Last week marks a proud milestone for NHV as we celebrate the successful upgrade of OO-NSV from a BK117 D2 to a D3 variant—an achievement that showcases the exceptional teamwork and technical expertise of our Part-145 team at Hangar 5 in Ostend.

Thanks to the outstanding collaboration across departments, we received the official certificates from the BCAA with zero additional aircraft grounding time. OO-NSV is now fully certified and ready for its next mission from Pistoolhaven as our second operational D3 aircraft.

Our CAMO team collaborated closely with the BCAA, Part-145, NHV’s fleet team, and Airbus Helicopters to ensure full alignment on every detail. By coordinating the modification, maintenance, and service bulletins to run in parallel, we achieved significant time savings—reducing the overall timeline by several weeks.

The BK117 D3 upgrade brings key advantages over its D2 predecessor:

– Five-Blade Main Rotor: The D3 introduces a bearing-less, five-blade rotor system that offers a smoother ride, lower vibrations, and simplified maintenance.

– Weight Optimisation: With a 100 kg increase in maximum takeoff weight and a 50 kg reduction in empty weight, the D3 delivers a total payload advantage of 150 kg over the D2.

– Improved Performance: Enhanced stability in gusty conditions makes the D3 better suited for operations in challenging weather.

– Greater Efficiency: The D3 is engineered for faster, safer, and more effective missions, particularly in demanding environments like air medical rescue.

Congratulations to everyone who played a part in this remarkable achievement. Your dedication, professionalism, and hard work made this success possible.

NHV’s combined efforts turned a complex and demanding project into a seamless success, one that can be replicated for third-party helicopter operators.

As NHV enters a period with minimal internal maintenance scheduled for the second half of 2025 and into 2026, we are opening our hangar doors to third-party operators. This presents a unique opportunity for helicopter owners and operators to benefit from our expertise, even on short notice.

Our experienced team offers turnkey Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services, including upgrades from the H145 D2 to the latest D3 variant. NHV is ready to deliver with the same standard of excellence and efficiency that defines our internal operations.

With available maintenance slots in both 2025 and 2026, now is the perfect time to schedule your aircraft for maintenance with a trusted name helicopter maintenance.

Reach out for more information: Ostendmxsupport@nhv.be