Bell Textron Inc. and Omni Helicopters Guyana Inc. (OHGI), a subsidiary of Omni Helicopters International (OHI), have announced a joint offshore operational evaluation program for the Bell 525 helicopter in Guyana’s oil and gas sector.
The evaluation, set to last six months, will integrate the Bell 525 into Omni’s high-tempo operations, conducting offshore flights under real-world conditions. The helicopter will be loaded to operational weights, make multiple offshore landings, and undergo routine refueling to test its performance, reliability, and supply chain resilience.
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“We’re honored to be working with Omni to leverage the advanced technology the Bell 525 aircraft will bring to the industry,” said Danny Maldonado, Chief Commercial Officer at Bell. “This program will enable the Bell 525 to demonstrate its performance, capabilities, and reliability as the ideal offshore aircraft.”
Duncan Moore, Group Chief Operating Officer at OHI said, “We’re thrilled to have devised this innovative and industry-leading program with Bell, Omni is a company that embraces innovation and solves challenges for our customers, and one such challenge facing us is the selection of a future helicopter for medium and long-range offshore missions.”
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The Bell 525 will operate alongside Omni’s existing fleet, which conducts approximately 200 flights per month. The program aims to log around 500 flight hours, subjecting the helicopter to the intensity of live offshore operations.
“We’re delighted for our team and the wider aviation community in Guyana who will be amongst the first to get exposure to this next-generation aircraft,” Gerry Gouveia of Roraima Airways, a partner in OHGI, said. He said securing this project for Guyana underlines their dedication to developing Guyana’s aviation and its oil and gas capabilities.
OHGI transports passengers in support of ExxonMobil’s Guyana operations. It celebrated one year of existence in Guyana in January 2024, having conducted 2,300 flights with more than 50,000 passengers.
