ABERDEEN
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Aberdeen
Age: 43
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gain jet 75W
The 757 positioned in from Le Bourget and was parked on Echo Apron for 4/5 days. It was specifically ordered for CFC's trip to the land of Borat.
Don't often see VIP 757's into ABZ (excluding trumperton)
It did not run an inbound charter.
Don't often see VIP 757's into ABZ (excluding trumperton)
It did not run an inbound charter.
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: The Midlands
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Edinburgh investment
Wow, 150 mil over 5 years investment at Edinburgh including enlargement of the terminal and attracting new routes and airlines all the time, any chance of a new owner for Aberdeen to rescue the airport?
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: ABZ
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aberdeen Investment?
With runway 23 being closed for aircraft parking recently and probably more often in the future, there is a pressing need for AIA to splash out on new concrete. Whilst they are at it they should consider a further runway extension, enlarging the terminal, a CAT2 landing capability and that extra baggage carousel. Don't go holding your breath though!
Fit like min?
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ...
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We have another helicopter ditching this evening, to the west of Shetland. Reported as a CHC machine, 18 on board.
Lerwick - Aberdeen ferry diverted to head to the scene, lifeboat resources also launched.
I pray all aboard are safe.
Lerwick - Aberdeen ferry diverted to head to the scene, lifeboat resources also launched.
I pray all aboard are safe.
Fit like min?
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ...
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
9 people arrived on Shetland off one of the rescue helicopters - 1 stretcher case, 8 walk-offs.
I hope the other 9 are safe on board the other rescue helicopter, but we'll have to wait & see.
Reported initially as a CHC AS332L2.
I hope the other 9 are safe on board the other rescue helicopter, but we'll have to wait & see.
Reported initially as a CHC AS332L2.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the updates Richard. Truly terrible news for the industry and the Super Puma. I can see a total loss in confidence in the type now so I imagine this will probably be the knockout blow even though it's not an EC225.
Sounds more like a crash than ditching considering t was less than half a mile form LSI. 3 souls unaccounted for. Hoping they turn up safe and well
Sounds more like a crash than ditching considering t was less than half a mile form LSI. 3 souls unaccounted for. Hoping they turn up safe and well
Fit like min?
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ...
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CHC AS332L2
Good morning. Sadly figures revised - 14 rescued, three bodies recovered, one still missing.
Understand was inbound from the Borgsten Dolphin operating for Total at the North Alwyn field.
Couple of the survivors talk about a 'loss of power' a lurch to the left then right, and a sudden fall into the water. The machine then turned turtle.
No mayday called, such was its suddenness.
CHC UK ops closed today - no flights operating.
Over my time following the goings on at Aberdeen at the airport (& from that the oil industry) there have been incidents & accidents involving all types & none. However I also can't help but think - as Capt Doony alludes to - whether the Aerospatiale/Eurocopter SP/L2/225 family are now at journey's end in the UKCS. I remember what happened with the BV234 (Chinook) following its accident off Sumburgh.
It's going to cause yet more transportation disruption offshore, but I cannot think of another safer mode of transport (can you imagine ship - rig/platform/FPSO transfer in a Force 6 -10?). However, if the lads in the back lose all confidence in a type - & the majority of them will be nervous flyers - then that type will struggle to make it back. Personally, I do think this may now be the case with anything SP/225-shaped.
There have been remarkably few accidents given the amount of flying hours there have been down the years - but that is of no comfort to those affected by this & other earlier tragedies.
My condolences to the families of the lost.
Understand was inbound from the Borgsten Dolphin operating for Total at the North Alwyn field.
Couple of the survivors talk about a 'loss of power' a lurch to the left then right, and a sudden fall into the water. The machine then turned turtle.
No mayday called, such was its suddenness.
CHC UK ops closed today - no flights operating.
Over my time following the goings on at Aberdeen at the airport (& from that the oil industry) there have been incidents & accidents involving all types & none. However I also can't help but think - as Capt Doony alludes to - whether the Aerospatiale/Eurocopter SP/L2/225 family are now at journey's end in the UKCS. I remember what happened with the BV234 (Chinook) following its accident off Sumburgh.
It's going to cause yet more transportation disruption offshore, but I cannot think of another safer mode of transport (can you imagine ship - rig/platform/FPSO transfer in a Force 6 -10?). However, if the lads in the back lose all confidence in a type - & the majority of them will be nervous flyers - then that type will struggle to make it back. Personally, I do think this may now be the case with anything SP/225-shaped.
