Bristow Norway
Corporate brand
UnclaimedNorwegian helicopter services company supporting offshore energy operations and search-and-rescue missions.
Last updated August 27, 2026
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Overview
Bristow Norway AS is a Norwegian helicopter services company based in Stavanger. It provides offshore crew-transport flights to oil and gas installations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and also operates search-and-rescue aircraft from selected offshore and northern Norwegian bases. The company was formerly known as Norsk Helikopter, a name associated with its origins as an independent competitor in Norway’s offshore helicopter market. The business was established in 1993 as a joint venture between the Ugland Group, controlled by Norwegian shipping entrepreneur Andreas Ugland, and Bristow Helicopters. Ugland initially held a 51 percent interest, while the Bristow connection provided technical and operational links with Bristow’s wider helicopter organization. Its creation followed a period in which Helikopter Service had acquired several competing Norwegian operators, including Lufttransport, Mørefly and Braathens Helikopter. Norwegian authorities and offshore petroleum companies wanted a more competitive supplier landscape, and Norsk Helikopter was formed in part to provide an alternative operator. The company began with Aerospatiale AS332L Super Puma helicopters and established its principal base at Stavanger Airport, Sola. It expanded to Bergen Airport, Flesland, in 1999, added operations from Brønnøysund in 2002, and opened a Hammerfest base on 11 November 2004 in connection with the development of the Snøhvit gas project. In 2005, Norsk Helikopter became the first European operator of the Sikorsky S-92A, a type that later became central to its offshore fleet. The same year it acquired Lufttransport, although that ownership lasted only several years. A major ownership change occurred in 2008, when the Ugland Group sold its shares to Bristow. The transaction gave Bristow full ownership of Norsk Helikopter and also secured full ownership of Lufttransport for the group. In April 2009, Norsk Helikopter was renamed Bristow Norway, aligning its Norwegian offshore operation with the international Bristow brand. The former Norsk Helikopter name was retained by Ugland for a separate brand and was later sold to the Avincis Group, subsequently acquired by Babcock International. Bristow Norway expanded its contract portfolio during the late 2000s and early 2010s. In 2009 it began flying from Hammerfest for StatoilHydro and Eni. In 2010 it won a significant contract covering the Draugen and Sleipner fields, and it acquired its first Eurocopter EC225 for all-weather search-and-rescue work. The company is described as holding contracts with all oil companies operating on the Norwegian shelf for crew-change flights. Its listed bases and operational locations include Stavanger, Bergen, Florø and Hammerfest, with search-and-rescue activity associated with Ekofisk and Hammerfest. The company’s reported fleet consists of 24 Sikorsky S-92A helicopters and approximately 420 employees. Its operating model combines scheduled and contract-based offshore transport with emergency-response capability. The company’s principal customers and stakeholders are offshore energy operators, petroleum-sector contractors, regulators and search-and-rescue partners. On 28 February 2024, one of its Sikorsky S-92 helicopters crashed into the sea outside Øygarden Municipality in Vestland during a rescue-training mission for Equinor. Six people were aboard and five survived. The incident forms part of the company’s publicly documented operational history, but the available reference material does not establish a broader corporate finding or legal conclusion.
History
Offshore helicopter transport in Norway was historically dominated by Helikopter Service. During the late 1980s, Lufttransport, Mørefly and Braathens Helikopter emerged as competitors, but Helikopter Service had acquired all three by 1992. The concentration of the market concerned both public authorities and oil companies, which wanted multiple operators to encourage competition and maintain alternative capacity. Norsk Helikopter was incorporated in 1993 to meet that need. The new company was established as a joint venture between Andreas Ugland’s shipping interests and Bristow Helicopters. Ugland initially held 51 percent, while Bristow contributed an important technical relationship with its other helicopter companies. Norsk Helikopter started operations with Aerospatiale AS332L Super Puma helicopters and used Stavanger Airport, Sola, as its principal base. Expansion followed as offshore activity developed in different parts of Norway. The company opened a base at Bergen Airport, Flesland, in 1999 and added Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy, in 2002. A Hammerfest base opened on 11 November 2004 in connection with the Snøhvit development. In 2005, the operator became the first European customer or operator of the Sikorsky S-92A. That year it also acquired Lufttransport, a land-helicopter operator, although the arrangement continued for only three years. In 2008, the Ugland Group sold its interest to Bristow. The transaction gave Bristow full ownership of Norsk Helikopter and secured full ownership of Lufttransport within the group. Norsk Helikopter was renamed Bristow Norway in April 2009. The Norsk Helikopter brand itself was retained by Ugland and was later sold to the Avincis Group, which was subsequently acquired by Babcock International. Bristow Norway developed its offshore contract portfolio after the rebranding. In 2009 it began flying from Hammerfest for StatoilHydro and Eni. In 2010 it won a contract connected with the Draugen and Sleipner fields. The company also purchased its first Eurocopter EC225 in 2010 for all-weather search-and-rescue operations. Its service base subsequently included offshore crew-change work for oil companies operating on the Norwegian shelf and search-and-rescue activity from Ekofisk and Hammerfest. The company is reported to operate 24 Sikorsky S-92A helicopters and employ approximately 420 people. Its operational footprint includes Stavanger, Bergen, Florø and Hammerfest. On 28 February 2024, a Bristow Norway S-92 crashed into the sea outside Øygarden Municipality in Vestland during a rescue-training mission for Equinor. Six people were on board and five survived. The available reference material does not provide a final investigation finding, so no cause or responsibility is assigned here.
