New SAR Helicopters for Dutch Offshore Industry

摘要

Belgian company Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) began search and rescue (SAR) operations for the Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association in January. The new service follows the end of SAR flights by Bristow Helicopters' last two Sikorsky S-61Ns on December 31 (see End of Bristow Sikorsky S-61N Operations, February, p4). NHV now uses two Airbus Helicopters AS365N3 Dauphin 2s (OO-NHU, c 6665, ex F-WWOS, and OO-NHV, c 6510, ex F-GVHN) from its base at Den Helder Airport in the Netherlands. The helicopters are a stopgap until NHIndustries NH90 NFHs of the Defence Helicopter Command can provide SAR coveraqe over the North Sea.