As reported in Fridays Scotsman.
Bond brothers plan a N Sea helicopter return
Two years after they bowed out of North Sea air logistics following the takeover of their business by Canadian interests, helicopter entrepreneurs, the Bond brothers, are preparing for a comeback.
They have set up a new company named Bond Offshore Helicopters. If the brothers finally commit, the next stage would be to acquire the necessary aircraft and pitch for oil company contracts.
At the earliest, Bond could be back ferrying North Sea offshore workers next year. This would mean re-establishing a presence in Aberdeen.
It is understood that oil companies will welcome Stephen and Peter Bond back as they would restore greater competition to the UK sector of the North Sea, which is now dominated by just two companies - Bristow and Scotia, which is part of Canada’s CHC Helicopter Corporation.
Although the Competition Commission gave the $100 million 1999 CHC takeover of Bond and Norwegian parent Helicopter Service Group the green light, oil company bosses were then privately worried that the cost of North Sea air logistics services would rise because the number of providers had been cut to just two.
An industry source told The Scotsman yesterday that the Bond brothers were looking at the idea of re-entering the North Sea following approaches by oil companies. It is not known whether are also looking at developing a presence in other offshore oil and gas markets, such as West Africa, where a string of huge discoveries have been made over the past few years.
However, a spokesman for the Bonds declined to be drawn on their plans, saying only that the brothers would "clarify" their intentions next week.
The Bond Helicopters livery effectively disappeared from the North Sea when the business was merged into CHC’s, leading to around 100 job losses in Aberdeen.
Even though the Bond, which the brothers set up during the early years of the North Sea, was acquired by the Norwegian company in 1994, its aircraft retained their distinctive cheerful red livery.
Despite exiting offshore air logistics in 1999, the Bonds kept their privately-owned UK onshore business. This specialises in the provision of twin-engined helicopters for ambulance services, including in Scotland, plus police, offshore lighthouse servicing support, tanker pilotage transfers and general charter.