Airbus Helicopters has delivered its first H160 helicopter to the United States, marking its entry into service in the country. The helicopter was received by PHI, a company based in Lafayette, Louisiana. Prior to this delivery, the H160 had already been operational in countries such as Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and several European nations. The aircraft received certification in the U.S. a year ago.

PHI Group CEO Scott McCarty commented on the milestone: “This is an exciting milestone for our teams and partners.” He added that "the H160 represents a new era for PHI, enhancing our commitment to safety, quality, and efficiency for our operations in the Gulf of Mexico."

Following initial route-proving flights designed to showcase the helicopter's capabilities in offshore environments, PHI plans to begin commercial operations with the H160. Last year saw PHI place an order for eight of these helicopters. The H160 is equipped with two 1,280-shp Safran Arrano 1A engines and can be configured to transport up to 12 passengers.