European Heli Center Norway

What European Heli Center Norway does

European Helicopter Center AS, trading as European Heli Center Norway (EHC), is a privately-held EASA Approved Training Organisation (ATO) founded in 1993 and headquartered at Sandefjord Lufthavn Torp (Hangarveien 13), Norway. The company operates as the largest helicopter flight academy in Northern Europe and the largest member of the Leading Helicopter Academies (LHA) pan-European network, with approximately 50 active students enrolled at any given time and ~26 staff. EHC trains aspiring and experienced helicopter pilots for commercial careers across offshore, air ambulance, police, tourism, and general aviation segments, leveraging demanding Nordic weather conditions as a real-world training differentiator and maintaining direct employer engagement channels (notably with Bristow Norge) that translate into graduate hiring outcomes.

The academy's product surface spans the full pilot credentialing ladder from ab initio to advanced ratings. Core offerings include the integrated Commercial Pilot License Helicopter (CPL(H)) program, an August 2023-launched bundle combining CPL(H), ATPL VFR theory, EC135 type rating, and MCC VFR, IR(H) theory distance learning delivered through the ATPdigital computer-based platform with a complementary 12-month BGSonline question bank, and the IR(H) Multi-Engine course on the EC135T2+ (40 hours FSTD simulator + 10 hours helicopter IR + 8 hours VFR type rating over 6-8 weeks). The primary training fleet comprises Robinson R44 (transitional launch August 2020), AS355, and EC135T2+ aircraft, supplemented by an on-campus FSTD simulator and the Torp Internat student accommodation. Supplementary offerings include FI(H) instructor refresh seminars, winter operations advisory, and standalone EC135 type rating certification.

EHC's commercial model is sales-led and tuition-driven, with course fees generated primarily through direct student enrollment via website inquiry, admission testing (administered by Pål Windingstad), and on-campus delivery at Torp. Pricing for full programs is not publicly disclosed and is supplied via updated price lists; the publicly visible reference points are the FI(H) refresh seminar (9,600 NOK per participant; 5,500 NOK per participant for groups of 3+) and Torp Internat accommodation (~4,600 NOK/week or 12,000 NOK/month). Training in Norway carries no VAT, and financing is supported through Statens Lånekasse, the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund, whose continued support was reaffirmed in December 2024. The company is privately owned with no disclosed parent, venture, or institutional capital, has no funding rounds in its history, and has not pursued M&A. Founder-era leadership remains in place, with Anette Kruhaug Haldorsen as Managing Director and spokesperson for LHA, Peter Blom as Accountable Manager and Head of Training, and Sara Göransson as CTKI/instructor.

Name

European Heli Center Norway

Legal name

European Helicopter Center AS

Website

https://ehc.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

European Heli Center Norway (EHC) is a privately held, EASA-approved helicopter flight academy founded in 1993 and headquartered at Sandefjord Lufthavn Torp. It is the largest helicopter training school in Northern Europe, training approximately 50 concurrent students from across Europe in CPL(H), IR(H), type ratings, and instructor courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandefjord

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Flight Training Course Fees: EHC generates revenue primarily from tuition and course fees for helicopter pilot training programs including CPL(H) integrated courses, IR(H) theory distance learning, IR(H) ME type rating courses, and FI(H) refresh seminars. Prices are not publicly disclosed on the website for most programs and are provided via updated price lists upon inquiry. No VAT is charged for training in Norway.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

European Helicopter Center AS is a privately-held helicopter flight training academy based at Sandefjord Lufthavn Torp in Norway, founded in 1993. The academy delivers EASA-approved pilot education ranging from ab-initio integrated programs through advanced type ratings on helicopters such as the Robinson R44, AS355 and EC135T2+, including CPL(H), IR(H), FI(H) refresh, MCC VFR, and winter operations courses.

