Lufttransport RW AS has been awarded an assignment to operate two new search and rescue helicopters for the Troll and Oseberg area by the Norwegian state-owned multinational energy company Equinor. Lufttransport will be the third helicopter operator qualifying for assignments on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).

“This agreement strengthens our resilience and ensures increased helicopter capacity. Lufttransport RW AS is a Norwegian-owned company based in Tromsø, with extensive experience of operating both search and rescue helicopters and transport helicopters. We look forward to working with it,” says Ørjan Kvelvane, Equinor senior vice president for joint operations support.

Lufttransport will take over operation of the two helicopters in the second quarter of 2025 and will be ready for operation from 2026. The Leonardo AW139s are qualified for flying on the NCS and the model is widely used in the global offshore industry, including on the UK continental shelf, for SAR in Sweden and by the Norwegian Air Ambulance.

“We have long aimed to qualify a new helicopter model that meets the strict requirements on the NCS. The AW139 is a newer helicopter type with well-proven technology that meets high safety standards. With this agreement, we get well-equipped machines capable of operating well under the conditions on the NCS, and in accordance with our safety requirements, both for search and rescue and transportation purposes,” adds Kvelvane.

The helicopters will be part of the SAR emergency response system and carry out assignments in the Troll and Oseberg area in the northern North Sea. One will be stationed at the Oseberg field centre, the other is a back-up SAR machine that will be stationed at the heliport at Flesland and used for passenger traffic to and from Equinor installations. These AW139s will supplement the two Sikorsky S-92 machines that currently perform these tasks.

SAR helicopters are key to maintaining emergency preparedness and transportation services on the NCS. They are also important for emergency preparedness purposes along the coast,.

Taking effect in early 2026, the term of the agreement is five years, with an option for five one-year extensions.