Where are all the Pumas

[keys]

The Puma fleets are being reduced in the north sea so where are they going. They must be worth a lot of money to just store in a hanger somewere.

[Hot_LZ]

Sure you've not had a look when they're all out working? I haven't seen any reduction over the past while. Given, Bristow are retiring the Tigers and Scotia their L2 but still plenty of 225.

LZ

[RVDT]

I think you may find a few were traded back and end up in Canada at Vector Aerospace to be refurbed.

Vector is owned by Eurocopter and is the old Okanagan, CHC, ACRO, etc etc.

See here (http://www.vectoraerospace.com/AboutUs/OurHistory.aspx) for history.

Some have probably ended up leased by Starlite Aviation Ireland through Eurocopter / ABH Ireland / Vector and are on "peace-keeping" contracts.

Pretty much the same path as old 61's.

There is a lot you could do with the old 332's but some people lack the imagination! :ugh: :confused:

[nowherespecial]

Big push to get EC225 back to work from everyone who was affected by the grounding. It is taking some time.

Better to have an idle L/L1/L2 than an idle EC225 (most of which are leased not owned - thus you pay if you use it or not). EC225 lease payments for 6 months is probably worth the same as the total $ value of an L, 10 months for an L2.

Secured revenue against a cost (leasing the EC225) is better than a $ write down on an owned asset (most of the L type fleets came from a time before leasing was the flavour of the month).

[Nescafe]

Two more Pumas go into the back of a hangar today. The L and L2 in Port Harcourt that escaped the fire are being retired. Crews have a mixed bag of luck, some are made redundant, 2 go to Australia and some go on the S76. The ticket to a S76 conversion rather than redundancy seemed to be possession of a South African passport.

[terminus mos]

Many of the 332Ls are 32 years old and are getting hard to support. Some of the larger offshore operators are using them for spares to keep the remainder of the fleet serviceable. The remaining "remains" are being stripped and going to the scrappy.

[Helilog56]

Vector has 8 here in Langley, British Columbia...some refurbished and others in progress.....!!!!

[rotorboy]

h56

i thought most of the Pumas these days were scouring the pubs of the lower mainland look for young helicopter pilots to seduce :E

RB

[exlatccatsa]

Are there any SA330J's still flying?

[ericferret]

Starlite, Helog

[Helilog56]

ROTFLMAO RB......:ok: