Equinor delegates Lufttransport and Santos hires Weststar for offshore helicopter services
Equinor has contracted Tromsø, Norway-based Lufttransport RW to operate five new helicopters supplied by Leonardo. These will transport personnel to facilities offshore from Sola Airport and Florø.
The type AW189 aircrafts are among a new generation that will operate on the Norwegian shelf. Last year, Equinor signed agreements to procure 15 new helicopters, including 10 Bell 525 aircraft.
What are some of the main risks of offshore helicopter flights?
Some of the main risks that lead to offshore helicopter accidents include:
- Weather conditions / poor visibility;
- Extreme temperatures, which can lead to equipment failure; and
- Oil rig gases, which can affect both pilots and equipment.
Learn more in the "Helicopters & Oil Rigs: The Dangerous Commute for Offshore Workers" article by the Arnold & Itkin law firm.
It will also perform search and rescue operations for Equinor starting early next year.
The AW189, used widely throughout the offshore industry worldwide, offers good levels of passenger comfort, noise reduction and support systems for the pilots, Equinor said.
The first two helicopters will arrive in Norway this spring, and they will start operations during the summer and fall. The remaining three helicopters will be delivered and in service in 2026.
In addition, Equinor has an agreement with leasing specialist Milestone Aviation Group to assume ownership of the five AW189 helicopters.
Equinor’s round-trip journeys to and from the Norwegian shelf amount to 160,000 flights annually.
The first four new Bell helicopters should be delivered next year, with the other six to follow during 2027-2030.
AW189 and Bell525 are both super medium-type aircraft with 16 passenger seats.
Weststar-GAP Aviation inks helicopter contract with Santos
Weststar Aviation Group has signed a helicopter transportation services contract with Santos NA (19-12) Pty. Ltd.
Weststar-GAP Aviation LDA is a joint venture between Timor GAP-Timor Gas Petroleo, E.P., and Weststar Aviation Timor, Unipessoal, LDA.
Weststar says this contract will strengthen its position in the offshore helicopter services industry and marks a milestone for its joint venture.
Operations under this contract are scheduled to begin on Feb. 1.
The $40 million contract is structured for an initial 12-month period with options for two six-month extensions, and it will provide helicopter transportation services supporting Santos’ offshore operations in the Bayu-Undan region.
Recap of helicopter news in the offshore industry over the past year
About the Author
Jeremy Beckman
Editor, Europe
Jeremy Beckman has been Editor Europe, Offshore since 1992. Prior to joining Offshore he was a freelance journalist for eight years, working for a variety of electronics, computing and scientific journals in the UK. He regularly writes news columns on trends and events both in the NW Europe offshore region and globally. He also writes features on developments and technology in exploration and production.
Ariana Hurtado
Editor-in-Chief
With more than a decade of copy editing, project management and journalism experience, Ariana Hurtado is a seasoned managing editor born and raised in the energy capital of the world—Houston, Texas. She currently serves as editor-in-chief of Offshore, overseeing the editorial team, its content and the brand's growth from a digital perspective.
Utilizing her editorial expertise, she manages digital media for the Offshore team. She also helps create and oversee new special industry reports and revolutionizes existing supplements, while also contributing content to Offshore's magazine, newsletters and website as a copy editor and writer.
Prior to her current role, she served as Offshore's editor and director of special reports from April 2022 to December 2024. Before joining Offshore, she served as senior managing editor of publications with Hart Energy. Prior to her nearly nine years with Hart, she worked on the copy desk as a news editor at the Houston Chronicle.
She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Houston.