Statoil had Previous Plans to Stop Using Super Pumas as of 2017
Norwegian Oil Company Statoil had already awarded a new helicopter contract to Bristow Helicopters only 2 months before Friday’s fatal accident involving a CHC Super Puma.
The contract valued at around NOK 1 billion ($115m) is not due to start until May 1st 2017 and means that passenger flights will be carried out exclusively using Sikorsky S-92 aircraft with the H225 (EC225) Super Pumas reserved only for search and rescue purposes.
Statoil released the below statement in Feb 2016 when the new contract was announced:
“The contract awards will strengthen the competitiveness of the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) through opening up for more efficient flight programme that will help reduce costs for the petroleum business.
“This ensures predictability in relation to long-term activities and adds value on the NCS. We look forward to further develop the cooperation with Bristow Norway, and working closely on the new contracts,” says Astrid Sørensen, Statoil’s senior vice president for joint operations support.
“Since 2013 we have seen the number of passengers to the Norwegian continental shelf drop by 30 percent. Increased flexibility to adjust to changed demands has therefore been emphasised in the contract strategy,” says Jon Arnt Jacobsen, Statoil’s chief procurement officer.
