China's GDAT Group has signed a contract for up to 20 H175 helicopters with Airbus, comprising 10 firm orders and 10 options. GD Helicopter Finance (GDHF), a GDAT subsidiary and start-up helicopter leasing and finance company based in Dublin, Ireland, will be marketing these H175s to customers in the energy, SAR, EMS and parapublic market segments worldwide.

"GDHF is very pleased to announce the availability of 50 H160 and 20 Airbus H175 super medium helicopters to the worldwide market. This new H175 order, along with the existing 50 Airbus H160 medium helicopters already on the GDAT orderbook, will be available to GDHF. This deal will further enhance GDHF's ability to offer our customers near term availability of efficient, cost-effective, multi-mission helicopters of the very latest technology. GDHF will build a strong relationship with Airbus to deliver high value solutions for our customers," says CEO Michael York.

"The creation of GDHF and this follow-on GDAT contract underlines the versatility and competitiveness of the H175 and the H160. We look forward to a long-standing partnership with GDHF as it puts these multi-mission helicopters into service with its customers around the globe," adds Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.

Michael York has just taken on the mantle of CEO at GDHF. His career includes over three decades of leadership experience across aviation, military, business, consulting, finance, commercial roles and senior executive positions in multiple countries. He previously served as a military leader, helicopter pilot and fighter pilot, flying and instructing on the F/A-18 Hornet, including three years on exchange flying with the US Navy. He holds an MBA (with distinction) from the University of Newcastle, and a BSc (UNSW). Most recently, he achieved great success during a five year period as the joint head of commercial for the world's largest helicopter finance company.

He says: "I am honoured to lead GDHF as the founding CEO. My goal is to build the best team and platform in the industry, setting a strong long-term culture of customer focus, trust, integrity, excellence, speed and flexibility. I am confident that this approach will deliver significant value for our customers. GDHF will offer our customers near term availability of the newest technology, efficient, cost-effective, multi-mission helicopters, along with the capacity for GDHF to readily deploy additional capital to meet market requirements for helicopter financing."