Firm orders have been placed for 15 Eurocopter EC 135 helicopters by Bond Air Services Limited. The first six, due for delivery over the next 12 months, are already contracted. The others will be delivered during the following four years.The £40 million investment will fuel expansion at Bond: The first deliveries will be fitted out in their specialist roles with the emergency services by McAlpine Helicopters at Oxford, who will also support the delivery of all 15 aircraft.\r"Everything points to there being significant opportunities in both our established areas of business and in new activities," said Peter Bond, chief executive and joint owner of the buyers in conjunction with his brother Stephen. "Based on evaluation of cost and performance, the EC 135 is the right helicopter for the specialist roles required in support of ambulance and police services.

"We are also looking at alternatives to upgrade our fleet for other current and future operations," Bond finished. Established in 1961, the the company was owned by the Bond family until it was purchased by Helicopter Service Group in 1994, and in turn taken over by CHC Helicopter Corporation in 1999. The division of operations concerned with offshore operations was bought back by the Bond brothers in July 1999.

The EC 135s will join 14 Bolkow 105 helicopters and an AS365 Dauphin from 13 locations throughout the UK. The new aircraft will see the number of employees increase by twenty to around 90, Bond says.