The ten-month grounding of the North Sea EC225 helicopter fleet has officially come to an end with the first flight from Aberdeen today.
Safety chiefs stopped the 16 helicopters from flying over water after two ditchings last year.
Last month the European Aviation Safety Agency approved a proposed interim measure to repair gear shaft problems which had caused the ditchings.
A series of town hall meetings were staged last week aimed at reassuring offshore industry workers that the repairs had eliminated the problems, ahead of flights resuming.
“The return to service comes after months of investigating, testing, modifying, and collaborating – by Eurocopter, helicopter operators, oil-and-gas companies, regulators, and groups representing pilots, offshore workers and others,” the company said in a statement.
“The flight included CHC pilot, Will Hanekom, who is meeting with offshore workers. He is there to answer any questions about the process for the EC225s safe return to full commercial service – from the thorough investigation to the safety barriers now in place.
“From the start, CHC has been committed to resuming overwater flights with EC225s only when it was safe to do so.
“That we are able to fulfil that commitment first among helicopter-services operators is a credit to the preparation, thoroughness and diligence of CHC’s people.”
The company said it expected more flights in the next few weeks.
Managers from Total were on board the first helicopter, which flew to the Alwyn North platform.
“The flight has taken senior managers and a CHC chief pilot to the installation in order for us to start our communication exercise with our offshore workers regarding the return to service of the EC225 fleet,” said a Total spokeswoman.
“This will give the offshore workforce the opportunity to consult with senior management and to ask questions regarding the EC225’s return to service.
“This is the first in a series of visits over the coming days and weeks to allow us to cover all our operational assets in the North Sea.”
The EC225s were grounded after two offshore ditching incidents last year – one in May, around 30 miles off Aberdeen and the other in October near Shetland.
Last week SonAir became the first operator to return to action with the helicopters, with three flights from Luanda to a platform off the coast of Angola.
See our video from last week’s town hall meeting below
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