2007 will be a year to remember for NHV. In the midst of tenth birthday celebrations, the Belgian operator has inaugurated new installations near Ostend airport and received Eurocopter maintenance approval for the Dauphin (AS365 N, N2 and N3), the EC120, and the entire Ecureuil family, up to the Major Inspection.

“Approval was facilitated by the establishment of the new maintenance center,” explains Éric Van Hal, CEO of the company. “Our brand new installations ensure helicopter maintenance will be carried out in optimal conditions.”

Eurocopter and NHV spent over two years negotiating an agreement which now identifies NHV, already Part 145 certified, as the preferential maintenance center for helicopters registered in Belgium and Luxembourg. “We are now the only operator in Belgium with this approval,” notes Van Hal, while adding that four other Belgian workshops have Part 145 certification. NHV currently operates eight helicopters, including four Dauphins, an EC120, and an EC145. Eurocopter approval represents a golden opportunity for a company keen to expand into the oil and gas and military markets. By the way, NHV would like to play a major role in the military segment concerning maintenance by investing in maintenance services to the NH90s ordered this year by the Belgian government.