Norsk Helicopter has signed an agreement with Sikorsky to purchase three S-92 helicopters. The company recently took delivery of two S-92s (see EBAN’s February issue) and required an additional trio of helicopters to fulfil two North Sea oil transport contracts.

Following delivery in 2006, two of the aircraft will undertake offshore operations for Conoco Phillips, transporting passengers between Sola and the Ekofisk oil platform.

The third S-92 will fly between Sola and the oil fields of Valhall, Ula, Petrojarl, Varg and Gyda, under a joint operation between BP and Talisman. Although the company only acquired its first S-92s in February, the fleet has already accrued more than 1,000 flight hours, transporting more than 20,000 passengers over the North Sea.

Norsk Helikopter’s commercial director, Geir Tynning, said that the aircraft were selected because they offer “modern comfort, long range and increased safety.”