NHV Denmark has become the first operator in the North Sea to be approved to provide Operations with Operational Credits – Helicopter Special Authorisation Category I (Heli Sa Cat I) Operations from EASA. This new approval has been introduced to increase the number of available and accessible alternates within the available fuel range.

Compared to the standard regulation, this approval gives NHV better operational benefits. There will be reduced minimum visibility to 300 metres. The usual requirement is 550 metres, so the special approval offers a significant reduction.

With the use of the Instrument Landing System, (ILS) NHV can now descend to 150ft. If the airport has the capability to use Low Visibility Procedures then it is authorised to descend to 130ft. This is a significant difference from the usual minimum descent altitude on an ILS, which is typically 200ft.

There will also be lower weather requirements for alternate airfields when the weather is marginal at its destination. This offers NHV a substantial improvement in the number of operational days and a better payload for its clients. The weather requirements for alternate airfields are reduced from a 1,000m visibility to a 600m visibility, and the cloud ceiling is reduced from 400ft to 300ft.

To obtain this approval, NHV Denmark needed to operate a helicopter with a four-axis autopilot featuring automatic level-off capabilities, a feature present in all Airbus H175 helicopters. Additionally, the crew needed to undergo theoretical and practical simulator training to meet the approval requirements. All its pilots have completed this training during recent sessions in the simulator in Marseilles, France.

NHV has also been awarded Vinçotte ISO 14001 certification, an internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems. The initial certification scope includes its bases Ostend, Belgium, and Rotterdam, Netherlands, and more bases are planned to be included in the near future.

At the same time, its ISO 9001 certification, first obtained in 2017, has been renewed and extended to all operational bases. The ISO 9001 ensures NHV meets the needs of its clients through an effective quality management system.

These accreditations not only demonstrate its strong focus on providing its customers with the highest level of service possible, but also its commitment to enhance its environmental performance.