Germany's Wiking Helikopter has appointed Ernst Nassl as CEO. Spokesperson for the shareholders Aylin Yildiz Basel says: “Ernst is an exceptional leader and has demonstrated leadership in his previous professional posts, including senior leadership and general manager positions at Siemens and Nokia. He has also fulfilled positions in strategic planning, procurement, manufacturing and services.

“He brings 27 years of professional experience and is an excellent communicator. We expect him to replicate his previous successes in Wiking; enormous opportunity lies ahead.”

Nassl adds: “I am passionately committed to placing safety, quality and best service to our clients at the centre of everything we do, ensuring that we build up an international aviation company on the foundations of Wiking's 42 years in business.” Wiking is an offshore specialist in the North and Baltic Sea, hoisting technicians to wind farms and sea pilots to moving targets in harsh weather conditions. Since 2012 it has also been providing HEMS services to the wind industry from JadeWeserAirport in Sande, Germany.

Wiking has also awarded a two-year Jet A1 contract to Air Total, which will supply a refuelling tank with pumps that will allow Wiking to fuel its aircraft and support a number of offshore customers with personnel and materials. As part of the contract Total will assist with practical and fuel quality control training.

Commencing in January, the deal has been penned to coincide with the Galloper Wind Farm Project. Located 27 km off the coast of Suffolk in the UK, the project is expected to generate power for more than 380,700 homes and create 700 jobs.