01/02/2026
Last year we completed a comprehensive Airbus AS355NP Twin Squirrel upgrade for Heliventures NZ Ltd. , transforming a proven platform into a modern, highly capable utility aircraft.
The project included a full exterior and interior repaint, giving the aircraft a clean, refreshed look, along with the first STC BLR FastFin kit installation for the Twin Squirrel, delivering improved yaw stability and tail rotor authority, particularly noticeable during external load operations.
Up front, we designed and installed a custom low-profile, max-visibility instrument panel, built around a full Garmin Aviation glass cockpit. The upgraded panel features a G500H TXi with GI 275 backup, supported by GTN 750Xi and GTN 650xi navigators, streamlined, intuitive, and optimised for demanding utility work.
Operational capability was further enhanced with a new VHF-FM radio, a cockpit video camera for improved operational oversight, three-port customer bleed air outlets, and a complete external load electrical control system. The fit-out was rounded out with a Boggi Aeronautics steerable cargo mirror, giving the pilot precise, flexible visibility during longline operations.
A serious, end-to-end upgrade that blends performance, situational awareness, and real-world working capability built to work hard from day one.