Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

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Matt Thurber

Under a contract signed with European oil and gas operator Equinor, leasing company Milestone Aviation Group will purchase and lease back five new Leonardo AW189 super-medium helicopters. The first two deliveries will take place in 2025 followed by three in 2026.
Equinor will supplement its Sikorsky S-92 fleet with the AW189s as well as 10 Bell 525s that are scheduled for delivery starting in 2026. Lufttransport will operate the AW189s on passenger transport flights from Sola and Florø to the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). This agreement with Lufttransport is for seven years with options for an additional six years and it is valued (with options) at about NOK 7 billion ($4.34 billion). According to Equinor, the Milestone agreement is for “just over” NOK 2 billion, “for a contract duration of up to 20 years.”
“The safety of our employees who travel by helicopter is our utmost priority,” said Ørjan Kvelvane, Equinor senior v-p of operation and maintenance in exploration and production Norway. “New helicopters will make helicopter traffic more robust. Safe, predictable, and efficient transportation is crucial to safely maintain a high activity level on the NCS for many years to come.”

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Equinor Awards Leonardo AW189 Contract to Milestone Aviation

Deliveries begin in 2025 and will be completed in 2026

Equinor will supplement its Sikorsky S-92 fleet with the AW189s as well as 10 Bell 525s that are scheduled for delivery starting in 2026. 

Equinor Awards AW189 Contract to Milestone Aviation

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In this article

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