EC225

Aircraft lessor Milestone Aviation Group has taken delivery of three EC225 helicopters from Airbus.

The helicopters were handed over to the aircraft leasing firm at a ceremony in Marignane, France, are part of Milestone Aviation’s order placed in 2012 and 2013 for 30 EC225s.

The rotorcraft will be leased to African operator SonAir for oil and gas operations. SonAir already owns 12 EC225s, four AS332 L2s and three AS365 N3s.

Airbus Helicopters CEO Guillaume Faury said: "This event celebrates our first deliveries to Milestone, emphasising the EC225’s importance within the expanding helicopter leasing market."

"It also highlights the confidence SonAir accords to the EC225 as a powerful, and highly capable, helicopter for the most demanding missions."

Milestone Aviation managing director Robert Dranitzke said: "As a true workhorse in offshore oil and gas operations, the EC225 continues to demonstrate its capability in the most demanding operational conditions, from the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico to Africa, and we are confident these aircraft will serve SonAir and its customers well in the years to come."

Part of Airbus Helicopters’ latest version of Super Puma family, the EC225 is said to feature better useful load, five-blade main rotor and low vibration levels which make it suitable for oil and gas missions, including offshore and passenger transport as well as search and rescue (SAR) operations.

Image: The new EC225s will be leased to African operator SonAir for oil and gas operations. Photo: courtesy of Eric Raz / Airbus Helicopters.

Defence Technology