AeroSimulators to support Bond and INAER simulators
Source: AeroSimulators, 08-Apr-13
AeroSimulators announced today that it has entered into simulator maintenance and support agreements with Bond Air Services and INAER Helicópteros Off-Shore. Under the support agreements, AeroSimulators will be responsible for the delivery and provision of spares, support equipment, maintenance and re-certification services, as well as on-site training and documentation. These support services will cover an [...]
Bond extends contract with North West Air Ambulance by 7 years
Source: Bond Air Services, 05-Apr-13
Bond Air Services (Bond), the largest operator of air ambulance aviation units in the UK, has been awarded a new seven-year contract by North West Air Ambulance (NWAA). The contract, worth just over £10 million, is to provide air ambulance support across five counties in North West England. Under the new contract, Bond will continue [...]
Bond achieves EASA NVIS Certification on EC135
Source: Bond, 07-Feb-13
Bond Helicopters Europe (Bond) is delighted to confirm that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved one of its EC135 aircraft for night vision goggles (NVG) operations to ground level, a significant step towards the UK’s first night air ambulance operations. At present, no air ambulance service in the UK is able to operate [...]
Bond Air Services EC135 reaches 10,000 hours milestone
Source: Bond Air Services, 17-Jan-13
Bond Air Services (Bond) is proud to announce that one of the two helicopter air ambulances it operates on behalf of the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has reached 10,000 flying hours. The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC135T2i (registration G-SASA), reached this milestone transferring a maternity patient with abdominal pains from Cambeltown hospital to Crosshouse hospital in [...]
Bond Air Services staff raise over £5,000 for charity
Source: Bond Air Services, 28-Nov-12
Bond Air Services (Bond) is proud to have presented cheques totaling over £5,000 to three charities at the company’s base at Gloucestershire Airport earlier today. Staff at Bond have raised a total of £5,254.83 through a variety of fundraising efforts over the course of the year, exceeding the target of £3,000 the company set itself [...]
Bond Air Services congratulates Midlands Air Ambulance on award win
Source: Bond Air Services, 13-Nov-12
Bond Air Services is delighted to congratulate the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC) on winning an Air Ambulance Team Award from the Ambulance Service Institute. The award, presented at a ceremony in London earlier today, recognised MAAC’s exemplary response to an incident in Lucton, Herefordshire in February this year, when all three Midlands Air Ambulance [...]
Three years later…. Bond starts to support offshore wind farm
Source: Bond Air Services, 22-Oct-12
HeliHub.com editor note – The EC135 was first shown at Helitech 2009 fully kitted out. At Helitech 2011 we reported that the helicopter had not yet started offshore wind farm operations as expected two years prior, and a further year has now passed. We are pleased to see this finally working on the contract it [...]
Bond/INAER parent company renames as Avincis; based in UK
Source: Avincis Group, 16-Oct-12
Avincis Mission Critical Services (Avincis Group) has established itself in the UK today as the world’s leading provider of mission critical aviation services. The Group’s mission is to save lives, protect the environment and provide safe transport for mission critical people and assets for public services and blue chip corporations. Avincis’ operating companies deliver across [...]
Charity buys third Bo105 for rat eradication on remote island
Source: HeliHub.com, 10-Oct-12
The South Georgia Heritage Trust has purchased a third Eurocopter Bo105 to add to the two it already has for rat eradication. The helicopters are involved in a five year project on the remote south Atlantic island of South Georgia, where the weather is so poor that the maximum weather window is just ten weeks [...]
Midlands Air Ambulance awards new 7 year contract to Bond
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 26-Sep-12
The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC) has awarded a new seven-year contract to Bond Air Services Ltd. Under the contract, valued at approximately £26 million, Bond will continue to provide air ambulance services cover across six counties in the West Midlands until 2019. Bond will support the contract for three Eurocopter EC135T2i helicopters on a [...]
Midlands Air Ambulance orders new EC135T2e for night flying
Source: Midlands Air Ambulance, 24-Sep-12
Since 1991 Midlands Air Ambulance has been airlifting critically ill and injured patients to hospitals across our region. Starting with just one aircraft, the fleet has grown to three aircraft and has responded to over 38,000 missions, making it the busiest and largest Air Ambulance operator in England and Wales. In that time the operation [...]
East Anglian Air Ambulance take delivery of new EC135T2e
Source: HeliHub.com, 19-Sep-12
Bond Air Services have delivered Eurocopter EC135T2e G-HEMN to East Anglian Air Ambulance on Monday 17th September. The helicopter is fully night-compatible for the time when EAAA commence NVG operations as planned – reportedly in December assuming training and approvals are in place by then. EAAA commenced operations hurriedly with Bond in February 2011 after [...]
Bond Air Services 2012 Olympiad Challenge
Source: Bond Air Services, 23-Jul-12
In 2011, one of our dear friends and work colleagues was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. It was decided that the company should undertake a fundraising challenge to support a charity of her choice; FOCUS (Fund forOncology Centre Users and Supporters) based at Cheltenham Hospital. When the Company Librarian, Mark Lloyd-Davies suggested the Three Peaks Challenge, he initially thought [...]
