# HeliOperations

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{{Short description|British helicopter company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = HeliOperations
| key_people = Stephen Gladston (CEO)
| industry = [Helicopter Services](/source/Helicopter_Services)
| footnotes = 
| website = https://helioperations.co
| founded = 2008
| hq_location = [Isle of Portland](/source/Isle_of_Portland), [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom)
}}

HeliOperations Westland Sea King at Farnborough Air Show in 2018|thumb
'''HeliOperations''' is a British helicopter company{{efn|HeliOperations is a trading name of Developing Assets (UK) Limited}} based on the [Isle of Portland](/source/Isle_of_Portland), [Dorset](/source/Dorset), [England](/source/England), at the old Naval Air Station of [RNAS Portland (HMS ''Osprey'')](/source/RNAS_Portland_(HMS_Osprey))<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/15903607.helicopter-company-given-the-go-ahead-to-use-former-coastguard-site-as-training-facility/|title=Helicopter company given the go-ahead to use former coastguard site as training facility}}</ref>. It offers training for aircrew and groundcrew, including live flying training conducted from its own heliport in Portland as well as overseas; in addition, it provides synthetic training at its simulator facility located in Culdrose. Furthermore, it supplies equipment, regulatory assistance, and operational management services to governments, significant aviation operators, and private individuals.

== History ==
From 2017 HeliOperations primarily operated three former [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) [Fleet Air Arm](/source/Fleet_Air_Arm) [Westland Sea King](/source/Westland_Sea_King) helicopters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Familiar sight to return to the skies of Cornwall &#124; Royal Navy |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2017/july/26/170726-helicopters-return-to-cornwall-skies}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=navaltoday |date=2017-07-27 |title=Former Royal Navy Sea King Mk5s leased to HeliOperations UK |url=https://www.navaltoday.com/2017/07/27/former-royal-navy-sea-king-mk5s-leased-to-helioperations-uk/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Naval Today |language=en-US}}</ref> Operations took place at the former [RNAS Portland (HMS ''Osprey'')](/source/RNAS_Portland_(HMS_Osprey)). The aircraft were owned by the [Ministry of Defence](/source/Ministry_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom)), but were leased to the company to provide training services to the [German Navy](/source/German_Navy) [Marineflieger](/source/Marineflieger) and other private customers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Helitech 2017: HeliOperations provides Sea King training for German Navy - Shephard Media |url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/training-simulation/helitech-2017-helioperations-provides-sea-king-tra/}}</ref> Following the retirement of the helicopters from the Fleet Air Arm, HeliOperations is the last operator of Westland Sea King helicopters in the United Kingdom.

In May 2022, the company acquired an [AgustaWestland AW139](/source/AgustaWestland_AW139) SAR helicopter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=HeliOps |date=2022-05-26 |title=HeliOperations AW139 SAR {{!}} Helicopter Training of International Military |url=https://helioperations.co/blog/aw139-sar/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Heli Operations |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In late 2022, two of the companies Sea King helicopters were transferred to the [Ukrainian Air Force](/source/Ukrainian_Air_Force).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herk |first=Hans van |date=2022-11-23 |title=Sea Kings for Ukraine |url=https://scramble.nl/military-news/sea-kings-for-ukraine |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=scramble.nl |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=GJM |date=2023-05-14 |title=Sea King in Ukrainian colours! |url=https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/sea-king-in-ukrainian-colours |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=www.scramble.nl |language=en-GB}}</ref>

On 8 August 2025, it was announced that HeliOperations has been awarded a five-year contract valued at £41 million. The Fleet Helicopter Support Unit (FHSU) contract will involve HeliOperations providing training support for UK and [NATO](/source/NATO) global operations by delivering two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters, along with technical support, maintenance, pilots, and crew to Navy Command. These new helicopters will replace a single [Dauphin N2](/source/Eurocopter_AS365_Dauphin). Set to operate from Portland starting in spring 2026, the contract, which has the potential for extension until 2036 and could be worth up to £68 million, will facilitate the transfer of personnel and equipment to warships and vessels at sea, thereby offering maritime rotary wing support to [Fleet Operational Standards and Training](/source/Commander_Fleet_Operational_Standards_and_Training) (FOST).<ref>{{Cite web |title=£41 million contract supports 95 Dorset jobs and boosts Royal Navy helicopter support services |url=https://des.mod.uk/41-million-contract-supports-95-dorset-jobs-and-boosts-royal-navy-helicopter-support-services/?portfolioCats=78%2C735%2C69%2C734 |website=des.mod.uk |access-date=8 August 2025}}</ref>

