Following the double-digit fatality involving a CHC-operated Norwegian Super Puma helicopter at the end of April, UK and Norwegian Civil Aviation Authorities have implemented restrictions on two helicopter types that will prevent operators from using it for commercial flights.
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Image from CHC. |
Restrictions have been put on the Airbus EC225LP helicopter, which was involved in the fatal accident on 29 April, and the AS332L2 Super Puma, due to their close similarities.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, neither helicopter will be allowed to used by UK or Norwegian operators for commercial flights. These restrictions, however, do not apply to search and rescue flights.
“We assume that new information has come to light for this decision to be taken and we support that decision,” Mick Borwell, Oil & Gas UK health, safety and environment policy director said. “We must wait for the facts to emerge but in the interim we will work with all stakeholders on the issues that may now arise.”
“Oil & Gas UK had already set up a helicopter resilience group that met earlier this week to discuss how logistics are being managed. We will be meeting again at the earliest opportunity to discuss this latest development. We will do all that we can to support our members in enabling the workforce to travel safely,” Borwell said.
The helicopter crash that occurred in the afternoon, halted production at Statoil’s Gullfaks B, one of the largest producing fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Of the 13 killed, 11 worked for Halliburton, Aker Solutions, Schlumberger, Welltec, Karsten Moholt and Statoil. Two pilots were employed by CHC.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing one of the Super Puma's blades come off before it crashed. Statoil mobilized its emergency response team, and grounded all other helicopters of the same type, as did BP and Shell, with both UK and Norwegian Civil Aviation Authorities imposing a ban on the unit's use in commercial passenger flights. Airbus also recommended a temporary blanket ban, but on 2 May, lifted the recommendation.
The week following the aircraft disaster, CHC filed for Chapter 11 in the US. The company was also delisted from the New York Stock Exchange earlier this year after it failed to keep a market capitalization of US$15 million.
Read more:
Helicopter crash kills 13, Norway
CHC files for Chapter 11 relief
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