UPDATE 1-Bristow Group Q3 profit tops Wall Street view

(Recasts, adds details)

Feb 5 (Reuters) - Bristow Group Inc (BRS.N: Quote, Profile, Research), a provider of helicopter services to the offshore energy industry, said quarterly earnings nearly doubled, beating Wall Street estimates, helped by increased rates and demand for helicopter services, and the addition of new aircraft.

The Houston, Texas-based company reported third-quarter net income of $20.1 million, or 66 cents a share, compared with $10.5 million, or 31 cents a share, a year ago.

Revenue rose 24 percent to $261.5 million.

Excluding items, earnings from continuing operations were 92 cents a share, the company said in a statement.

Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 80 cents a share, excluding items, on revenue of $245.8 million, according to Reuters Estimates. (Reporting by Nachiket Kelkar in Bangalore; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott)