You are correct Speechless Two, historically the additional operators encouraged by the Oil Companies to come on to the North Sea are far more than most people recall. The Oil Companies do not like the potentiality of monopolies or comfortable cartel type operations.
In 1974/75, McAlpines (MacAlpines?)Helicopters were encouraged to break up the only two operators on the North Sea of British Airways Helicopters and Bristow Helicopters. Against a lot of opposition from these two, but encouraged by the Oil Companies, they finally received authorisation for a North Sea Air Operators Certificate (AOC). In the end they did not enter the North Sea operations.
Management Aviation/North Scottish Helicopters (later to be renamed Bond Helicopters,were then encouraged and established themselves for Conoco out of Strubby and became the Offshore Basing specialists in the Northern North Sea, with MBB 105 helicopters. With expansion it was considered that this needed competition. BEAS (British Executive Aircraft Services) were then encouraged and the path made clear for them to provide Offshore Basing competition. At the beginning they were paid in excess of four times the price of the MBB105 with a Bell 212. In fact it was such a premium price that Bristows took an interest and bought them out. Now back to three operators.
To further weaken this as no one was forthcoming, despite all sorts of opposition and lobbying to all and sundry, Occidental and Shell started using the services of Greenland Air with two and sometimes three S61s. Eventually, enough ground was covered to force Greenland Air out. Back to three operators.
This did not last long as a small Perth Operator owned by the Dixon Car organisation and only familiar with Jetranger operations were encouraged to enter the foray with Bell 212s. This operation operated under the name of Gleneagles Helicopters. They lasted until formidable opposition could be mustered in the form of British Caledonian Helicopters. Bristow then bought out British Caledonian Helicopters.
After this there was the KLM Helicopters entrance into the North Sea. Also Veritair obtained a North Sea AOC and they always threatened to be the vehicle to provide an additional operator, however, Brintel but paid to this by buying them out.
So historically the Oil Companies have always wanted more than two operators on the North Sea and in the busy periods wanted to have four operators.
What about today, who could enter? Possibilities are numerous, however the three credible possibilities that I see are the revamping of Bond Helicopters. Alternatively, with the supposed level playing field for Europe with JAR, I would not be surprised to see a European operator entering. My favourite bet is a combination of these, it will be a European based operation (more than likely with a Spanish umbrella), funded and managed by the old Bond owners/management. That would be the ideal solution for the Oil Companies and the worse combination for North Sea pilots to get themselves sorted out. Believe me, the current window will not last forever and any gains to be made must be made now, however, apathy reigns.
[This message has been edited by DV (edited 19 July 2000).]