Jay Schempf, Special Correspondent
When Apache North Sea Ltd. needed a rugged, roomy full-service helicopter to service its operations in the UK sector of the North Sea, it lost no time going to CHC Helicopter Corp., which already provides Apache with contract offshore helicopter services.
A leading worldwide offshore helicopter service-provider, CHC Helicopter Corp. filled Apache’s bill with a medium sized, twin-engine aircraft, a Sikorsky S-92 - the first model of its type to be used for UK offshore petroleum operations.
The four-year Apache contract, to begin September 1, puts the S-92 at Apache’s logistics center in Aberdeen, Scotland.
According to CHC officials, the S-92 has a range of new technological assets, enhanced safety features, and a spacious cabin for passenger comfort. The company already operates four S-92s in Norway and one in Malaysia, and recently announced a new contract to provide an additional three for Maersk Oil & Gas AS for use in Danish offshore operations.
The S-92 for Apache supplants a Super Puma AS332L2 aircraft, the company says, but CHC’s fleet of Super Pumas will continue to provide additional support for Apache operations.
New aircraft technology for UK sector
“We have provided services for Apache since 2003, when it began operating in the North Sea,” says Keith Mullett, CHC managing director of European Operations. “Introduction of the S-92 represents the outset of a new technological era for helicopter services in the UK offshore province.” The company anticipates the S-92 also will become a common feature of CHC activities during the coming years, he says.
Meanwhile, the Super Puma remains an important element of the company’s North Sea operations, he adds, noting that CHC operates the world’s only non-OEM facility for repairing and overhauling Super Pumas - the No. 1 aircraft for the offshore industry - in Stavanger, Norway.
Another workhorse in CHC’s helicopter fleet is the Sikorsky S-76, a smaller but equally fast (up to 178 mph) model with a range (350-plus mi) to match. The company recently announced a contract for eight S-76C+ helicopters in support of Petrobras’ operations in the Atlantic off Brazil.
World’s largest offshore helicopter fleet
With headquarters in Vancouver, BC, Canada, CHC Helicopter Corp. is the world’s largest provider of helicopter services to the offshore petroleum industry, operating some 220 aircraft in 35 countries. It is the leading helicopter service provider in the North Sea area, where its fleet is mobilized from 17 bases in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, and The Netherlands. CHC also provides helicopter aircraft around the world for search and rescue (SAR) operations.
In addition to providing aircraft for its clients, CHC also provides total helicopter support through Heli-One, its independent leasing and repair/overhaul company - the world’s largest helicopter support company other than the original manufacturers. Heli-One owns, manages, and supports the CHC fleet, plus aircraft operated by third-party customers.
Included among Heli-One services are integrated logistics support, aircraft leasing, repair and overhaul, heavy maintenance, design and engineering, helicopter parts inventory management, and safety and survival equipment. According to the company, this means advanced aircraft, greater flexibility, and increased aircraft availability with less downtime.
For more information, contact CHC Helicopter Corp. at 604-276-7500 or view the Web site atwww.chc.ca.
