Milestone Aviation sells three H225 helicopters to Kitz-Air for firefighting conversion

Lessor Milestone Aviation has sold three Airbus Helicopters H225 heavy-twin helicopters to Austrian operator Kitz-Air, which plans to convert them for aerial firefighting work. The aircraft were delivered in July and will undergo modification before entering service across Europe and South America.

German firm Global Helicopter Service will carry out the conversion. The specific airframes have not been officially confirmed, though they are believed to be helicopters roughly 12 to 14 years old that were previously leased to a US operator, with two possibly bearing manufacturer serial numbers 2838 and 2841.

The H225 largely exited the offshore oil and gas transport market in 2016 following safety concerns. Since then, much of the existing fleet has found new roles in firefighting and utility transport.

Kitz-Air chief executive Christoph Klein described the purchase as part of a long-term plan to grow the company's heavy helicopter fleet and build firefighting capacity. Milestone Aviation's chief commercial officer, Sebastien Moulin, said the H225 remains a capable platform for demanding utility missions as global demand for aerial firefighting grows.

Separately, Canadian operator VIH Helicopters has converted a third Sikorsky S-92 into a firefighting configuration. The company had earlier modified two other S-92s built in 2004 and 2010, and has now added a 2011-built aircraft formerly flown by PHI Group. Certification for that firefighting conversion program was obtained in 2024.