Puma/Cougar family, which has logged more than 4 million flight hours. The EC225 can accommodate up to 19 passengers for offshore crew change flights.
VIH’s announcement to acquire the EC225 is further proof of the Group’s confidence in the quality of Eurocopter’s products. VIH is also the Canadian launch partner for the EC175. With a fleet of some 72 single and twin-engine helicopters and 20 more on order, the VIH Aviation Group flies from strategically located bases across the globe for a wide range of requirements including all-weather and deep-water offshore operations.
