The Export-Import Bank of the United States (US Exim) has provided financing for a fleet of US helicopters.

The loan of US$23.2mn was issued to Brazilian company Omni Helicopters International (OHI), which will assign them to its subsidiary, Omni Taxi Aereo (OTA). The helicopters will be constructed by Philadelphia’s Agusta Westland and will be used to facilitate the offshore drilling of Brazil’s state-owned Petrobas.

Fred Hochberg, US Exim chairman, says: “With this transaction, we’ve guaranteed employment for skilled American workers. We’re pleased not only to help support these well-paying jobs, but also to level the playing field for an American manufacturer in the highly competitive energy-industry aircraft market.”