Originally Posted by
S92PAX
They can return them to service but I know most of the UK offshore workforce are committed to not flying in them again. Pressure is being applied to the UK operators to follow Statoils lead. Confidence has been lost completely and the rush by AH to get them flying again before the accident investigation is completed is doing even more damage to the reputation.
You make a very valid point. From the outset this was one accident too many. Confidence was already very low when it happened. So the problem is not that the H225 is inherently an unsafe aircraft (I can't answer that), it is that a very high percentage of its passengers are absolutely convinced it is. The problem in an already declining NS is that why would an E&P company persist with this aircraft when current market conditions mean they don't have to. To most E&P corporate types another fatal accident involving a Puma gearbox is quite simply unthinkable! You need to get the culture here this isn't just about aviation.