PDG Helicopters has received its new H135 at a hand over event at Helitech 2015.  The aircraft, the 17th Airbus Helicopters aircraft in the PDG fleet, has been selected to support PDG’s service contract with the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs).  This will be the second H135 in PDG Helicopters’ fleet and, in a sign of confidence in Airbus Helicopters’ Customer Service, the company is extending its Parts By the Hour (PBH) contract to cover the newly acquired aircraft.  This will be the first customer to sign up in the UK to Airbus Helicopters’ Customer Service since the launch of the new H Care offering.

Both aircraft, projected to provide a combined 1000 flying hours per year, will carry out transport and utility operations, including personnel transfers and logistics missions between main bases, lighthouses and support vessels at sea.  With a proven record operating in tough and demanding environments, the H135’s extended range and multi-purpose design along with the aircraft’s easy maintenance and high availability, make this the ideal platform to meet PDG Helicopters’ mission requirements.

Jerry Francis, CEO PDG Helicopters said, “The versatility and reliability of the H135, along with Airbus Helicopters support, will ensure that we can provide a high quality service to GLAs network of lighthouses across the British Isles.  This is an important and challenging mission and we are excited to be entering into the delivery phase”.

“As the UK’s leading civil helicopter supplier, it is important for us to be helping our customers support the UK’s national infrastructure,” said Colin James, Managing Director, Airbus Helicopters in the UK.  “PDG Helicopters can enjoy the peace of mind that only Airbus Helicopters can provide.”

Under the PBH contract, PDG Helicopters will benefit from increased aircraft availability as a result of unbeatable access to spares and maintenance support.  In addition, the fixed rate conditions and reduced inventory costs ensure customers have stable and easily managed maintenance costs.  As part of the company’s commitment to quality and performance, Airbus Helicopters’ recently launched H Care, the company’s latest services offering developed to provide competitive solutions tailored to the customers’ needs.

About Airbus Helicopters in the UK

Airbus Helicopters has been present in the United Kingdom for 40 years and is the UK’s largest civil helicopter company with 440 aircraft operating in civil, military and emergency services roles.  The company’s site at Oxford Airport is home to Britain’s Civil Helicopter Hub, while sites at Aberdeen, Belfast and Hawarden support our customers across the breadth of the British Isles.

About Airbus Helicopters (www.airbushelicopters.com)

Airbus Helicopters is a division of Airbus Group. The company provides the most efficient civil and military helicopter solutions to its customers who serve, protect, save lives and safely carry passengers in highly demanding environments. Flying more than 3 million flight hours per year, the company’s in-service fleet includes some 12,000 helicopters operated by more than 3,000 customers in 152 countries. Airbus Helicopters employs more than 23,000 people worldwide and in 2014 generated revenues of 6.5 billion Euros. In line with the company’s new identity, fully integrated into Airbus Group, Airbus Helicopters has renamed its product range replacing the former “EC” designation with an “H”.

About PDG Helicopters

PDG Helicopters is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading helicopter providers, operating an extensive fleet of modern aircraft.  Headquartered in Scotland, PDG has operating bases across the UK and Ireland, from which it flies over 11,000 hours a year supporting a wide range of onshore and offshore markets.

About The General Lighthouse Authorities

The General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) is the grouping of the Northern Lighthouse Board, Trinity House and Commissioner of Irish Lights, the UK and Irish organizations responsible for delivering reliable, efficient and cost-effective Aids to Navigation service for the benefit and safety of all Mariners.  Jointly owning and operating 338 lighthouses covering the British Isles, Channel Islands and Gibraltar, the GLAs has been using helicopters for over fifty years for work including light keeper reliefs (until introducing lighthouse automation in 1998), transport of under slung materials for civil engineering works and, most recently, to transfer personnel to remote sites around the coast for lighthouse maintenance and to support capital improvement/refurbishment projects.