In summer 2025, HeliOperations began constructing a new hanger on their premises<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cuenca |first=Oliver |title=HeliOperations to begin construction of new facilities |url=https://www.airmedandrescue.com/latest/news/helioperations-begin-construction-new-facilities |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=www.airmedandrescue.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=TidyDesign |date=2025-05-30 |title=New Hangar Development Underway at Portland Base |url=https://helioperations.co/blog/new-hangar-development-underway-at-portland-base/ |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Heli Operations |language=en-GB}}</ref>. The construction also includes the installation of a new air traffic control tower and a flight simulator, as well as better facilities for employees and flight crew<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-20 |title=Flight simulator and new control room to be included in heliport redevelopment |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/25868444.changes-made-original-heliport-site-plans/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Dorset Echo |language=en}}</ref>. The aim is to have the hanger fully complete by 2027.

== Fleet ==

=== Current fleet ===
* 3 x [AgustaWestland AW139](/source/AgustaWestland_AW139) (Airframe number G-GSAR,{{cn|date=June 2026}} G-ESAR,{{cn|date=April 2026}} and G-YSAR{{cn|date=June 2026})
* 2 x [Westland Sea King](/source/Westland_Sea_King) (Airframe number XV666<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Westland Sea King HU.5 - Navy Wings |url=https://www.navywings.org.uk/aircraft/all-aircraft/westland-sea-king-hu-5/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015002948/https://www.navywings.org.uk/aircraft/all-aircraft/westland-sea-king-hu-5/ |archive-date=2018-10-15 |website=www.navywings.org.uk}} </ref>) and ZA137{{cn|date=June 2026}} - Leased from the [Ministry of Defence](/source/Ministry_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom)) under CFAOS.

=== Former fleet ===

* 2 x Westland Sea King (Airframe numbers ZA166 and XZ920) - Formerly leased from the [Ministry of Defence](/source/Ministry_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom)) under CFAOS.{{cn|date=June 2026}}

== Locations ==

HeliOperations is currently dispersed across three distinct locations:

* [Portland](/source/RNAS_Portland), [Dorset](/source/Dorset), - the former Royal Navy air station is currently used to deliver the training of [Search and Rescue](/source/Search_and_Rescue) (SAR) pilots to the [Federal German Navy](/source/Federal_German_Navy) (FGN). <ref>{{Cite web |title=Portland |url=https://helioperations.co/locations/portland/ |website=helioperations.co |access-date=8 August 2025}}</ref>
* [RNAS Culdrose (HMS ''Seahawk'')](/source/RNAS_Culdrose_(HMS_Seahawk)), [Cornwall](/source/Cornwall), - HeliOperations are the owners and operators of the former Royal Navy Sea King helicopter [simulator](/source/simulator) situated at RNAS Culdrose.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cudlrose |url=https://helioperations.co/locations/culdrose/ |website=helioperations.co |access-date=8 August 2025}}</ref>
* [Somerton](/source/Somerton%2C_Somerset), [Somerset](/source/Somerset), - Maintenance & Storage facility in the town of Somerton. The facility encompasses more than 3000 square meters dedicated to maintenance, logistics, and office functions, and it is equipped to accommodate a [Merlin](/source/AgustaWestland_AW101) sized aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Somerton |url=https://helioperations.co/locations/somerton/ |website=helioperations.co |access-date=8 August 2025}}</ref>

== Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

Category:Helicopter operators

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{{UK-company-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [HeliOperations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeliOperations) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeliOperations?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.