Product overview

European Heli Center Norway (EHC) operates as a flight training academy offering comprehensive helicopter pilot education programs. The academy provides a multi-tiered curriculum including primary flight training on Robinson R44, commercial pilot license (CPL(H)) integrated courses, instrument rating (IR(H)) theory via distance learning and practical multi-engine training on EC135T2+, type ratings, and flight instructor (FI(H)) refresh courses. The flagship product is the IR(H) ME Course combining simulator training and helicopter hours leading to EC135T2+ certification. EHC also offers ATPL theory, MCC VFR training, and winter operations advisory. The academy operates from Sandefjord Lufthavn Torp with accommodation facilities and is the largest helicopter academy in Northern Europe, serving approximately 50 active students from across Europe. The institution is an EASA Approved Training Organisation and founding member of the Leading Helicopter Academies (LHA) network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EHC Academy: The flight academy division of European Helicopter Center offering helicopter pilot training programs including CPL(H), IR(H), and various type ratings.
• Torp Internat

Products and services

• IR(H) ME Course on EC135T2+
• IR(H) Theory Distance Learning
• CPL(H) Integrated Course
• CPL(H) with ATPL VFR, EC135 Type Rating, and MCC VFR
• FI(H) Refresh Seminar
• Winter Operations Training
• Robinson R44 Training

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 helicopter pilots trained across LHA network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leading Helicopter Academies (LHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022EHC is the largest founding member of Leading Helicopter Academies (LHA), a European network of 10 independent helicopter schools. LHA provides a combined fleet of 150+ helicopters, 80+ instructors, and 22 bases across Europe, enabling cross-border training opportunities and a shared pathway for graduates into the European helicopter industry. The LHA network trains over 3,000 pilots and provides 16,000+ training hours annually. Anette K. Haldorsen (EHC CEO) serves as LHA spokesperson.
• Pegasus HelicopterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPegasus Helicopter is based at Sandefjord Lufthavn Torp alongside EHC and serves the domestic Norwegian market with AS355 helicopters. The two companies maintain a collegial relationship within the same airport community.
• Jarlsberg FlyplassminorOthersJarlsberg Airport provided temporary facilities to EHC when Torp Lufthavn was partially closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport had historical ties to EHC as the original site of the helicopter school's founding over 30 years ago.
• Norwegian Aviation & Defence GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian Aviation & Defence Group visited EHC demonstrating their Bell 505 Jet Ranger X. The visit provided students with exposure to additional helicopter types and industry connections in the Norwegian defence and aviation sector.
• Statens Lånekasse (Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund)coreOthersEHC's education programs are supported by Statens Lånekasse, Norway's government student loan and grant agency. This enables Norwegian and eligible students to finance their pilot training, making the programs accessible beyond those who could self-fund. In December 2024, political advocacy ensured the extended loan support was maintained for flight school students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CAE: Global aviation training leader offering pilot training, simulator manufacturing, and crew resource management across commercial aviation. Comparable to EHC in delivering EASA-aligned pilot training programs but with a much broader portfolio including fixed-wing airlines and military training.
• FlightSafety International: Major global aviation training organization offering fixed-wing, helicopter, and simulator-based type rating courses across multiple categories. Overlaps with EHC's advanced type rating and simulator training but operates at much larger scale across diverse aviation segments.

Direct peers

• Hillsboro Aviation: US-based helicopter and fixed-wing flight training academy offering ab-initio through advanced ratings. Closely comparable to EHC in operating a Part 141/ATO-equivalent helicopter training operation serving aspiring commercial pilots, though geographically focused on the US Pacific Northwest.
• Guidance Aviation: Helicopter flight training academy offering private through commercial pilot certificates with university degree pathways. Comparable to EHC in focused helicopter training for career-track pilots, but smaller scale and US-centric.
• Upper Limit Aviation: Helicopter-focused flight training academy offering professional pilot programs from PPL through CFI. Comparable to EHC in targeting career-track helicopter pilots with structured curriculum and university-affiliated degree options, though operating in the US market.
• Bristow Academy: Bristow's helicopter flight training academy providing ab-initio to advanced type rating courses, including S92 and offshore-relevant training. Closely comparable to EHC in operating model, customer profile (aspiring professional pilots), and EASA/FAA-equivalent curriculum delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ehceuropeanhelicoptercente8884
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-helicopter-center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about European Heli Center Norway