Omni Táxi Aéreo, Brazilian affiliate of Omni Helicopters International (OHI), Latin America's leading air mobility solutions provider announces that it has been awarded two contracts from Petrobras to operate unmanned aerial vehicles ("UAVs") on offshore missions. The missions will perform beyond-line-of-sight ("BVLOS") flights, carrying 50 kg payloads to offshore facilities and conducting flights between facilities. These will be the first UAV missions of this kind in Brazil.

The contracts awarded by Petrobras, Brazil's leading energy company, were signed with Omni Taxi Aéreo and will be supported by OHI Unmanned, OHI´s drone division. As well as cargo transportation, the project will gather data on UAV and helicopter airspace sharing which represents a crucial step in the development of regular unmanned air logistics.

OHI is at the forefront of sustainable solutions supporting the orderly energy transition – this project is expected to open the door to significantly reduced costs and CO2 emissions for smaller and urgent payloads replacing the use of conventional helicopters and boats. 

Commenting on the contract, Roberto Coimbra, CEO of Omni Táxi Aéreo, said: "Our nearly 20-year relationship with Petrobras has been guided by innovation and we are pleased that they have chosen us for this journey."

For his part, João Welsh, CEO of OHI Unmanned, said: 'We are very pleased to collaborate with Petrobras. With brilliant innovation and state-of-the-art technology, we can seamlessly integrate unmanned vehicles into mission-critical missions, delivering first-class service to customers and contributing to sustainable outcomes.”

The first operational flights are expected in the second quarter of 2024.