Foreground from left: Guillaume Faury, president and CEO of Airbus Helicopters; Daniel Rosenthal, president of Milestone Aviation; Norman Liu, president and CEO of GE Capital Aviation Services. Patrick Penna/Airbus Helicopters Photo
Milestone Aviation Group has raised its commitment to the Airbus Helicopters H175 to 28 orders and options, and has also announced a letter of intent to purchase 20 Bell 525 Relentless helicopters.
The increase in commitment to the H175 represents the largest order for Airbus’ new super-medium-lift twin-engine rotorcraft.
“We have full confidence in the Airbus Helicopters’ leadership team and are delighted to expand our relationship with the introduction of the H175 to our fleet,” said Richard Santulli, Milestone’s chairman. “The H175 is well-aligned with our commitment to offering the most innovative product solutions for our customers.”
Daniel Rosenthal, Milestone’s president, said: “Today’s H175 order is illustrative of the Milestone team’s sharp focus on long-term industry growth. We have been impressed by the H175’s successful introduction into service and felt it was the appropriate time to further our commitment to the aircraft.”
Airbus Helicopters’ H175 was designed to meet the demanding transportation requirements of the oil and gas industry, offering what Airbus claims is the largest cabin in its class, as well as low in-flight vibration and noise levels. The manufacturer said the rotorcraft provides highly cost-efficient service, with a capacity of up to 18 passengers, low fuel consumption and the range to reach a large percentage of the world’s offshore installations.
“This latest agreement builds on our outstanding relationship with Milestone, who owns one of the most valuable Airbus civilian helicopter fleets in operation and on order in the world,” said Guillaume Faury, the president and CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “It also reinforces the H175 as an aircraft of choice in the super-medium category.”
The Bell 525 is currently being tested in Bell Helicopter’s fully integrated System Integration Lab, allowing for virtual flight testing of the Bell 525 before first flight, which is scheduled in the coming weeks.
Milestone’s agreement with Bell will see the 525s serve a variety of roles with Milestone’s lessees around the world, including oil-and-gas transport, emergency medical service, search-and-rescue, and utility opportunities. Delivery of aircraft to Milestone is expected to begin in late 2017.
“We are very pleased to announce our first order with Bell Helicopter,” said Santulli. “With the 525, our customers will benefit from the newest fly-by-wire technology and its mission versatility.”
Rosenthal said Milestone is committed to building long-term relationships with industry leaders that deliver value for its customers. “By securing future delivery positions for the Bell 525, we are continuing to demonstrate our strong commitment to that goal,” he said.
John Garrison, Bell Helicopter’s president and CEO, said: “We are thrilled to expand our relationship with Milestone by signing this agreement. Milestone Aviation, owns one of the world’s largest commercial helicopter fleets and we are delighted they have placed their trust in this aircraft. As the first helicopter to define the super-medium class, the Bell 525 provides Milestone with an aircraft able to perform a diverse set of missions in the most demanding conditions.”
