Airlift AS

Airlift AS is a Norwegian helicopter operator with its main base at Førde Airport Bringeland in Vestland county. Established in 1986, it describes itself as the largest northern European provider of domestic helicopter services. The company reports a fleet of 21 helicopters and around 150 employees, with helicopters stationed at eight bases south of Trondheim and further bases in Bergen, Tromsø and Hammerfest.

Services

• Inland: passenger transport, concrete and material transport, line inspection, line building and mast assembly, film and photo assignments, flights for polar expeditions and heavy lifting
• Offshore: flare stack replacement on offshore installations together with sister company Vertech Offshore AS, for more than 20 years
• Pilot transfers to larger vessels on the Norwegian coast, operated for the Norwegian Coastal Administration since 2017 and extended by a contract signed in January 2025
• Police readiness at its Bergen, Tromsø and Hammerfest bases
• Search and rescue, including experience from Svalbard

Fleet

• AS350 B3 Ecureuil: 17 aircraft, single-engine, five passengers, lift capacity 1,250 kg
• AS332 C Super Puma: 1 aircraft, twin-engine, heavy lift up to 3,900 kg, can be equipped for limited search and rescue
• AW169: 3 aircraft, twin-engine, VFR and IFR, eight passengers

Airlift says it operates the only heavy lift helicopter in northern Europe with a lift capacity over four tonnes.

Technical and training

The company holds EASA Part-21 design approval and Part-145 maintenance approval, with a technical team of 35. It also runs an approved training organisation: pilots serving the inland segment start as task specialists, the ground crew who handle loads.