The Airbus H160: a multi-mission dream for pilots and passengers

GDHF is a start-up helicopter leasing company that began business in April 2024 and aims to offer the most innovative and efficient vertical lift solutions to its clients. Signalling their intent by immediately signing for 50 H160 helicopters, CEO Michael York explains why they’re a perfect fit for his company’s ambitions.

What is the main aim of GD Helicopter Finance?

Michael York: Our goal is to grow a large portfolio of the most technologically new, modern, efficient, cost-effective multi-mission helicopters and lease them out to customers globally. We’re going to place the helicopters where they’re critical for their end-user customers, such as offshore energy, emergency medical services, search and rescue, government and corporate missions.

What persuaded you to buy 50 H160 helicopters?

M.Y.: This helicopter is perfect for our business philosophy of bringing the newest-technology, most cost-effective multi-mission helicopters to a global market, for multiple market segments. We see the H160 as the future of the medium helicopter space. It’s much more cost efficient to operate, it’s a step-change in safety and efficiency and it’s more economical to purchase and operate than previous technologies and we think the passenger is going to love it because of the comfort, the smoothness and the accessibility of the aircraft. As a pilot, it’s amazing to fly; it’s smooth and it has a range of technologies which make it very safe. It’s really a dream, as a pilot and as a passenger.

What is the added value of the Airbus H160 compared with other helicopters in the same category?

M.Y.: I think the H160 is really a step-change in terms of technology. Older helicopters are exiting the market as they don’t really meet the modern safety requirements or are simply more expensive to operate. We see the H160 as consuming less fuel than previous generation products, being less expensive to operate in terms of capital costs and in terms of running costs and as being really rapidly configurable to different missions. When we want to transition an aircraft from one function to another to suit our client base, it’s quick and efficient to do so. It really is a multi‑mission platform and that’s core to our leasing business model.

What can the H160 bring to the offshore energy market?

M.Y.: When I think of the Airbus H160 for the offshore energy market, as a lessor, GDHF wants to provide a product that the operators and the end users who contract the services are going to love. They want to get their people safely offshore and back in a way that is very sustainable at a lower cost, whilst being safe, comfortable and reassuring for passengers. We think the H160 really fulfils all of those criteria. The end users are already very interested in this helicopter and they see it as the perfect platform for the offshore energy space. We see the H160 entering new markets and we’re really excited about being part of driving that.