SASless.
Good stuff, specific topics and discussion points. Common standards based on the best available is what we would all want. Unfortunately as most know some local airworthiness authorities are behind the drag curve. So can a client insist that his safety and operating requirements exceed. Bugger, not so, answer, very nasty and political trying to upgrade the local authority requirements. Maybe the oil company could insist on contract, accept cost penalty and create an even playing field on contract response submission and acceptance. Will this happen NO; the money men are the deciding factor so is real safety a commitment? Possibly NO. Evidence client commitment to accept a higher bid and higher standards.
Operators, outside of a well and defined safety culture and authority that actually has an acceptable airworthiness system will use the advantages available to reduce costs, its life. So unless the oil clients have the commitment to safety and unless the above is there culture, then lower standards and the hazards involved will prevail.
So the end analysis follows yours. Operators of helicopters will I feel want to maintain best standard of safety. In a well regulated environment then it should work (assuming that all regulation requirements are followed) once away from this environment, e.g. Nigeria and similar, oil companies really don’t give evidence that they have any commitment to a true safety culture.
Would have expected that as GOM was in the US that a third world safety culture was difficult to grasp in that area. Still a crap safety record must demonstrate a failing and some response?
O