- 2024
S-92 crashes during training mission
[1]A Bristow Norway S-92 crashes into the sea near Øygarden during a rescue-training mission for Equinor; five of six occupants survive.
- 2010
Draugen and Sleipner contract and EC225 acquisition
[1]The company wins an important contract for the Draugen and Sleipner fields and acquires its first Eurocopter EC225 for all-weather search-and-rescue operations.
- 2009
Norsk Helikopter becomes Bristow Norway
[1]The Norwegian operator adopts the Bristow Norway name in April and begins Hammerfest flights for StatoilHydro and Eni.
- 2008
Bristow gains full ownership
[1]The Ugland Group sells its shares to Bristow, giving Bristow full ownership of Norsk Helikopter and securing full ownership of Lufttransport for the group.
- 2005
First European Sikorsky S-92A operation
[1]Norsk Helikopter becomes the first European operator of the Sikorsky S-92A and acquires Lufttransport.
- 2004
Hammerfest base opens
[1]A Hammerfest Airport base opens on 11 November in connection with development of the Snøhvit project.
- 2002
Brønnøysund operations added
[1]Norsk Helikopter adds a base at Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy.
- 1999
Bergen base opens
[1]The company expands beyond its Stavanger base with operations from Bergen Airport, Flesland.
- 1993
Norsk Helikopter is incorporated
[1]Norsk Helikopter is established as a joint venture between Andreas Ugland’s interests and Bristow Helicopters to provide additional competition in Norway’s offshore helicopter market.
Products and positioning
A specialized Norwegian offshore helicopter operator combining oil-and-gas crew transport with search-and-rescue capability, supported by the international Bristow organization.
Helicopter transport service · 1993
Offshore crew transport
Bristow Norway transports offshore personnel between mainland bases and oil and gas installations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Its crew-change activity is conducted under contracts with oil companies operating on the Norwegian shelf, using helicopters configured for regular offshore shuttle operations. The Sikorsky S-92A is the company’s reported principal aircraft type and is suited to long-range, high-capacity offshore transport.
Emergency aviation service · 2010
Search-and-rescue operations
The company operates search-and-rescue aircraft in support of offshore and northern Norwegian operations. Reference material identifies SAR activity from Ekofisk and Hammerfest. Bristow Norway acquired its first Eurocopter EC225 in 2010 for all-weather search-and-rescue work, complementing its offshore transport role.
Offshore helicopter fleet · 2005
Sikorsky S-92A fleet
The Sikorsky S-92A is the core aircraft type identified for Bristow Norway’s operations. Norsk Helikopter became the first European operator of the type in 2005. The reported fleet comprises 24 S-92A helicopters, used primarily for offshore crew transport and related operational requirements.
Brand decisions
2009
Rebrand from Norsk Helikopter to Bristow NorwayStrategyBackground
Bristow assumed full ownership of the Norwegian operator after acquiring the Ugland Group’s interest.
Action taken
The company changed its operating name to Bristow Norway in April 2009.
Aftermath
The rebrand aligned the Norwegian offshore operation with Bristow’s international corporate identity.
2008
Bristow acquires full ownership of Norsk HelikopterM&ABackground
Norsk Helikopter had operated as a joint venture between the Ugland Group and Bristow Helicopters since 1993.
Action taken
The Ugland Group sold its shares to Bristow, giving Bristow full ownership and also securing full ownership of Lufttransport for the group.
Aftermath
The ownership change was followed by the company’s rebranding as Bristow Norway in April 2009.
Sources1 sources
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