Bond and CHC Super Puma helicopters forced to return to shore | Aberdeen & North | News | STV
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Two North Sea offshore helicopters have been involved in separate incidents which forced them to return to Aberdeen on Wednesday.
A Super Puma helicopter was escorted back to shore after an oil pressure warning light illuminated mid-flight. The Bond-owned aircraft had been returning from the Borgholm Dolphin at around 9.30am on Wednesday when the incident occurred.
At the time, 16 passengers and two crew were on board the Eurocopter manufactured craft.
After the warning light activated the aircraft’s pilot dropped 1000ft as a precaution and was escorted back to Aberdeen by a CHC owned helicopter to be met by emergency ground crew.
A spokesman for Bond said: “Bond Offshore Helicopters can confirm that one of its AS332L2 aircraft, registration G-REDK, landed safely at Aberdeen earlier yesterday with all passengers and crew disembarking normally.
“In line with standard procedure, emergency services were in attendance at Aberdeen airport as a precautionary measure, following notification that the crew had observed a standby pump warning light whilst en route. Engineers will examine the aircraft fully before it returns to service.”
The second incident involved a CHC Scotia helicopter, which was ferrying 15 people, with two crew, to the Elgin field, before the journey was aborted.
A spokesman for CHC helicopter said: "An AS332L2 flight made a non-emergency return to base after an indicator light came on in the cockpit.
"The aircraft landed safely at Aberdeen Airport just after 3pm and will be inspected by CHC engineers. There were 17 people on board."
RMT offshore organiser Jake Molloy said he was unhappy with the lack of transparency within the offshore helicopter industry.
He said: “I'm putting this to the Helicopter Safety Steering Group. What this highlights is that the communication process is not working. We should not be hearing this second-hand from concerned parties.
“I have heard that another two helicopters have developed technical problems today. Two flights are delayed.
“I am unhappy with people boarding these things without knowing what is going on. Our members are just being told that they have 'gone tech'. There should be openness and transparency.”