Norsk Helikopterservice
Norsk Helikopterservice is a Norwegian offshore helicopter operator serving oil and gas installations from its base at Stavanger Airport, Sola.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Norsk Helikopterservice AS is a Norwegian offshore helicopter airline established to compete in the North Sea transport market serving offshore oil and gas installations. The company is based at Stavanger Airport, Sola, in Sola Municipality, a location that places it close to Norway’s principal offshore aviation and energy-services cluster. Its core business is the operation of heavy helicopters for transporting personnel to and from offshore platforms and other energy-sector facilities. The company was conceived by Bjørn Veum Seljevold, a helicopter pilot and former heavy-helicopter inspector at the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority. Seljevold believed that the offshore helicopter market, then dominated by established operators such as Helikopter Service and Norsk Helikopter, had room for another competitor. His plan was to build a company capable of obtaining a substantial share of a market that he estimated could support roughly fifty aircraft. Norsk Helikopterservice was incorporated in 2009, although it took several years to secure financing, aircraft, regulatory capability, infrastructure, and contracts before beginning commercial activity. Norsk Helikopterservice selected Stavanger Airport, Sola, as its headquarters and main base because Stavanger was a national center for helicopter traffic and offered convenient access to Norway’s offshore oil cities. The company acquired the hangar previously constructed for Braathens Helikopter, giving it an established physical base for maintenance and flight operations. The company’s name deliberately echoed those of its principal competitors after it determined that the relevant names had not been adequately protected as trademarks. Operations began on 14 June 2012. The initial operating model used an AgustaWestland AW139 leased from Bond Offshore Helicopters, with ad hoc flights conducted on the British sector of the North Sea. Norsk Helikopterservice subsequently became associated with a joint order for sixteen Sikorsky S-92A helicopters, divided equally between the two companies. The first two S-92 aircraft assigned to Norsk Helikopterservice were delivered in February 2013. They were initially based at Aberdeen Airport and flown by NHS employees, while the aircraft were contracted to Bond Offshore Helicopters. This arrangement also provided capacity at a time when Bond’s Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma fleet had been grounded. The company’s principal identity is therefore that of a specialist offshore aviation provider rather than a consumer-facing airline. Its services depend on demanding operating standards, heavy-lift helicopter capability, trained flight and technical crews, and the ability to support regular personnel transport over the North Sea. The Sikorsky S-92 became the central aircraft type associated with its offshore platform services, replacing the smaller start-up footprint represented by the leased AW139. Publicly available reference material provides limited detail about the company’s later fleet, contracts, financial performance, and current management, but identifies Babcock International as the majority owner. Norsk Helikopterservice remains associated with the Norwegian offshore helicopter-services industry.
History
Norsk Helikopterservice was created in response to the structure of the Norwegian and North Sea offshore helicopter market. Before its formation, offshore helicopter transport was principally associated with established operators including Helikopter Service and Norsk Helikopter, the latter later becoming associated with Bristow Norway. Bjørn Veum Seljevold, who had experience as a helicopter pilot and worked as a heavy-helicopter inspector for Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority, believed that the market could support an additional operator. He developed a plan aimed at capturing approximately one-fifth to one-quarter of the market, which he estimated at about fifty aircraft. The company was incorporated in 2009. Its choice of name reflected the names of the incumbent operators; according to the company history summarized in reference material, it determined that the relevant competitor names had not been sufficiently protected as trademarks. Stavanger Airport, Sola, was selected as the headquarters and principal operating base because Stavanger was a national focal point for helicopter traffic and offered access to Norway’s offshore energy centers. Norsk Helikopterservice also acquired the hangar originally built for Braathens Helikopter, giving the new business a ready-made aviation facility. The main obstacle during the establishment period was financing. A commercial arrangement was reached with Bond Offshore Helicopters of Aberdeen and World Helicopters Norway. World Helicopters Norway held 65 percent of the shares at that stage and was connected to the Avincis group, while the remaining 30 percent was held by Norwegian investors, including key employees. The available reference account does not explain the entire shareholding structure, but later identifies Babcock International as the company’s majority owner. Norsk Helikopterservice began operations on 14 June 2012. Its first aircraft was an AgustaWestland AW139 leased from Bond Offshore Helicopters. The aircraft supported ad hoc flights in the British sector of the North Sea, allowing the company to enter service before its larger offshore fleet was fully established. A major fleet development followed through a joint order by Bond Offshore Helicopters and Norsk Helikopterservice for sixteen Sikorsky S-92A helicopters, with eight allocated to each company. The first two S-92s for Norsk Helikopterservice were delivered in February 2013. They were based at Aberdeen Airport and operated by crews employed by Norsk Helikopterservice. The aircraft were contracted to Bond Offshore Helicopters, whose own Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma fleet had been grounded at the time. This arrangement gave the new operator an operational role in supporting offshore contracts while also expanding its experience with the S-92, a heavy helicopter designed for long-range offshore personnel transport. The company’s development thus moved from a Norwegian start-up focused on challenging incumbent offshore operators to a specialized provider integrated into broader international helicopter-services relationships. Its base at Sola and its S-92-centered operating model connected it to Norway’s offshore oil and gas infrastructure as well as cross-border North Sea activity. Public reference material does not provide a full account of subsequent fleet changes, customer contracts, financial results, or current leadership. It does, however, establish the company’s continuing identity as an offshore helicopter airline and records Babcock International as its majority owner.
