Super Pumas – End of an Era?
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Today Oil and Gas People watched as two red Bond AS332 L2 Super Pumas were unloaded in Aberdeen after being transported from their base in Sumburgh, Shetland. The helicopters were transported by Freight Ship with main rotors and tail rotors stripped off and were headed for Babcocks Humberside base where they would be put into long term storage.
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The helicopters pictured with tail numbers G-REDJ and G-REDN were photographed in Sumburgh last week prior to being transported. G-REDN was found to be involved in an incident in December 2007 where according to Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) report EW/G2007/12/08, “The aircraft became unstable rolling, then pitching, excessively before it could be brought under control. 12,000 ft.).”
The airframes which are subject to EASAs Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) 2016-0104-E are currently prohibited from flying for an undefined period. The EAD comes as investigations continue into the crash of a Super Puma EC 225 in Norway which killed 13 people. Footage of the helicopter seconds prior to the crash showed the main rotor completely separate from the aircraft during flight.
The Super Puma airframe has been plagued by a series of other accidents over the years. In August 2013 four North Sea Workers were killed and fourteen personnel rescued after a Super Puma L2 experienced a sudden loss of air speed and had to ditch in the North Sea. In April 2009 sixteen North Sea Workers were killed after their AS332 L2 helicopter had a ‘catastrophic failure’ of the aircrafts main gearbox and crashed into the North Sea. There have also been several other accidents involving the Super Puma air frame outside of the North Sea.
Over the past few weeks Oil and Gas People have been informed of various other Super Puma Helicopters being transported through Aberdeen with a total of ten Super Pumas now in permanent storage in Babcocks Humberside facility.
The EAD issued by EASA stipulates that one ferry flight is permitted to a maintenance location, however Babcock has been unable to fly the aircrafts to their maintenance location as Insurance Providers have refused to cover the flights in light of the EAD.
As the once iconic red Super Pumas left Aberdeen, Oil and Gas People couldn’t help but view this as the end of an era for the aircraft. With a now questionable safety record that has resulted in the deaths of many offshore workers, there is a complete reluctance from workers to travel in the aircraft and were the airframes to have their airworthiness certificate reinstated, it is suspected that pressure from the North Sea Workforce would force helicopter operators not to return the Super Puma to use.
An industry insider advised Oil and Gas People that Babcock had previously been in talks with the Spanish Military about a potential sale of its Super Puma Fleet.
Whatever the future for the Super Puma, it is hoped by many that this will be the last time the aircraft will be travelling in or above Aberdeen.
