HeliOperations awarded Royal Navy Fleet Helicopter Support Unit

[chopper2004]

Five year contract worth 41 million awarded to HeliOperations for Fleet Helicopter Support Unit, using pair of Leonardo AW139 commencing next spring.

https://des.mod.uk/41-million-contra...port-services/

https://euro-sd.com/2025/08/major-ne...fhsu-contract/

replaces sole Bristow AS365N2 that has been carrying out FOST

First saw the sole Dauphin on static display at RIAT 2023 (my pic below)



and saw HeliOperations AW139 I saw at Farnborough last year



cheers

[helicrazi]

Id have thought Bristow would have gone balls out for this one!

[Union Jack]

Good to see the former 771 NAS Ace of Clubs logo ♣️ in use on the aircraft in the second link.

Jack📵

[jeepys]

Yes, well done Heliops.
I guess the 139 ticks all the boxes.

I'll look for the 139 pilot recruitment ad!!!

[Rigga]

Still no winch?

[Rotor_guy]

Originally Posted by helicrazi

Id have thought Bristow would have gone balls out for this one!

I think you need a bid team in order to bid on contracts…

RG

[212man]

Originally Posted by Rotor_guy

I think you need a bid team in order to bid on contracts…

RG

Shucks, did they lose their global governments contracts director?

[lowfat]

Originally Posted by Rigga

Still no winch?

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/G-GSAR

[Hot 'n' High]

Originally Posted by Union Jack

Good to see the former 771 NAS Ace of Clubs logo ♣️ in use on the aircraft in the second link. Jack📵

A fascinating Company which has come on a long way under the direction of a senior management team who've got a wealth of relevant experience behind them. Good to see Portland still supporting RW operations too. And good to see the old Sea Kings still going strong but with potential drone operations now in the pipeline!

[ericferret]

Originally Posted by Rigga

Still no winch?

The aircraft is winch capable as there are photographs of the aircraft fitted with one.
So down to the customer.

[rrekn]

The HeliOps Short Nose AW139 G-GSAR was previously Luftransport LN-OLS, equipped with a Breeze Hoist.

Might need the floats put back on.

[chevvron]

Dauphins have been around since the '70s; I flew in one (a tailwheel version FWSOX) at Farnborough in 1974.

[JulieAndrews]

This will be interesting - using an aircraft which has yet to receive SHOL clearance

[212man]

Originally Posted by JulieAndrews

This will be interesting - using an aircraft which has yet to receive SHOL clearance

I think there is enough convoluted language in RA1395 and RA1029 to come up with a plan!

https://assets.publishing.service.go...95_Issue_8.pdf
https://assets.publishing.service.go...29_Issue_7.pdf

[jeepys]

Originally Posted by JulieAndrews

This will be interesting - using an aircraft which has yet to receive SHOL clearance

Maybe, but it's not like the 139 has never landed on a deck before.
I'm sure whatever needs to be done will get done but what else is there for the job if it's not the 139?

[steve_oc]

I flew a series of formal SHOL trials on different ships for the 365N2 when we first introduced the aircraft, while they were still on the civil register. Both UK CAA and Boscombe Down participated. Mind you, for expediency we started at max weight and worked down, and did each one in a day rather than in 2 weeks...

[JulieAndrews]

Of course it’s possible and about time the RN used an aircraft with credible OEI performance - Spring start time and an MAA who prefer to walk in treacle……
there are various routes available but if one individual in the chain cannot understand the rationale behind the MAA then it could be painful.
If there is a modicum of pragmatism at MAA/CAA then it should not be an issue.

[ericferret]

Originally Posted by chevvron

Dauphins have been around since the '70s; I flew in one (a tailwheel version FWSOX) at Farnborough in 1974.

True but I am struggling to think of anything a 365C and a 365 N2 have in common other than nuts and bolts. Same name different animals.

[212man]

Originally Posted by ericferret

True but I am struggling to think of anything a 365C and a 365 N2 have in common other than nuts and bolts. Same name different animals.

Same TCDS....

[ericferret]

Originally Posted by 212man

Same TCDS....

Again true, makes the TCDS a bit of a waste of paper though. The 365C had more in common with the 360 than the 365N series.