Helicopter Crash North sea

[THX138]

Steve996 said:

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?

If the Pumas were grounded then the North Sea would pretty much grind to halt.....

I doubt very much if there is a financial angle here

Interesting speculation/comments here...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7994779.stm

Edited by THX138 on Saturday 11th April 14:01

[Steve996]

THX138 said:

Steve996 said:

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?

If the Pumas were grounded then the North Sea would pretty much grind to halt.....

I doubt very much if there is a financial angle here

Interesting speculation/comments here...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7994779.stm

Edited by THX138 on Saturday 11th April 14:01

Got to say that I cannot understand why commercial pressures are being cited. In recent times, speaking independantly but with perspective from an oil and gas company, we are paying more per flying hour than we've ever done so I cannot see how there can be a perception of cost challenge. Certainly when a competitive tender goes out from one of the oil companies there is the potential for one of the heli operators to attempt to undercut and possibly compromise, but that certainly doesn't apply to the BP/Bond relationship as far as I am aware. The regulatory regime in relation to these machines drive the maintenance schedules and from the presentations I've seen there is no scope for compromise on the inspection regime.

The only commercial pressures I'm aware of in recent times is that most oil and gas companies are trying to reduce their actual flying hours and thus their costs as they pull back on activity in a lower commodity environment.

Also bear in mind that "Super Puma" actually covers a range of 3 aircrafts in use in the North Sea, the Mk 1 Puma, the Mk 2 Puma (it was one of these that crashed) and the EC225 latest gen aircraft. As far as I understand the airframe that crashed was one of the newer ones in service.

Edited by Steve996 on Saturday 11th April 16:53

[Mr POD]

Girl at work's sister's husband was one of the dead.

[AdeTuono]

Mr POD said:

Girl at work's sister's husband was one of the dead.

Thanks for that.

[thinfourth2]

THX138 said:

Steve996 said:

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?

If the Pumas were grounded then the North Sea would pretty much grind to halt.....

I doubt very much if there is a financial angle here

Interesting speculation/comments here...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7994779.stm

Edited by THX138 on Saturday 11th April 14:01

Yet again the unions are calling for all their members to be paid off and be made unemployable.

Well not that actually but if all the helicopters are grounded in the north sea then how exactly are half of their members going to get to work to make money and how are the other half going to get home to see their families. I think if the oil companies did exactly what the unions are calling for there would be alot of very angry oilmen.

I hate how as soon as a accident happens how everyone is trying to get their face in the papers. Like Alex Salmond who immediately went to Aberdeen when word of the crash first came out. Why? Is he some expert in helicopters who would be invaluable in the search or finding out the cause of the crash. Nope he is bloke who worked in a bank that moved into politics who was desperate to get his face in print