Helicopter Crash North sea
Discussion
Nightmare, really sobering listening to the Northsound news on the way home. I understand that the mayday did come from the aircraft but that was all the contact that was made. I was on the phone to one of my site managers when the call came from the costguard for assistance, we released our supply boat to respond and opened the helideck on one of the sites for refuel. Really sad day, several lives have been lost but a lot more changed forever Things like this put issues into some real perspective and bring home that everytime we jump on one of these things there is an element of risk. When we run the QRA numbers flying is one of the highest risk exposures we have.....
Sad, very, very sad.
Interesting that the ditching 2 months back and now this crash are both latest generation aircraft with all the latest safety systems. Most of the North Sea guys bounce back and forth in 20 year old airframes that rarely miss a beat! Most companies justified the additional expense for introducing and running these airframes based on improved designed in safety and capabilities. This one may have some repurcussions for similar aircraft, albeit it will be a wee while until they have much of a clue of root cause.
Edit ------ apparently this one was an L2 Super Puma so it is one of the earlier ones, albeit an upgraded version. So same company but different generation of airframe.
Sad, very, very sad.
Interesting that the ditching 2 months back and now this crash are both latest generation aircraft with all the latest safety systems. Most of the North Sea guys bounce back and forth in 20 year old airframes that rarely miss a beat! Most companies justified the additional expense for introducing and running these airframes based on improved designed in safety and capabilities. This one may have some repurcussions for similar aircraft, albeit it will be a wee while until they have much of a clue of root cause.
Edit ------ apparently this one was an L2 Super Puma so it is one of the earlier ones, albeit an upgraded version. So same company but different generation of airframe.
Edited by Steve996 on Wednesday 1st April 19:03
Edited by Steve996 on Thursday 2nd April 06:07
Always scares the living crap outta me when i hear this type of news, a close friend of mines' brother often works out on the rigs, I dread thinking he may be on one of the heli's
Is not a job I would want to do, and with the news of known 8 dead I feel for all the families especially of those still unaccounted for.
Is not a job I would want to do, and with the news of known 8 dead I feel for all the families especially of those still unaccounted for.
Edited by Mutley on Wednesday 1st April 21:05
ali_kat said:
PH has a few members that work offshore up there, although only one springing to mind atm is Stang, whose profile is unavailable.
Am hoping that all 'ours' are safe and sound, and my heart goes out to those who have lost a loved one today
As one who travels offshore, there is a sinking feeling in teh pit of my stomach.
I think a lot of people (both in the industry and out) sometimes forget just how f
king inhospitable the North Sea is.
Miller's fairly far North but this heli went down only 15 miles from Peterhead, pretty close to home.
A dreadful event for all and my thoughts are with the families, colleaugues and friends.
king inhospitable the North Sea is.Miller's fairly far North but this heli went down only 15 miles from Peterhead, pretty close to home.
A dreadful event for all and my thoughts are with the families, colleaugues and friends.
onlynik said:
ali_kat said:
PH has a few members that work offshore up there, although only one springing to mind atm is Stang, whose profile is unavailable.
Am hoping that all 'ours' are safe and sound, and my heart goes out to those who have lost a loved one today
As one who travels offshore, there is a sinking feeling in teh pit of my stomach.
I know what you mean, that always happens whenever we hear of a tanker/container going down, in case it means Dad has lost another old ship mate (not as badly as when he was on them tho
)Lefty Guns said:
I think a lot of people (both in the industry and out) sometimes forget just how fking inhospitable the North Sea is.
Miller's fairly far North but this heli went down only 15 miles from Peterhead, pretty close to home.
A dreadful event for all and my thoughts are with the families, colleaugues and friends.
''king inhospitable the North Sea is.Miller's fairly far North but this heli went down only 15 miles from Peterhead, pretty close to home.
A dreadful event for all and my thoughts are with the families, colleaugues and friends.
'
'
There are VERY few people who know how nasty the North Sea can be.
You have to be there in a bad one to really know.
uk_vette said:
Lefty Guns said:
I think a lot of people (both in the industry and out) sometimes forget just how fking inhospitable the North Sea is.
Miller's fairly far North but this heli went down only 15 miles from Peterhead, pretty close to home.
A dreadful event for all and my thoughts are with the families, colleaugues and friends.
''king inhospitable the North Sea is.Miller's fairly far North but this heli went down only 15 miles from Peterhead, pretty close to home.
A dreadful event for all and my thoughts are with the families, colleaugues and friends.
'
'
There are VERY few people who know how nasty the North Sea can be.
You have to be there in a bad one to really know.
By the way, there's a thread running in the Scotland forum. A PH member has lost a mate.
Tragic.
Lefty Guns said:
uk_vette said:
Lefty Guns said:
I think a lot of people (both in the industry and out) sometimes forget just how fking inhospitable the North Sea is.
There are VERY few people who know how nasty the North Sea can be.king inhospitable the North Sea is.You have to be there in a bad one to really know.
By the way, there's a thread running in the Scotland forum. A PH member has lost a mate.
Tragic.
Oh no!
robertybob said:
Tragic loss, sitting offshore at the moment and due home next week on a Puma, it is a sobering thought.
This one was a Mk 2 (L2) Puma. Just been copied on the initial press release holding statement from Bristows. The only one of those models that they have works in the Noggy sector, not sure if Scotia have any.robertybob said:
Tragic loss, sitting offshore at the moment and due home next week on a Puma, it is a sobering thought.
