Bristow Responds to Challenge of EC225 Fleet Suspension
Bristow Responds to Challenge of EC225 Fleet Suspension Bristow Responds to Challenge of EC225 Fleet Suspension
days of the landing incident, Bristow had ordered an additional 10 Sikorsky S-92s to be delivered between July 2013 and December 2014, in the process. This is an incredible effort and really demonstrates the commitment of the engineers and support staff in Aberdeen.” and secured options for another 16 for 2015 and beyond. “It has been a big job bringing back the AS332s, and both EBU and Bristow quickly diverts all available aircraft COBU did a fantastic job with the overhauls and rebuilds,” Duncan says. The suspension of EC225 flights hit Bristow’s base in Aberdeen, Scotland, the hardest, grounding 12 aircraft out of a fleet of 14. Bases in Norway, Australia and Malaysia each removed two or three EC225s from service. Bristow’s recent acquisition of Cougar in Nova Scotia also proved timely. “We were able to transfer aircraft from Cougar in Canada to Aberdeen on a short-term basis, which gave us additional capacity,” Duncan says. The first priority was to replace the suspended EC225s in Aberdeen. Bristow was able to divert new heavy and medium aircraft from its “In the Canadian Atlantic, they operate in similar conditions to the North Sea, so the aircraft were easily adaptable.” operations in the Gulf of Mexico and Nigeria, bringing the Aberdeen fleet to its current level of active aircraft. As part of this effort, Bristow also brought back into service six AS332 Super Pumas that were slated for sale. One of the biggest challenges was getting the AS332s refurbished and recertified. Bristow pilots retrain Since pilots are trained for a specific aircraft type, each pilot moving to a new type of aircraft is required to undergo training that could take from weeks to months. Because of demand, a unique challenge then arose in finding training aircraft and simulators. “Working with our colleagues in EBU and AUSBU, our COBU team in Aberdeen is bringing these six aircraft back into service in about six months,” says John Cloggie, Director of Bristow’s Centralized Operations Business Unit (COBU). “Thousands of man hours are being expended “Every available aircraft is doing crew change operations, so is not available for training,” Duncan says. Again, Bristow’s investment in training and resources has paid off. “Fortunately, we have our own Bristow World 2013 Issue 1 7
simulators for some aircraft types. We also have strong relationships with external training consultants. For the Sikorsky S-92, for example, we’ve booked every simulator slot we can get in the world.” and everyone is looking to ramp up their activity. All markets are in a growth cycle for the first time in a number of years, putting extra strain on resources and significantly changing the supply demand balance. Duncan notes that all of Bristow’s business units have been working together to find pilots for certain aircraft types in addition to getting aircraft where they are needed. Pilots are also providing support to clients by visiting bases and talking with passengers. All of which raises the question: When will the EC225s return to offshore transport? As of Bristow World’s publication date, word from the UK Civil Aviation Authority is that it will not lift EC225 operating restrictions until Eurocopter is able to show it has a fix. Duncan commends the quick response by Bristow global operations. “The fact that we’ve been able to respond at the level we have is a testament to our people on the front lines and the careful planning In the meantime, Bristow is not waiting for resolution of the issue; it’s already adapting its business strategy to cover the EC225 gap and accommodate its clients as they move farther offshore. and investment in resources that will continue to be part of our commitment to operational excellence. We really are saving our clients from production platform and drilling rig shutdowns.” And despite the challenges, Bristow continues to strive to achieve Target Zero on safety. Jon Stripling, Director, Global Standards, Quality, Safety & Training, says the situation “is being managed carefully and properly by the Bristow has commitments for six AW189s to be delivered starting in 2014 and five EC175s to be delivered starting in 2015. Over the next two years, a significant number of brand-new aircraft – S-92s, AW139s and 189s, EC175s and S-76Ds – will be added to its global fleet to meet market demand and address clients’ offshore requirements. organization, but we have to remain vigilant