General aviation services group GDAT is set to start operating the Airbus H160 helicopter in China after taking delivery of its first aircraft in that country on Tuesday. The company ordered 50 examples of the utility-twin model in April 2023 and has since taken delivery of five other aircraft from this batch for operations outside China.
The H160 delivered this week will mainly be used to support energy sector customers. Flights will include transportation to offshore oil and gas platforms, as well for trips to wind farms, harbor piloting, emergency medical, and public service missions.
Since Airbus began deliveries of the H160 in December 2021, the model has entered service for a variety of applications, including law enforcement, search and rescue, and passenger transportation. Other operators are based in France, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, and the UK.
“We are proud to be the first to receive the brand-new H160 in China,” said GDAT chairman Peter Jiang. “The introduction of this aircraft continues GDAT’s long-term commitment to providing state-of-the-art helicopter technology to both the Chinese market and those around the world, and underlines our commitment to the safety, quality, and efficiency of our operations.”
Last month, Airbus started flight testing a military version of the H160 that has been ordered by France’s armed forces.