Bond Aviation Group awarded £6.5M lighthouse contract

Bond Aviation Group awarded £6.5M lighthouse contract

9-Dec-2010 Source: Bond Aviation Group

[This is the official press release from Bond. HeliHub.com ran the story “Northern Lighthouse Board upgrading to EC135 on 1st December” back on 24th November]

Gloucestershire-based, Bond Aviation Group, one of Europe’s leading helicopter service providers, has been awarded a long-term contract with the Northern Lighthouse Board valued at £6.5m.

Following a competitive tendering exercise, the Northern Lighthouse Board awarded the five-year contract to the aviation group’s on-shore division, Bond Air Services, to carry out the transportation of passengers and freight to and from ships and lighthouses along the Scottish and Isle of Man coastlines to support with maintenance and renovation work.

The award has seen the introduction of a Eurocopter EC135T2i helicopter, which was delivered in November ahead of the December contract commencement date, for a period of training and familiarisation for the Board’s staff. The EC135T2i is fully equipped for offshore operations and will replace the Bolkow BO105 type helicopter that has been in use since Bond started providing the service, over 35 years ago.

Bond, who have delivered helicopter support on the 10,000km stretch of coastline for the Lighthouse Board since 1973, will continue to operate from Bond’s facilities at Glasgow Heliport and the Northern Lighthouse Board’s base in Oban

Chris Greenhill, Managing Director of Bond Air Services, said:” We are delighted to announce the renewal of this contract and we are very much looking forward to continuing our long-standing relationship with the Northern Lighthouse Board.

“The introduction of the EC135 clearly demonstrates the aircraft’s capacity to support Lighthouse and Marine activities as well as a range of other tough offshore activities such as, Wind Farm support and Oil & Gas operations. The new technology, Instrument Flight Rules aircraft will provide enhanced operational capability to the Northern Lighthouse Board, which will in turn improve programme efficiency and provide enhanced levels of safety and comfort.”

Speaking on behalf of the Northern Lighthouse Board, Captain Phil Day, said: “We are delighted to welcome the new contract helicopter into service and look forward to continuing our relationship with Bond. The aircraft will offer the Board a much better way of operating; the increased load capacity, speed and endurance of the aircraft means that efficiencies can be made where traditionally multiple flights were required to mobilise to site.

“The lower aircraft maintenance requirement means that the aircraft can remain operational without returning to a maintenance facility for more of the year giving the NLB increased flexibility in its operations. The aircraft is also equipped for instrument flying which will reduce disruption to operations, where formerly the aircraft could be grounded in a location due to poor visibility or by low light”.

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