Bristow Launches Airbus H160 in Nigeria, First for Africa's Offshore Energy and Rescue Missions - By Daisy BARRO

(L - R) Mrs. Joy Ekeruche, Head Of Engineering, Bristow Helicopters; Capt. Wale Makinde, Principal Operations Inspector, NCAA; Mr. Samuel Obafemi Bajomo, SA Foreign Direct Investments & Capital Improvement Programs to the Honourable Minister Of Aviation and Aerospace Development; Engr. Suleman Akwuh, GM, AMO, NCAA; Mrs. Omeogu Esther, DGM Avsec, Head, Domestic Private Terminals & Hangars; Capt. Dapo Oyeleke, MD, Bristow Helicopters; Mrs. Claire Brugirard, Vice President & Regional Manager - MEA & APAC, Milestone; and Mr. Clement Falayi, Senior Manager, Operations & Service Delivery, Bristow Helicopters.

Bristow Group has entered the Airbus H160 helicopter into commercial service in Nigeria, marking the first deployment of the medium-twin platform for offshore energy and rescue operations by the company and on the African continent. The formal induction took place on Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Lagos before regulators, energy operators, and aviation industry leaders.

The introduction positions the H160 as a next-generation solution for logistics in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas sector, one of Africa’s most active. The aircraft will support shallow and deep-water operations across the Niger Delta and Atlantic offshore fields.

Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters, Captain Dapo Oyeleke, situated the acquisition within the company’s six-decade presence in Nigeria and emphasized the operator’s continuity in safety-critical support. 

"For over 6 decades, Bristow has been the trusted wing and backbone of Nigeria’s offshore energy logistics. From our strategic hub here in Lagos, to the vital operational bases across the Niger Delta, we have continued to fly through eras of change, every day, without fail, with purpose and with an unwavering commitment to safety and excellence. From the period when agriculture was the main stay of the Nigerian economy, where Bristow was heavily involved in crop spraying and survey activities across Northern and Eastern Nigeria, spraying groundnut fields, oil palm and rubber plantations, to the early discovery of oil with the Shell-BP consortium in 1956. Through the period of the Nigerian Civil War; through the June 12 political crises in 1993, and lately through the Covid-19 pandemic, Bristow has pioneered the introduction of no less than 15 aircraft types and variants, across all OEMs, into Nigeria. Many of these aircraft types are reflected on the canvas across the room here today." 

He further restated the company’s operating mandate: "Throughout this journey, we have always been guided by one unwavering principle: to move people, freight and equipment safely, efficiently and reliably. Today, we are reinforcing that promise."

Clement Falayi, Bristow’s Senior Manager, Operation & Service Delivery, characterized the fleet addition as a direct extension of the operator’s safety posture: “Today, Bristow is reinforcing the promise of safety. By launching the Airbus H160 right here in Nigeria, its very first operational home in the energy sector in Africa, Bristow is once again, bringing into service, and directly to our clients' doorsteps, aircraft with the highest global standards, equipped with full IOGP 690 compliant next-generation technology, in one of Africa's fastest-growing oil and gas markets", he noted.

Technically, the H160 is configured for multi-mission profiles including offshore crew transport, search and rescue, and emergency medical services. The helicopters are fitted with Airbus’ Helionix avionics suite and an advanced autopilot, intended to lower crew workload, improve situational awareness, and strengthen safety margins in demanding operating environments such as Port Harcourt. 

The platform also delivers measurable efficiency gains. Bristow cited an 18% reduction in fuel consumption per passenger to align with client carbon-reduction targets. Design features aimed at higher dispatch reliability include a maintenance-friendly airframe. Passenger experience enhancements include acoustic insulation, enlarged windows, and Airbus Blue Edge rotor blades that reduce external noise and cabin vibration. The aircraft are configured in a 12-passenger layout and are specified for helideck operations in constrained offshore settings.

According to Oyeleke, the program also advances local capacity development: "This launch is a definitive victory for Nigerian content and local capacity. By bringing the H160 to Nigeria, we are opening doors of global opportunity for our local pilots, engineers, and technical teams. We are investing heavily in improving our home-grown talent to master one of the most advanced commercial aircraft on the planet", he said.

He noted that the impact extends beyond Nigeria, citing Bristow’s record of training more than 600 Nigerian pilots and engineers. The company reaffirmed continued recruitment and upskilling in alignment with NCDMB and Chevron human capital development initiatives, with the objective of transferring the specialized technical competencies required to operate and maintain advanced medium-twin rotorcraft into the domestic aviation ecosystem.

Oyeleke also recognized key institutional partners in the certification and introduction process. He acknowledged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Airbus and Milestone Aviation, for their enduring partnership and high operational standards; guidance in driving sustainable prosperity and Nigerian capacity building; and exceptional support and rigorous oversight through all five phases of the certification process. "The collaboration, professionalism, and forward-thinking regulation provided by these institutions were instrumental to introducing the Airbus H160 and advancing safety, innovation, and industry development in Nigeria", he said.

In closing, he offered a forward-looking perspective on the sector: "the sky is no longer our limit, it is a canvas upon which we will continue to shape and transform the future of Aviation support in Nigeria", he said.