Paris-based Héli-Union, which operates a fleet of 35 mostly twin-engine helicopters mainly for oil majors, has signed a draft joint venture operating agreement with Kazakhstan’s leading oil group. As part of the collaborative accord with Euro-Asia Air, in June the company took delivery of Eurocopter’s 800th Dauphin, which began operations in Kazakhstan in August.

Christopher de Corlon, Héli-Union chairman, told AIN that although the oil-related activity in Kazakhstan is “embryonic, the country has huge oil reserves with a big need for helicopters.” The 50-50 partnership agreement with Euro-Asia Air, a subsidiary of Kazmunaigas, Kazakhstan’s major oil group, is due to be signed officially early next year.

Meanwhile, Héli-Union, the largest French helicopter company operating internationally, will take delivery of two more units within the next couple of months, with two more to follow in the next two years. Next month will mark the 30th anniversary of the company’s first delivery of a Eurocopter.

The latest Eurocopter to join Héli-Union’s fleet is the Turbomeca Arriel 2C-powered AS 365N3, which is the company’s 19th Dauphin and its sixth for offshore missions. Its power reserves make it particularly well suited to operations in extreme weather and for offshore missions, said the company. It is equipped with a health and usage monitoring system and meets JAR-OPS requirements for offshore assignments.

Next month’s delivery of two Dauphins will bring to 37 the number of helicopters in the company’s fleet, 21 of them Dauphins. The company has replaced most of its single-engine helicopters with twins.

Corlon confirmed talks with Eurocopter for four more Dauphins. The first two are earmarked for delivery at the end of next year and 2007, with the second two joining the fleet a year later. The company this year added two Super Pumas to replace two Pumas operating for Agip in Libya. “If we get further contracts that necessitate a larger fleet, then Héli-Union has the means to purchase more helicopters.”

Héli-Union operates helicopters worldwide in support of the offshore oil and gas sectors, connecting oil rigs to land, as well as in support of geophysical exploration and mining–activities that account for 70 percent of total revenue. Contracted to all the oil majors and several geophysical and drilling companies, it provides its own fleet of helicopters with pilots and engineers on a turnkey basis, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The company’s industrial activity, in its Héli-Union Industrie subsidiary, provides technical services and operational support, especially in heavy maintenance, field support and logistical assistance for civil and military customers and governments. It also provides assistance in training for engineers. This brings in 28 percent of its income. The newly established Héli-Union training center for both the company’s and third-party pilots accounts for the remaining 2 percent of revenues.

Last year the company logged more than one million flight hours. In the late 1990s it abandoned its passenger services in France to concentrate on oil and gas logistics support. In December 2000 it established a maintenance base, both for the Héli-Union fleet and third parties, including the French defense ministry and foreign military customers.

Héli-Union last year reported revenues of $88.5 million (€73.8 million). Corlon expected that number to increase to around $96 million (€80 million), this year and by another 15 percent next year.