Duchess opens Cornwall Air Ambulance HQ
Source: HeliHub.com, 05-Jul-12
The new headquarters building for Cornwall Air Ambulance was opened yesterday by the Duchess of Cornwall. It is the first time in the UK that the fundraising and admin side of an air ambulance charity has been co-located with the operational side of the helicopter – the new hangar can hold two helicopters and is [...]
Gama Aviation adds details on retaining Scottish Air Ambulance contract
Source: Gama Aviation, 14-Jun-12
Gama Aviation Limited (Gama), part of the global Gama Group, announced today that the Scottish Ambulance Service has selected Gama to be its dedicated provider of Air Ambulance services for a further 7 years (2013 – 2020). Gama’s long association with the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS Scotland which commenced in 1993 was today furthered [...]
Bond Aviation Group appoints new CEO
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 28-May-12
Bond issue a two-part announcement of people changes, here is part 1… The Bond Aviation Group announces the appointment of Richard Mintern to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Mintern comes with nearly 30 years’ experience leading different functions of international aviation businesses, most recently as Group COO of The Monarch Travel Group. Prior to [...]
Bond Air Services issues notice regarding its EC135 grounding
Source: Bond Air Services, 10-May-12
Bond Air Services, the UK’s largest independent emergency and mission critical helicopter operator providing air ambulance helicopter services, police and marine support to offshore wind farms and lighthouses, will resume flight operations of the EC 135 fleet at 07:00 on 9th May. Bond Air Services took the decision to suspend all flight operations for the [...]
Bond renews Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance contract for five years
Source: Bond Air Services, 27-Apr-12
Bond Air Services has been awarded a new, five-year contract, worth £8 million, by air ambulance charity, Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. The contract will see Bond continue to provide a complete helicopter support service, including aircraft, crew and maintenance support until 2017. Bond has been providing the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service for the Air [...]
Bond Aviation Group suffers PR failure with new website
Source: HeliHub.com, 26-Apr-12
Bond Aviation Group has merged separate websites for each of its onshore and offshore operations into one Group website. Gone are www.BondOffshoreHelicopters.com and www.BondAirServices.com – both replaced by www.BondAviationGroup.com While the intent to merge two websites into one is understandable, and the willingness to expand on the predecessor sites with a new “Media” section, the [...]
British air ambulance damaged by vandals
Source: BBC, 23-Feb-12
Helicopter developed a fault, with crews being forced to leave it there overnight. A security guard saw a number of youths running from the craft on Sunday and noticed a side window had been smashed (see full story)
Bond win seven year East Anglian Air Ambulance contract
Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance, 03-Nov-11
The East Anglian Air Ambulance has awarded a contract to aviation company Bond Air Services for two new aircraft which will provide the region with the most advanced air ambulance fleet in the UK. Both aircraft will also, for the first time, be capable of night flying, bringing the prospect that the life-saving air ambulance [...]
Bond signs MoU for AW139s, AW169s & AW189s
Source: AgustaWestland, 29-Sep-11
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, and Bond Aviation Group, are pleased to announce that they have signed an MoU today that will see both companies work together to establish a multi-year contract covering the purchase of AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopters for offshore oil and gas support, HEMS, SAR and emergency service missions, together with support [...]
UK windfarm EC135 has done no work in two years
Source: HeliHub.com, 28-Sep-11
Bond Air Services confirmed to HeliHub.com at the Helitech show that their windfarm Eurocopter EC135T2+ has still yet to carry out any missions. Readers will likely remember it in the static park at Helitech in 2009, but Bond’s customer has decided not to start operations until the wind farm construction has been completely finished – [...]
East Anglian Air Ambulance to fly EC135 from Bond Air Services
Source: HeliHub.com, 08-Aug-11
East Anglian Air Ambulance “EAAA” have had a rough time in recent months, starting with their previous vendor Sterling Helicopters losing their operating certificate after internal procedural irregularities (see story). Sterling owned and operated the two Eurocopter BK117s that EAAA used, and thus the air ambulancd charity without a ride. Within a couple of weeks, [...]
World Helicopters acquires Bond Aviation Group for €300m
Source: World Helicopters, 02-May-11
Bond Aviation Group becomes an integral part of World Helicopters, together with the Inaer Helicopter Company and Australian Helicopters. Creates the world leader in the emergency helicopter services industry. Creates a leading player in the international oil and gas helicopter services industry. World Helicopters will operate ca. 360 aircrafts (rotary and fixed wing). World Helicopters, [...]
UK: Longmint Aviation on brink of collapse
Source: HeliHub.com, 07-Apr-11
Britain’s Longmint Aviation, a group of 5 operators, appears to be very close to ceasing trading. Longmint includes the following operators Sterling Helicopters – at Norwich Alan Mann Helicopters – at Fairoaks Fast Helicopters – at Shoreham and Thruxton Total Air Management Services – previously at Sheffield and staff redeployed to Sterling/Fast Skydrift – a [...]
