Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract to sell up to 20 H175 super-medium twins (10 firm, 10 options) to Shanghai-based GDAT, part of general aviation services provider GDAT Group. The group recently launched GD Helicopter Finance (GDHF) in Dublin, and GDHF will be marketing the H175s to energy, search and rescue, emergency medical service, and parapublic operators.
A year ago, GDAT placed an order for 50 H160 intermediate-twins. GDAT specializes in helicopter sales, leasing, maintenance, and modifications, as well as operating emergency rescue and other government services flights. GDAT Group also owns 21 Airbus H225 heavy twin-engine helicopters.
Airbus has delivered 55 H175s since the model's service entry in 2015, with the fleet logging more than 210,000 flight hours.
“This H175 order, along with the existing 50 Airbus H160 medium helicopters already on the GDAT orderbook, will be available to GDHF,” said GDHF CEO Michael York. “This deal will further enhance GDHF’s ability to offer our customers near-term availability of efficient, cost-effective, multi-mission helicopters of the very latest technology.”
“The creation of GDHF and this follow-on GDAT contract underlines the versatility and competitiveness of the H175 and the H160,” said Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even. “We look forward to a long-standing partnership with GDHF as they put these multi-mission helicopters into service with their customers around the globe.”