UK helicopter operator Bond Air Services has ordered a Eurocopter EC135 to be used exclusively for wind farm maintenance in the UK, the first such application in the country, says Eurcopter.

Slated to begin operations late in 2009, the twin-engine EC135 will be used for maintenance operations including delivery of personnel and equipment by winch to the burgeoning Greater Gabbard wind farm near the East Anglia coast, slated to be the world’s largest wind farm when completed by the end of 2010.

ec135 small©Eurocopter

Located around two sand banks known as the Inner Gabbard and The Galloper, 20mi from land in the North Sea, the field will consist of 140 3.6MW wind turbines.

Source: FlightGlobal.com