NH Industries seeks buyers for 14 ex-Norwegian NH90 helicopters

NH Industries is offering 14 NH90 maritime helicopters formerly flown by the Royal Norwegian Air Force to potential customers, with the consortium's chief executive reporting strong interest.

Norway stopped operating its fleet after a long-running dispute with NH Industries over the type's operational performance and poor availability. The two sides reached an out-of-court settlement earlier this year under which the consortium took ownership of the grounded aircraft and paid €375 million ($420 million).

Chief executive Axel Aloccio said the buy-back covered not just the helicopters but also the parts stored in Norway. The surplus NFH-model rotorcraft are parked at an Airbus facility in Norway pending a new operator, he said.

The Norwegian fleet comprised eight aircraft configured for coastguard duties and six set up for anti-submarine warfare. Aloccio said the helicopters are being pitched to many of the same customers the company had been discussing new-build NFH aircraft with, and that budget constraints make the secondhand option attractive because it is much cheaper. He described a large pool of prospects and said the company hopes to place the 14 aircraft with one or two buyers.

The surplus helicopters have each logged an average of about 500 flight hours, according to Aloccio, who said they are almost brand-new. Alongside the sale, NH Industries is offering a support package covering at least the first five years of operation.

The company is also pursuing sales of newly built aircraft.