NHV AS365N3 Dauphin fleet updates

Since 2014, the bright yellow coloured Dauphin helicopters of Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) have been a familiar sight at Den Helder and the Pistoolhaven in the harbour of Rotterdam (The Netherlands).

The Dauphins were used for transporting rescue crews for Search and Rescue (SAR) missions and ferrying ship's pilots towards ships entering the Rotterdam harbour.

The SAR missions were flown under a contract with the Kustwacht (NLCG, Netherlands Coastguard).

From June 2019 up to five different Dauphins have been available for missions for the Kustwacht: OO-NHM (c/n 6740), OO-NHU (c/n 6665), OO-NHV (c/n 6510), OO-NHX (c/n 6706) and OO-NSZ (c/n 6420).

The operations ended on 4 November 2022 as the contract with the Kustwacht was not renewed. OO-NHM remained at the Pistoolhaven in Rotterdam for shipborn guide ferries while the helicopter is listed for sale. Radar information shows OO-NHV (also fore sale) operating out of Pistoolhaven with OO-NHU reported to do the same. 

The first of the returned helicopters has found a new owner in Canada; OO-NHX was cancelled from the Belgian Aviation Register on 10 February 2023 and reported as sold to Canadian firm Talcon Helicopters. Helicopter OO-NSZ is also listed for sale and is awaiting her fate in Ostend with occasional flights to maintain airworthy.

Most transport tasks of the NHV AS365N3 have been taken over by the H175 and AW139/169 series.

Photo by Ron Frijlink