The NHV Group, is an operator of civilian helicopters based in Ostend, Belgium. NHV Group is specialized in business-to-business helicopter services, both offshore & onshore. Today, NHV Group is the only helicopter service provider with presence in all Oil and Gas producing countries in the North Sea region. Furthermore, the company has a very strong presence in West Africa. In 2014, NHV Group was the global launching customer of Airbus Helicopters’ H 175. The first two H175s were operational by the end of December 2014 for Oil and Gas missions in Den Helder, The Netherlands.
History
The company was founded in 1997 by Eric Van Hal. Eric Van Hal was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1965. He trained as a physiotherapist but never practiced the profession. He later became a Harbour master until he left to start NHV. in 1997 Eric Van Hal and his brother Jef De Kinder and an investor purchased an Airbus Dauphin N3 for €5,000,000. The company grew at double digit rates with a 38% growth rate in 2013 alone. In 2014 NHV Group acquired the Blueway Group, including DanCopter, Blueway OffshoreNorway, Airlift and Vertech Offshore.
Bases and operations
NHV has its headquarters and main base at Ostend Airport, in a dedicated building at the south-west edge. Current operational bases are:
Offshore services: NHV provides services via the transport of crews and loads to and from Oil and Gas platforms. Flare tip replacement is also possible through our daughter company, Vertech Offshore. NHV also does Search and Rescue services. Besides transportation for Oil and Gas platforms and Search and Rescue operations, NHV is also specialized in the transport of harbor pilots and crews, and supplies to wind turbines.
Onshore services: In the onshore market, NHV provides ambulance transport and Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. Moreover, Airlift, a daughter company, is Northern Europe's leading company for the provision of onshore helicopter services, like heavy lifting, transmission line inspection, polar services, etc.
Training: NHV Group is an Approved Training Organisation. Furthermore, the company also has a Part 145 Maintenance Organisation, a Part 21 Design Organisation and a Part M Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation.
Maintenance: NHV Group has its own maintenance center.