Yes indeed, I got back home a week ago today, chopper crew change in the Gulf of Mexico. I've just spent two days refreshing my Sea Survival and HUET course. After losing one guy off our own crew last week, MOB, these safety courses don't seem such a bad idea all of a sudden.As a regular offshore worker it does make me feel sick knowing that a normal copper flight has ended so badly for 16 people. After a while you just get used to the flights, I've slept through all but two flights in the last 3 years! Sobering dosn't come close.
I'll be going back out in 2 weeks.
I'll be going back out in 2 weeks.
Have flown in hundreds of chopper flights in the North Sea. Nothing else to say about them but that they are terrible. For those who don't know, they hold around 19, when there is real space for around 14, you are trussed up like a Xmas turkey with survival suit, full size lifejacket etc, the seats are too small (to make the space-saving)They are noisy (you have to wear ear defenders for the whole flight (no in-flight entertainment here!!)no teas/coffees etc. Ours in particular is around a two hour flight. All in all a thoroughly horrible experience as I'm sure most people who have experienced it will know.
I know there will be calls like "Well don't do it then!!", however it's a means to an end, and for some of us it's all we know.
There have been many issues over the years with helicopter flights. At one time there was to be a central hub, Sumburgh Airport, on Shetland, where lots of platforms are dotted around within a short hop flight.Then it would be onward to Aberdeen by conventional aircraft. But as usual, Sumburgh saw this as a money making exercise and upped the rates accordingly. The oil companies then responded by demanding aircraft (helicopters) that could fly direct offshore, missing Sumburgh completely. This is where we are at the moment. The helicopter in question the L2 Super Puma can service most platforms in the north sea directly.However, the penalty paid is that the workers,(and let's not forget the two crew members)have to spend much longer suspended under a spinning rotor.
As usual all these things are subject to monetary issues, but it's at times like this that it all strikes home.I am in the north sea right now (not literally!!) and the mood is very sombre. Although we probably don't personally know any of the casualties, we all have sympathies with their respective families who will now have to try and deal with this.
Statistically, with thousands of men changing out every week, on hundreds of chopper flights, it is probably one of the safest methods of transport, but it still hits home like a dagger, when anything like this occurs.
That's it, rant over....I'll get my coat....
Phil
I know there will be calls like "Well don't do it then!!", however it's a means to an end, and for some of us it's all we know.
There have been many issues over the years with helicopter flights. At one time there was to be a central hub, Sumburgh Airport, on Shetland, where lots of platforms are dotted around within a short hop flight.Then it would be onward to Aberdeen by conventional aircraft. But as usual, Sumburgh saw this as a money making exercise and upped the rates accordingly. The oil companies then responded by demanding aircraft (helicopters) that could fly direct offshore, missing Sumburgh completely. This is where we are at the moment. The helicopter in question the L2 Super Puma can service most platforms in the north sea directly.However, the penalty paid is that the workers,(and let's not forget the two crew members)have to spend much longer suspended under a spinning rotor.
As usual all these things are subject to monetary issues, but it's at times like this that it all strikes home.I am in the north sea right now (not literally!!) and the mood is very sombre. Although we probably don't personally know any of the casualties, we all have sympathies with their respective families who will now have to try and deal with this.
Statistically, with thousands of men changing out every week, on hundreds of chopper flights, it is probably one of the safest methods of transport, but it still hits home like a dagger, when anything like this occurs.
That's it, rant over....I'll get my coat....
Phil
I notice lots of calls in the press for these Super Pumas to be grounded until the cause of crash can be established.
If the authorities did ground them is there any alternative machine with the range/passenger capacity they have that could be used for these flights or would it mean effectively closing/lowering production on the rigs as well, assuming such trips are not practical by boat?
What I am saying is, is 'Bond' under financial pressure to keep these things in the air even with something 'unknown' happening, bit like the old De Havilland Comet disasters from the 1950's?
If the authorities did ground them is there any alternative machine with the range/passenger capacity they have that could be used for these flights or would it mean effectively closing/lowering production on the rigs as well, assuming such trips are not practical by boat?
What I am saying is, is 'Bond' under financial pressure to keep these things in the air even with something 'unknown' happening, bit like the old De Havilland Comet disasters from the 1950's?
A truely sad, sad day. My thoughts go out to the families and work collegues of this tragedy. We all know the risks involved but I think most of us are under the impression "It will never happen to me".
For me I hope there is a proper 3rd party investigation done and not just the usual media witch hunt blamegame.
RIP
For me I hope there is a proper 3rd party investigation done and not just the usual media witch hunt blamegame.
RIP
THX138 said:
I notice lots of calls in the press for these Super Pumas to be grounded until the cause of crash can be established.
If the authorities did ground them is there any alternative machine with the range/passenger capacity they have that could be used for these flights or would it mean effectively closing/lowering production on the rigs as well, assuming such trips are not practical by boat?
What I am saying is, is 'Bond' under financial pressure to keep these things in the air even with something 'unknown' happening, bit like the old De Havilland Comet disasters from the 1950's?
I heard that the first chopper that went down, a few weeks back, just landed on the water near to the rig, as visibility was so bad, hence why all 18 guys survived. No idea how true that is though.If the authorities did ground them is there any alternative machine with the range/passenger capacity they have that could be used for these flights or would it mean effectively closing/lowering production on the rigs as well, assuming such trips are not practical by boat?
What I am saying is, is 'Bond' under financial pressure to keep these things in the air even with something 'unknown' happening, bit like the old De Havilland Comet disasters from the 1950's?
The ones we use in the GoM are 12 seater Sikorskys, and I'd hate to do an emergency ditch in one of them as the windows seem somewhat sparse compared to the quantity of people who are going to be rushing to get through them, especially if it rolls.
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