The Swedish helicopter service provider Scandinavian Helicopter Group AB (SHG) has taken delivery of its 70th Eurocopter aircraft. The helicopter, a brand new AS 350 B3e, was handed over in a ceremony at the Marignane production plant in Marseilles, southern France, last week. Eurocopter celebrated the momentous occasion together with three generations of the Pihl family, and the manufacturer handed over a commemorative glass plaque to highlight the historic event.

SHG was founded by mr Lennart Pihl some 25 years ago. The company, which is managed by CEO Martin Pihl today, is specialized in leasing and selling helicopters. It is also focused in air ambulance and aerial work through its subsidiaries Norrlandsflyg Ambulans and Laroy Flyg.

SHG’s milestone helicopter (SE-JOS) was delivered through the renowned helicopter dealer Savback Helicopters AB. The founder of Savback Helicopters, mr Michael Savbäck, has been involved in all of the 70 Aérospatiale/Eurocopter aircraft delivered to SHG since the beginning.

SHG started off in Gothenburg back in 1988. It was the parent company to Osterman Helicopter for many successful years until Osterman was sold to the Norwegian Helicopter Transportation Group (HTG) in 2002. SHG was a co-owner of the large SAR/HEMS operator Norrlandsflyg between 2008-2011, after which the SAR operation was sold to the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA). SHG kept the air ambulance segment, which is operated through the subsidiary Norrlandsflyg Ambulans.
The aerial work company Laroy Flyg is incorporated as a second subsidiary to SHG. Laroy Flyg is specialized in spreading limestone from helicopters, and it operates throughout large parts of southern Sweden. Laroy Flyg has recently enhanced its aerial work presence in Gothenburg in order to fill the gap that followed after Osterman Helicopter’s bankruptcy in 2012.

SHG is selling and leasing helicopters to large parts of the world. A clear majority of the helicopters belongs to the successful Ecureuil family.

Reproduced from Nordic Rotors with permission. Copyright and full responsibility for the content of this article remains with Nordic Rotors

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