STATOIL has awarded Bristow Norway a 10-year contract worth some £200million for three helicopters to fly from Flesland heliport, in Bergen, from 2012.
The contract involves the deployment of three new Sikorsky S92 helicopters, in addition to a new hangar and office facilities at Flesland.
These aircraft will be fitted with the latest in safety equipment required for operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
According to Hans Jakob Hegge, head of Statoil’s operational development unit, “the transition to new technology is one of the most important measures to improve helicopter safety”.
Statoil’s NCS infrastructure is serviced out of six helicopter bases located along the Norwegian coast. The Bergen base is the largest.
Two helicopter companies are currently contracted by Statoil for the Norwegian sector – Bristow Norway and CHC Norway.
From 2012, Bristow will fly Statoil personnel from Sola, Bergen and Hammerfest, while CHC Norway will fly from Bergen, Floro, Kristiansund and Brønnøysund.