A capable, mission-tailored solution for Norway’s new search and rescue helicopter acquisition is now available with Team NORDSAR. It brings together the extensive resources of Eurocopter and its EC225 NORDSAR helicopter with the in-country aircraft maintenance and logistic support capabilities of Heli-One Norway AS.

The Team NORDSAR (Nordic Search And Rescue) agreement, announced today, responds to Norway’s needs for a next-generation search and rescue (SAR) helicopter in meeting the country’s demanding operational requirements. It unites Eurocopter’s tailor-made EC225 Nordsar version – which is especially designed for SAR missions in the Nordic region – with Heli-One’s 50-plus year’s experience as one of the world’s largest rotorcraft support companies.

“We are very excited to join forces in a common bid with Eurocopter, which allows us to combine our skills and expertise in creating a winning team,” said Lars Landsnes, the Managing Director of Heli-One Norway AS. “A win of the Norway SAR contract will lead to significant investments in the future development of Heli-One’s facility in Sola, securing highly qualified labour and contributing to keeping the Stavanger region at the cutting edge of helicopter support.”

The Norwegian All Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter (NAWSARH) competition will result in the country’s introduction of a new helicopter fleet capable of flying in challenging mountainous and coastal areas, as well as long-reach missions in the harsh Barent Sea.

“Team NORDSAR enables Eurocopter and Heli-One to join forces on mission capability, quality, safety and security for a solid, and strong NAWSARH joint bid“, stated Thomas Hein Eurocopter’s Vice President Sales and Customer Relations for Europe. “Heli-One already is servicing many of the over 120 Eurocopter helicopters operating in Norway, so we have a shared, strong history of cooperating in this context.”

The EC225 NORDSAR will incorporate one of the most advanced mission equipment packages on a SAR helicopter, benefitting from Eurocopter’s heritage of integrating cutting-edge avionics, flight control systems and autopilots – supported by the company’s unmatched experience in man-machine interface for high levels of flight safety.

In its specific NORDSAR configuration, the EC225 will meet Norway’s requirements for off-shore and mountain SAR missions, ensuring total operational flexibility in daily service. The Eurocopter EC225 is already on high readiness alert in the SAR-role at Hammerfest and off shore in the North Sea.

The EC225 NORDSAR and its military-qualified equivalent the EC725 NORDSAR, will in addition combine anti-terror capabilities offering Norway with a true multi-role solution.

The EC225, along with Eurocopter’s AS332L1 version of the Super Puma family, already are used extensively in the Nordic region and Iceland for SAR missions, along with crew airlift flights to support the oil and gas sector. All civilian SAR-helicopters in Norway are delivered by Eurocopter.

EADS press release