- 2013
First S-92A helicopters delivered
[1]The first two Sikorsky S-92A helicopters allocated to Norsk Helikopterservice were delivered in February 2013.
- 2012
Commercial operations commence
[1]The company began operations on 14 June 2012 with a leased AgustaWestland AW139 and performed ad hoc flights in the British sector of the North Sea.
- 2009
Company incorporated
[1]Norsk Helikopterservice was incorporated after Bjørn Veum Seljevold developed a plan to enter the North Sea offshore helicopter market.
Products and positioning
A specialist offshore helicopter operator focused on safe, heavy-helicopter transport for oil and gas installations and other North Sea energy-sector customers.
Offshore heavy helicopter · 2013
Sikorsky S-92A
The Sikorsky S-92A became the principal aircraft type associated with Norsk Helikopterservice’s offshore operations. The company participated with Bond Offshore Helicopters in a joint order for sixteen aircraft, with eight allocated to each operator. The first two aircraft for Norsk Helikopterservice arrived in February 2013. They were based at Aberdeen Airport and flown by company employees, while being contracted to Bond during a period when Bond’s EC225 Super Puma fleet was grounded. The S-92 supports the long-range personnel transport requirements of offshore energy operations.
Offshore helicopter · 2012
AgustaWestland AW139
The AW139 was the first aircraft used by Norsk Helikopterservice after it entered service. It was leased from Bond Offshore Helicopters and supported ad hoc flights in the British sector of the North Sea from the company’s operational launch in June 2012. The aircraft represented the company’s initial entry platform before the S-92 fleet became central to its offshore operating model.
Brand decisions
2013
Adopt the Sikorsky S-92A for heavy offshore operationsGeneration changeBackground
The company sought a larger and more capable offshore aircraft platform and participated in a joint procurement with Bond Offshore Helicopters.
Action taken
Norsk Helikopterservice took delivery of its first two S-92A helicopters in February 2013 under an arrangement involving sixteen aircraft in total, eight for each operator.
Aftermath
The S-92 became the central aircraft type associated with the company’s offshore personnel-transport activities.
2012
Launch operations with leased AW139Product launchBackground
Norsk Helikopterservice required an aircraft and operating platform before its planned larger S-92 fleet was available.
Action taken
The company commenced operations using an AgustaWestland AW139 leased from Bond Offshore Helicopters and undertook ad hoc flights in the British North Sea sector.
Aftermath
The launch established the company as an operating offshore helicopter provider.
2009
Enter the established North Sea offshore helicopter marketStrategyBackground
The company was founded to compete with established offshore helicopter operators and to seek a meaningful share of a market serving oil and gas installations.
Action taken
Norsk Helikopterservice established its base at Stavanger Airport, Sola, acquired the former Braathens Helikopter hangar, and developed a financing and operating structure involving Bond Offshore Helicopters, World Helicopters Norway, Avincis-linked interests, and Norwegian investors.
Aftermath
The company proceeded toward operations and entered the market in 2012.
Recent events
- 2013
First Sikorsky S-92 helicopters delivered[1]
Product generation
The first two Sikorsky S-92A helicopters associated with Norsk Helikopterservice were delivered in February 2013 under the company’s joint procurement arrangement with Bond Offshore Helicopters.
- 2012
Norsk Helikopterservice begins operations[1]
Product launch
Norsk Helikopterservice commenced flight operations on 14 June 2012, initially using a leased AgustaWestland AW139 for ad hoc flights in the British sector of the North Sea.
Norsk Helikopterservice becomes majority-owned by Babcock International[1]
M&A
Babcock International is identified as the majority owner of Norsk Helikopterservice.
Sources1 sources
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