North Sea shortages - Bristow
BBC Report 29 May '06
Helicopter crisis hits oil firms
A leading helicopter firm said a shortage of equipment and crews could damage North Sea oil industry.
A severe shortage of helicopters and pilots threatens the North Sea oil and gas industry, a leading firm has said.
The high price of oil means offshore activity is unprecedented, stretching supplies and crews to the limit.
Bristow, one of the world's leading helicopter operating companies, said it was "scouring the world" for helicopters, crews and technicians.
It claimed that the entire industry was struggling to cope with the lack of both aircraft and crew.
Bristow provides helicopter transportation, maintenance, search and rescue and aviation support, as well as oil and gas production management services worldwide.
Aberdeen's heliport is one of the busiest in the world and the oil and gas sector is heavily reliant on helicopters.
Bristow also urged offshore companies to improve their forward planning, claiming the potential shortfall could have been avoided if firms considered their long term needs.
In a separate move, the coastguard agency recently agreed a five-year leasing contract with CHC Scotia which will run to 2012 providing a fleet of new helicopters to replace its existing helicopters provided by Bristow.
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