Bond Offshore Helicopters has started operations with a new Sikorsky S-92 helicopter for the first time out of Aberdeen, delivering on a three-year contract with Premier Oil.

The contract is to provide crew change flights for the independent exploration and production company. Services started in March and the contract has options to extend beyond its initial three-year course. Premier Oil has equity interests in nine producing fields as well as a number of current and future development projects in the UK North Sea.

The aircraft was registered in Norway before being flown to the UK. It will be operated under an arrangement with Bond's sister company Norsk Helikopterservice (NHS), and is one of 16 S-92s ordered by Bond's parent company Avincis Group in 2011.

Luke Farajallah, Bond Offshore Helicopters md, says: “This new contract with Premier builds on our strong existing relationship with them, and is more evidence of our dedication to finding the best fit for our customers. We hope to grow with Premier as its North Sea projects mature.”

Richard Mintern, ceo, northern Europe and Asia Pacific, Avincis Group, adds: “Bond has been able to draw on the central resources of the Avincis Group, as well as its Norwegian sister company NHS, in order to provide the best solution for Premier. This is a great demonstration of the power of Bond being part of a global group such as Avincis.”