Acquisition #1 – Bond Aviation Group sold to INAER’s private equity owners
Source: HeliHub.com, 28-Mar-11
Bond Aviation Group, the UK company encompassing the onshore operator Bond Air Service and its sister company Bond Offshore Helicopters, is set to be sold by Stephen and Peter Bond for a figure thought to be around £300 million (approx $480M). The buyers are the two private equity groups that own Spanish operator INAER, which [...]
Bond Air Services signs for eight EC135T2e
Source: HeliHub.com, 10-Mar-11
Britain’s Bond Air Services has placed orders for eight Eurocopter EC135 T2e enhanced versions. This new model take the maximum takeoff weight of up to 2,950 kg and offers a 40-kg. gain in payload and allowing an extra passenger to be carried with a load margin extension from its previous weight rating. Currently, Bond Air [...]
Wales Air Ambulance and Bond Air Services celebrate 10 years of partnership
Source: Bond Air Services, 02-Mar-11
Bond Air Services and the Wales Air Ambulance today celebrated 10 years of working together at the Charity’s birthday celebrations at Magram Park near Neath. The Wales Air Ambulance flew its first mission on the 1st March 2001 following the introduction of the charities first Bo105DBS twin engine helicopter. However, since that date the services [...]
Sterling Helicopters “operational issues” temporarily ground East Anglian Air Ambulance
Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance, 20-Feb-11
The East Anglian Air Ambulance has activated a contingency plan due to operational issues with the current supplier of its aircraft, Sterling Aviation. Sterling is temporarily unable to provide the EAAA with an air ambulance service, so, as an interim measure the charity will continue to operate using alternative aircraft from a different supplier, Bond [...]
Bond Aviation Group awarded £6.5M lighthouse contract
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 09-Dec-10
[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, [...]
Charity buys two Bo105s for rat eradication on remote island
Source: HeliHub.com, 02-Dec-10
South Georgia is a remote island of approximately 1,500 square miles, located in the South Atlantic some 900 miles east of the Falkland Islands. The only population there are transient scientists from the British Antarctic Survey, varying between 30 in the summer season down to 15 in the winter, and a handful of officials who [...]
Northern Lighthouse Board upgrading to EC135 on 1st December
Source: HeliHub.com, 24-Nov-10
The Northern Lighthouse Board’s (NLB) experience with helicopter support has revolved around a Eurocopter Bo105 for many years. With the current contract expiring on 30th November, they took the opportunity to revisit what helicopter type was used. A feasibility study was undertaken prior to the tendering exercise to establish what type of helicopter was needed [...]
UK: Northern Lighthouse Board EC135 makes first appearance
Source: Helihub.com, 15-Nov-10
On Saturday, a Eurocopter EC135T2+ appeared out of the Bond Air Services hangar carrying the titles of Northern Lighthouse Board “NLB” and the organisation’s logo on both the doors and the tail. NLB have previously been operating Bo105s for many years in support of Scotland’s lighthouses. As these maritime navigation beacons have been automated over [...]
Bond Aviation Group seeks investor to expand
Source: Telegraph, 08-Nov-10
Bond Aviation has hired advisers to look at strategic options for the business, said sources. The family-owned company is understood to be interested in selling 30 to 60% to expand
Bond Aviation Group £5m training investment pays dividends
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 02-Sep-10
A £5 million training investment by Bond Aviation Group, the UK’s fastest growing family-owned helicopter service provider, has culminated in the graduation of ten pilots from its prestigious pilot ab-initio training scheme and the appointment of four apprentices from the company’s engineering apprenticeship programme. A significant part of the investment was used to create a [...]
UK: Bond Aviation launch £1m helicopter design department
Source: Stroud Life, 29-Jul-10
Bond Aviation Group, Britain’s fastest growing privately owned helicopter service provider, has unveiled a new £1 million Design and Completions Department at its UK headquarters
UK: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance to upgrade from Bo105 to EC135
Source: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, 29-Apr-10
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has been flying and saving lives for just under three years. In that time it has made huge strides to provide the very best service possible to the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Trustees are delighted to announce that, from September this year, [...]
UK: Essex Air Ambulance to move from EC135 to MD Explorer
Source: HeliHub.com, 28-Apr-10
HeliHub.com understands that Essex Air Ambulance will be moving from their current Eurocopter EC135T2 to an MD Explorer, perhaps as early as June 2010. EAA already has experience of the type after operating one for their neighbouring county of Hertfordshire on similar EMS work – what better situation could you be in to compare two [...]
Bond Aviation Group join UK’s fastest growing businesses
Source: South West Business, 08-Dec-09
TWO county companies have stormed into a national league table for the UK’s fastest growing businesses. Gloucester-based online book retailer, The Book Depository has made the Fast Track 100 list for the second year running ranked 55th. And it has been joined by Staverton-based helicopter operator Bond Aviation in 80th position.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance changes from one Bo105 to another
Source: Thruxton Helicopters, 02-Jun-09
