Bristow Group Inc. and Volocopter, the pioneer of Urban Air Mobility (UAM), have signed an agreement to explore and develop passenger and cargo services for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the U.S. and U.K.

As part of this collaboration, Bristow has placed a firm order for two VoloCity aircraft to be delivered after certification with an option to purchase a further 78 vehicles in the future. Both parties will begin immediate cooperation to build a UAM ecosystem that includes regulatory discussions, infrastructure exploration, and local partnership building.

The joint development agreement covers the exploration of commercial, operational, and eVTOL aircraft maintenance services, including adaptation of the VoloIQ, Volocopter’s proprietary digital platform, to ensure Bristow’s efficient future operations. This collaboration brings forth a wealth of aviation expertise – Bristow’s reliable vertical flight operations and an existing global service network, as well as Volocopter’s dedicated development and certification of a safe, quiet, and sustainable eVTOL aircraft.

The eVTOL is a rapidly growing segment of electric aviation. With no emissions in flight and an ultra-low noise signature, the addition of the VoloCity to Bristow’s operational fleet opens doors to new routes and service opportunities within urban environments.

Volocopter expects to receive final certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2024, while concurrent certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could enable the Company to start commercial services in the U.S. shortly thereafter.

Bristow Group Inc. has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Elroy Air to pre-order 100 Chaparral hybrid-electric cargo VTOL aircraft.

The Chaparral will be the first of its kind vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft dedicated to cargo movement to be introduced into Bristow’s aircraft fleet. Bristow plans to use the Chaparral to serve logistics, healthcare, and energy applications. Additionally, the Chaparral provides a solution to challenges helicopter operators are facing across the world, including reducing emissions by introducing hybrid-electric powertrain and helping offset the pilot shortage by introducing autonomous aircraft for cargo operations.

The Chaparral is the flying part of an integrated, high-throughput autonomous aerial logistics system. The vehicle can land, deposit cargo, pick up another load, and take-off again, all in just a few minutes and without operator interaction. Although operated autonomously, the Chaparral can also be remotely piloted to comply with civil aviation authorities and airspace integration policy.

To date, Elroy Air has secured agreements to supply 900 aircraft to commercial, defence and humanitarian customers. The LOI is expected to be replaced with a separate purchase agreement.

The Chaparral features distributed electric propulsion, with eight vertical lift rotors, four forward propellers for cruise flight, a high-wing airframe configuration, as well as automated ground autonomy and cargo-handling systems. Its airframe is fabricated using carbon composite materials.

Bristow Group Inc. announced today it completed an offshore revenue flight using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), marking one of the first SAF-powered flights to an offshore operation in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). The aircraft flew from Aberdeen to installations operated by bp.

As part of its strategic relationship with Air bp, Bristow used sustainable aviation fuel¹, fully certified to Jet A1 standards, as part of a demonstration utilizing a Bristow S-92.

Further flights are scheduled over the next two weeks with a view to SAF being provided as an option to all Bristow clients in the future.

Utilizing SAF for operational flights is one of many global initiatives, including an increased use of electric-powered ground support vehicles at select operating bases, as part of the Bristow’s efforts to significantly reduce its carbon emissions.

Sustainable aviation fuel is made from feedstocks such as used cooking oil and household waste, and its adoption is a key element in the global aviation industry’s commitment to reducing its total carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2050.

Bristow is the world’s largest helicopter operator and one of the UKCS’ most active aviation providers, with a broad client base throughout the United Kingdom.

Bristow used sustainable aviation fuel (grade Jet A-1/SAF) meeting Defense Standard 91-091 and ASTM D1655 standards for aviation turbine kerosene as part of a demonstration flight utilizing a Bristow S-92. The SAF blend supplied is 35% SAF and the SAF component provides a lifecycle carbon reduction of approximately 80% compared to the traditional jet fuel it replaces.

Bristow Group Inc. has announced that it has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, successfully completing its debt restructuring process and implementing the Chapter 11 reorganization plan confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on October 4, 2019.

Bristow has reduced its debt significantly and is emerging with $535 million of new capital, which it believes will provide significant financial flexibility to support its global operations. The Company also announced it has amended and reinstated its $75 million term loan as of its emergence.

L. Don Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bristow, said, “We are beginning this new chapter of Bristow’s proud history having achieved our key restructuring goals: a stronger balance sheet and improved liquidity that will enable us to continue providing industry-leading service to our global client base. I would like to commend our global team for its unwavering focus on delivering safe and efficient service to our clients and passengers as we navigated the restructuring process.”

Miller continued, “We are committed to further building on our global leadership role in offshore oil and gas transportation and search and rescue. As we have throughout this process, we remain focused on being ‘best in class’ for all our stakeholders, particularly our employees, customers and new owners as we continue to look for ways to drive innovation and efficiencies across the global business.”

In accordance with the Plan of Reorganization, Bristow’s new Board of Directors has assumed its responsibilities. The new Board will be chaired by Aris Kekedjian, and includes Wesley E. Kern, Robert J. Manzo, Lorin L. Brass, G. Mark Mickelson, Brian D. Truelove, Hooman Yazhari and L. Don Miller, who will continue to serve on the Board. Former Bristow director Ian A. Godden will continue to serve as chairman of Bristow Aviation Holding Limited, Bristow’s U.K. affiliate, and serve in an advisory role to Bristow.

Bristow Group Inc. has announced that the Company has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Bristow intends to use the proceedings to restructure and strengthen its balance sheet and achieve a more sustainable debt profile, while continuing to provide safe, reliable and professional industrial aviation services to its global clients well into the future.

All of Bristow’s businesses are operating in the ordinary course and are anticipated to continue to do so for the duration of the Chapter 11 process. The Chapter 11 filings pertain to certain of Bristow’s legal entities in the United States and two of its Cayman Islands subsidiaries.

Bristow’s other non-U.S. entities, including those holding Bristow’s non-U.S. air operating certificates (“AOCs”), are not included in the Chapter 11 filings.

The following eight entities are included in the filing: Bristow Group Inc., BHNA Holdings Inc., Bristow Alaska Inc., Bristow Helicopters Inc., Bristow U.S. Leasing LLC, Bristow U.S. LLC, BriLog Leasing Ltd. and Bristow Equipment Leasing Ltd.

Bristow Group Inc. is the world’s leading industrial aviation service provider offering helicopter transportation, search and rescue (SAR) and aircraft support services to government and civil organizations worldwide.

Bristow’s strategically located global fleet supports operations in the North Sea, Nigeria and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico; as well as in most of the other major offshore oil and gas producing regions of the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Russia and Trinidad. Bristow provides SAR services to the private sector worldwide and to the public sector for all of the U.K. on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

All photos by the airline.