PHI Aviation has begun offshore helicopter operations for Shell on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast with an Airbus H160, the company announced Tuesday at Verticon. This represents the first H160 to conduct commercial offshore transportation missions, according to Airbus Helicopters, which partnered with PHI and Shell on a route-proving program for the helicopter model. 

Commercial operations with PHI’s H160 off the Louisiana coast began on March 6 after 300 hours of route-proving flights. “This is the culmination of five-plus years of work and an even longer partnership between PHI, Shell, and Airbus,” said PHI Group CEO Scott McCarty.

“The extensive, first-of-its-kind route-proving program allowed our teams to work closely with Shell and Airbus to fully evaluate and optimize the H160’s capabilities, train personnel, and ensure certification and indoctrination into PHI’s operational and safety systems.”

PHI now employs 12 pilots with H160 type ratings, as well as 12 mechanics qualified to work on H160 airframes and powerplants.