to the extra pressures that have been placed on some areas of our business. We must continue to reinforce that safety comes first.” “I believe the whole situation will have a profound effect long term on the helicopter service industry. Among other things, it has brought home how helicopter service impacts the bottom line for offshore oil and gas Future is unknown Cooperation among clients, regulators and even operators has helped ease the pressure on the system, making space available on helicopters operations,” Duncan says. “We’re already seeing clients shift from a single model to a mixed fleet so they will be able to fly if something like this happens again.” for offshore crew changes. But the busy summer season is just ahead “The fact that we’ve been able to respond at the level we have is a testament to our people on the front lines and the careful planning and investment in resources that will continue to be part of our commitment to operational excellence. We really are saving our clients from production platform and drilling rig shutdowns.” – Mark Duncan, SVP, Commercial 8 Bristow World 2013 Issue 1
days <strong>of</strong> the landing incident, <strong>Bris<strong>to</strong>w</strong> had ordered an additional 10<br />
Sikorsky S-92s <strong>to</strong> be delivered between July 2013 and December 2014,<br />
in the process. This is an incredible effort and really demonstrates the<br />
commitment <strong>of</strong> the engineers and support staff in Aberdeen.”<br />
and secured options for another 16 for 2015 and beyond.<br />
“It has been a big job bringing back the AS332s, and both EBU and<br />
<strong>Bris<strong>to</strong>w</strong> quickly diverts all available aircraft<br />
COBU did a fantastic job with the overhauls and rebuilds,” Duncan says.<br />
The suspension <strong>of</strong> <strong>EC225</strong> flights hit <strong>Bris<strong>to</strong>w</strong>’s base in Aberdeen, Scotland,<br />
the hardest, grounding 12 aircraft out <strong>of</strong> a fleet <strong>of</strong> 14. Bases in Norway,<br />
Australia and Malaysia each removed two or three <strong>EC225</strong>s from service.<br />
<strong>Bris<strong>to</strong>w</strong>’s recent acquisition <strong>of</strong> Cougar in Nova Scotia also proved timely.<br />
“We were able <strong>to</strong> transfer aircraft from Cougar in Canada <strong>to</strong> Aberdeen<br />
on a short-term basis, which gave us additional capacity,” Duncan says.<br />
The first priority was <strong>to</strong> replace the suspended <strong>EC225</strong>s in Aberdeen.<br />
<strong>Bris<strong>to</strong>w</strong> was able <strong>to</strong> divert new heavy and medium aircraft from its<br />
“In the Canadian Atlantic, they operate in similar conditions <strong>to</strong> the North<br />
Sea, so the aircraft were easily adaptable.”<br />
operations in the Gulf <strong>of</strong> Mexico and Nigeria, bringing the Aberdeen fleet<br />
<strong>to</strong> its current level <strong>of</strong> active aircraft. As part <strong>of</strong> this effort, <strong>Bris<strong>to</strong>w</strong> also<br />
brought back in<strong>to</strong> service six AS332 Super Pumas that were slated for<br />
sale. One <strong>of</strong> the biggest challenges was getting the AS332s refurbished<br />
and recertified.<br />
<strong>Bris<strong>to</strong>w</strong> pilots retrain<br />
Since pilots are trained for a specific aircraft type, each pilot moving <strong>to</strong> a<br />
new type <strong>of</strong> aircraft is required <strong>to</strong> undergo training that could take from<br />
weeks <strong>to</strong> months. Because <strong>of</strong> demand, a unique challenge then arose<br />
in finding training aircraft and simula<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
“Working with our colleagues in EBU and AUSBU, our COBU team in<br />
Aberdeen is bringing these six aircraft back in<strong>to</strong> service in about six<br />
months,” says John Cloggie, Direc<strong>to</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>Bris<strong>to</strong>w</strong>’s Centralized Operations<br />
Business Unit (COBU). “Thousands <strong>of</strong> man hours are being expended<br />
“Every available aircraft is doing crew change operations, so is not<br />
available for training,” Duncan says. Again, <strong>Bris<strong>to</strong>w</strong>’s investment in<br />
training and resources has paid <strong>of</strong>f. “Fortunately, we have our own<br />
<strong>Bris<strong>to</strong>w</strong> World 2013 Issue 1 7
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