Global Vectra Helicorp expands Bell 412 fleet with additional orders

Bell Helicopter has announced the recent sale of two Bell 412s to Mumbai-based Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd (GVHL) India's largest private helicopter operator. The sale increases the tally of GVHL's fleet to a total of 22 Bell 412s.

GVHL CEO, Allan Brown, one of the fastest growing helicopter operating companies in India, said, "The Bell 412 has a range/payload combination best adaptable to Indian offshore operational requirements. We were the first to introduce the Bell 412 helicopter to the offshore market in India and are today the largest player in offshore air logistics support to the oil and gas industry."

Today, with 20 Bell 412s flying on the east and west coasts of India, GVHL is serving some of the biggest names in India's oil exploration sector and their customers include ONGC, Reliance Industries, British Gas, Trans Ocean and Gujarat State.

GVHL is also India's first aviation company to be certified for the ISO 9001-2000, 14001-2004 and OHSAS 18001-1999 standards by DNV.

"We are proud to be a major part of the largest offshore operator's fleet in India," said Max Wiley, vice president Bell Helicopter Asia. "GVHL's confidence in our helicopters is reflected by maintaining the single largest fleet of Bell 412s in India."

Bell says its Model 412 helicopter has become the preferred medium twin helicopter in the offshore oil industry because of its reliability, payload, single engine performance and safety record. This model has the lowest cost of operation of any helicopter in its class with a useful load of 5,039 lbs (2,286kg) making it an excellent helicopter for offshore oil and gas support.