Offshore helicopter operator
PHI Aviation began commercial operations off the Louisiana coast earlier this month for international energy company
Shell plc with one
Airbus H160, capping off a successful route-proving partnership. The helicopter is the first from the worldwide H160 fleet to conduct offshore commercial transportation missions.
Starting in 2020, the three companies began working on a new partnership. In a groundbreaking initiative, Airbus provided PHI and Shell with one H160 in 2024 ahead of the final total of four deliveries for a route-proving programme that allowed both the operator and final customer to become familiar with the aircraft’s advanced technology and safety features, as well as place the aircraft into controlled operations to better understand the performance. Following 300 hours of route-proving flights, PHI now counts 12 H160-type-rated pilots and 12 H160-qualified A&P mechanics among its ranks.
Tony Cramp, Shell’s vice president (aircraft), said: “This is a long anticipated milestone that will bring material advantages to our offshore operations in the Gulf of America. The H160 represents a new generation of rotorcraft with the potential to enhance safety and passenger experience for our people, while giving our business greater operational capability and availability, driving business efficiencies. We look forward to seeing how it performs when in full regular service, with a view to replication in other regions.”
PHI Group CEO Scott McCarty said: “This is the culmination of over five years of work and an even longer partnership between PHI, Shell and Airbus. The extensive, first-of-its-kind route-proving programme allowed our teams to work closely with Shell and Airbus to fully evaluate and optimise the H160’s capabilities, train personnel and ensure certification and indoctrination into PHI’s operational and safety systems. I want to recognise and thank everyone who came together and helped make this route-proving programme extremely successful. We are proud and honoured to launch this next-generation aircraft in the Gulf of America.”
Outside-the-box approachBruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, said: “Speaking on behalf of all of the Airbus teams that have been fully dedicated to ensuring a smooth entry into service for the H160, we were honoured to be part of this unique partnership with Shell and PHI. With this outside-the-box approach, the route-proving programme allowed us to closely collaborate alongside the operator and final customer so all of the teams involved had the necessary support to achieve their missions with the maximum level of safety and efficacy. We are thrilled to see the H160 entering into commercial transportation operations. We are grateful to PHI and Shell for trusting Airbus and committing to raising the bar on offshore transportation operations.”
The H160 is one of the world’s most technologically advanced helicopters, designed and built to deliver the highest levels of operational safety while providing unmatched comfort for rotorcraft in its class. Capable of performing wide-ranging missions including law enforcement, offshore transportation, search and rescue, private and business aviation, and emergency medical services, the H160 has entered into service in Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, the UK, the USA and many other European countries.
Colette Hirstius, Shell senior vice president (Gulf of America), said: “At Shell, we lead in safely supplying energy to our customers from the offshore and from the beginning of this industry, we have innovated our way to the future. Our aviation partner, PHI, has been with us for the long term and now we’ve partnered together to introduce the Airbus H160. We welcome this new helicopter into service to safely transport our people to and from work offshore in the Gulf of America for many years to come.”
With the entry into service of the first North American H160 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) in 2026, located in the Helisim simulation centre in Grand Prairie, Texas, Airbus continues to support the H160's growing success. As the market demand continues to grow, Airbus is currently exploring options to locate future FFS in growth areas such as Brazil and Australia.