Evening Telegram St John's (today)
"The oil companies held townhall meetings in St. John's with hundreds of offshore workers Monday about resuming helicopter flights offshore - something that could happen as early as next week.
Helicopter flights were suspended following the March 12 helicopter crash that killed 17 of 18 offshore workers and crew aboard a Cougar Helicopters Sikorsky S-92A bound for the White Rose and Hibernia oilfields.
The townhall meetings have a three-fold purpose, according to the head of the Hibernia Management and Development Company (HMDC).
"The purpose of the briefing tonight was to provide information to our workforce based on the industry's review of helicopter operations, firstly," said Paul Sacuta, president of HMDC.
"Secondly, it was to answer their questions ... and the third thing was to be able to discuss why the industry is confident that it's safe to get back on a helicopter."
He declined to elaborate, saying employees will get the details first.
Sacuta and other oil company executives are flying offshore this week, weather permitting, for more townhall-style meetings."I'm confident because I've seen all the work that was done by the task force and by the industry in general," he said. "That's the message we're going to take offshore."
Meetings are scheduled today for Husky Energy employees at the White Rose oilfield, Wednesday for Terra Nova and Thursday for Hibernia workers.
The Telegram has learned that offshore workers could be given a one-time right to refuse a helicopter flight, if they don't feel comfortable with it. But they won't be able to refuse a second flight.
The companies weren't commenting on any of the details of their presentations to employees Monday."[/font]