Equinor extends CHC helicopter SAR support contract to 2030

Equinor has extended its agreement with CHC Helikopter Service to maintain search and rescue (SAR) and personnel transport capability in Central Norway until 31 January 2030, following the exercise of two contract options valued at approximately 1.7 billion kroner.

The extension secures continued offshore SAR coverage across Kristiansund, Brønnøysund, and the Heidrun oil and gas field, where emergency response aviation remains central to offshore safety provision.

Under the arrangement, CHC Helikopter Service, the Norwegian division of CHC Helicopter, will continue to operate Sikorsky S-92 aircraft from bases in Kristiansund and Brønnøysund, alongside an installation-based SAR helicopter at Heidrun.

The configuration includes two passenger helicopters and a standby SAR asset in Kristiansund, one aircraft in Brønnøysund configured for personnel transport and medevac missions, and a permanently stationed SAR helicopter at Heidrun.

Equinor said the extension supported predictable emergency preparedness in a high-activity region. Mette Ottøy, Senior Vice President for Joint Operations Support at Equinor, said: “With this extension, we are securing robust and predictable helicopter services in Central Norway until 2030... a region with a high level of activity for Equinor.”

The contract period runs from 1 February 2028 to 31 January 2030.

CHC Helicopter recently expanded its emergency medical services (EMS) into South America with a new contract with state-owned energy company Petrobras.