Now that the 332 family has been burned at the stake and proven not a witch
Are you sure about this? The lack of confidence in the Super Puma's ability to remain in the sky may have reduced with recent announcements but the discomfort felt by passengers is still clearly evident. Read the following two quotes, the second of which is in one of today's broadsheets.
Flying in the back of an L2 is a horrible claustrophobic experience. It's just about tolerable if the flight isn't very full, however when every seat is taken it's a very uncomfortable experience, physically and mentally.
The nervousness among oil workers about flying and speaking openly about their concerns was highlighted in some of the media interviews during the aftermath of last week's accident.
"The EC225 is a flying death trap," one oil worker with 20 years' experience told the BBC. "The internal layout means [passengers] in the back … are so close that your knees are interlocked with the passenger sitting opposite you."
As we know, there will always be a risk that the helicopter will end up in the ocean somehow. Irrespective of the cause, the passengers should be able to escape unhindered when conditions and circumstances are less benign than the two EC225 ditchings. If they can't it is not a safe situation. The second quote is a combination of the rational and irrational. Of course it's not a flying death trap. Yet remove the emotion from his voice and study the evident fact - there are too many passengers crammed in to North Sea helicopters. 19 on a Super Puma is enough to make your eyes water. If change is needed, this may be somewhere to start. Cost will undoubtedly increase if fewer are carried but costs will increase further if the workforce refuse to travel on the predominant North Sea helicopter. Reduce the numbers.