Belgian-based operator NHV Group has signed a purchase/leaseback (PLB) arrangement for a AW169 helicopter with Milestone Aviation Group, a GECAS company and a leader in helicopter leasing. The AW169 helicopter delivered earlier this month will support missions in the UK for Italian oil and gas company ENI. It will be based in Blackpool, UK.

NHV COO Thomas Hütsch says: “We are delighted to expand our fleet with the delivery of this AW169 helicopter from Milestone. Our diverse offshore fleet has an average age of just nine years, one of the youngest in the industry, and this aircraft will enable us to continue delivering flexible and customer-friendly, but above all safe operations, using the latest technology helicopter. We have worked with Milestone for more than eight years, and the team has been an important part of our journey, supporting us with their extensive expertise and guidance along the way.”

Milestone senior VP François Arnaud adds: “This is an exciting deal for Milestone as it marks our ninth aircraft with NHV and our first AW169 delivery to NHV. It is also our second deal announcement with it this year. We are proud to continue building our strong partnership with NHV as a trusted leasing advisor.”

Milestone already leases eight aircraft to NHV, deployed across a variety of missions including oil and gas, EMS, windfarm operations and military training, including two each of the AW139, EC145C2, H145T2 and H145D3 type helicopters.