Airbus Helicopters reports renewed interest in the H225 Super Puma for offshore oil and gas operations, nearly a decade after a 2016 Norway crash grounded many units. Aircraft are returning to service in China, Vietnam, Africa, and Brazil, with Shell approving the type for potential use in the sector.
“We have aircraft coming back in China, Vietnam, Africa and Brazil, and Shell has approved it again as a potential aircraft to fly in the oil and gas market,” says Michel Macia, head of the Super Puma program. Airbus implemented safety enhancements, including an enhanced main gearbox (eMGB), updated cockpit screens, and a 160kg increase in maximum takeoff weight.
The rebound aligns with oil and gas sector recovery and Sikorsky S-92 supply chain issues, particularly gearbox shortages. “With the difficulties the S-92 may have, we may be, for heavy aircraft, the only solution in the market, or at least we want to be the alternative solution,” Macia states. Of the global H225 fleet of about 350, roughly 20 operate in oil and gas, down from 80% pre-2016.
Military demand remains robust, with 58 H225/M orders in the prior year, including 38 from Germany’s Bundespolizei (plus six options, deliveries from 2029) and 12 from the Netherlands. Annual Super Puma family production stands at 25 units, with output projected into the 2040s. “It is at the same time legacy and the future of Airbus [Helicopters],” Macia notes.
The H225 also gains traction in firefighting and utility roles, capable of 4t water loads with civil certification advantages over surplus UH-60 Black Hawks. Airbus Helicopters logged 544 gross orders in 2025, up nearly 20%.