PHI Aviation starts offshore operations with Airbus H160

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PHI Aviation began commercial offshore operations off the Louisiana coast for the international energy company Shell plc on March 6. The H160 deployed is the first helicopter in the global H160 fleet to be deployed for commercial offshore transport missions, marking the conclusion of a successful route verification partnership.

A groundbreaking partnership project

The collaboration between Airbus, PHI Aviation, and Shell began in 2020 with the goal of establishing an innovative partnership in the field of offshore aviation. Airbus provided an H160 in 2024 to initiate a comprehensive route testing program. This enabled operator PHI and end customer Shell to familiarize themselves with the helicopter‘s advanced technology and safety features. After 300 hours of test flights, 12 PHI pilots now hold H160 type certification, as do 12 mechanics in the A&P area.

New opportunities for offshore operations

Tony Cramp, Shell’s Vice President of Aircraft, stated that this milestone brings significant benefits to the company’s offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The H160 not only promises increased safety and improved passenger experiences, but also offers expanded operational capabilities that could increase the company’s efficiency. The helicopter‘s performance in regular operations will be closely monitored to explore possible transfer to other regions.

H160: Achievements through comprehensive testing

PHI Group CEO Scott McCarty emphasized that the implementation of this project is the result of more than five years of collaboration with Shell and Airbus. The comprehensive route testing enabled the teams to work closely together to evaluate and optimize the H160’s capabilities. McCarty thanked everyone involved for achieving this significant success, which also included full integration into PHI’s operational and safety systems.

Impact on the helicopter industry

Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, stated that this partnership represents a novel approach and will enable the H160’s successful entry into the commercial transport sector. Airbus is grateful for the trust shown by PHI and Shell and proud to have contributed to improving offshore transport operations. The technologically advanced helicopter, the H160, is already successfully operating in various countries.

PHI Aviation, a leading operator in the offshore helicopter industry, stands for innovative solutions and first-class safety standards. Together with partners such as Shell, the company is working on developing future-proof technologies for the aviation sector. As a partner in this project, Airbus underscores its commitment to advancing aviation technology with the H160.