By IANS
Mumbai : Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd (GVHL), part of the UK-based Vectra Group, would invest $26 million (Rs.1.1 billion) to acquire two Bell 412 helicopters for offshore operations and one EC135 helicopter for onshore charters, said the company in a statement Tuesday.
While the Bell 412s will operate for the company’s current offshore clientele, the EC135 will mark GVHL’s entry into the onshore helicopter charter space. The helicopter will have a seating capacity for seven excluding the two pilots.
The EC135 will offer service for clients from the hospitality industry, the political fraternity and the corporate sector, said the statement.
“We are committed to become a formidable player in the sector. The onshore charter industry is a fast emerging sector of business in non-scheduled flights operations, and we have entered it at the right time,” said Allan Brown, chief executive officer of GVHL.
The EC 135 helicopter is due for delivery next month while the two Bell 412s would be inducted in the second half of 2008.
Post the acquisition, GVHL will own 24 helicopters and the fleet addition would increase its offshore support market share to more than 50 percent, said the release.
GVHL is now expanding into South-East Asia and Middle East regions.