There have been remarkably few accidents given the amount of flying hours there have been down the years - but that is of no comfort to those affected by this & other earlier tragedies.
My condolences to the families of the lost.
Fit like min?
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ...
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CHC AS332L2
Police/CHC holding a conference now. The four have been named, including the first female fatality offshore. The crew among the survivors, so hopefully they can shed some light on what occurred when they are able to do so.
The fourth body believed to be in the main body of the helicopter, which they have managed to secure, although its location apparently precludes its boarding at the moment.
The fact that wreckage was found, coupled with initial comments from one or two of the survivors, does suggest a sudden, uncontrolled or semi-controlled ditch - did they even have time to deploy the floatation, & would they have inflated in time if so, given how close they were to the airport?
So many questions, including future transport - there aren't replacements 'on tap', just as we saw with the 225 hiatus. I just don't think ship - installation transfers are economically or practically feasible.
The fourth body believed to be in the main body of the helicopter, which they have managed to secure, although its location apparently precludes its boarding at the moment.
The fact that wreckage was found, coupled with initial comments from one or two of the survivors, does suggest a sudden, uncontrolled or semi-controlled ditch - did they even have time to deploy the floatation, & would they have inflated in time if so, given how close they were to the airport?
So many questions, including future transport - there aren't replacements 'on tap', just as we saw with the 225 hiatus. I just don't think ship - installation transfers are economically or practically feasible.
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: The Midlands
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps the time has come for all 3 companies based at Aberdeen to fly the S-92 and only the S-92. If I was bond,Bristow or chc I'd be getting the orders in quick smart, nobody seems to have confidence in any eurocopter model and would you feel safe flying in one of those going to your job every time, I doubt it
Fit like min?
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ...
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ABA, I think the 225 incidents last year highlighted the dangers in putting the majority of your eggs in one basket. Bristow especially were highly affected by the 225 groundings, as just about all of their flights from ABZ were of the 225 variety.
They quickly had to rush in S-92s as quickly as they were made available, plus draft in where they could - hence we saw, & are seeing, the AW139 & the return of the 332L Tigers from retirement. The latter now of course may be caught up in the grounding, however temporary that may prove to be. And Bristow 225s are not commercially flying yet.
All three companies are now talking about a mixed fleet (just like the old days!) so that they have a flexibility should - God forbid - there are future incidents.
The problem is that unlike the Chinook, where there were only 6 machines operating the UKCS when 'FC went down in 1986, the SP & family are presently the dominant type, so the grounding potentially causes a huge logistical problem.
There are other types that could potentially do a job, but no heli is 100% foolproof - not the 92, not the AW139, we'll see how the AW189 does, if/when it turns up in this neck of the woods. Maybe ditto the S76D that Bristow have also ordered, although not sure if it will make an appearance on the UKCS. All the new types look nice, but it's how they perform in the field that counts.
It's quite ironic I'm talking about Bristow, as none of the recent incidents have involved them, but the aftermath certainly does.
The guys that fly in the back are going to take a lot of convincing to step onto the SP family again I think, although Union leaders making general comments about grounding 'all types' are hardly helpful or practical. OK ban them all...just HOW will your members get to/from work then? Ship? I don't think so.
They quickly had to rush in S-92s as quickly as they were made available, plus draft in where they could - hence we saw, & are seeing, the AW139 & the return of the 332L Tigers from retirement. The latter now of course may be caught up in the grounding, however temporary that may prove to be. And Bristow 225s are not commercially flying yet.
All three companies are now talking about a mixed fleet (just like the old days!) so that they have a flexibility should - God forbid - there are future incidents.
The problem is that unlike the Chinook, where there were only 6 machines operating the UKCS when 'FC went down in 1986, the SP & family are presently the dominant type, so the grounding potentially causes a huge logistical problem.
There are other types that could potentially do a job, but no heli is 100% foolproof - not the 92, not the AW139, we'll see how the AW189 does, if/when it turns up in this neck of the woods. Maybe ditto the S76D that Bristow have also ordered, although not sure if it will make an appearance on the UKCS. All the new types look nice, but it's how they perform in the field that counts.
It's quite ironic I'm talking about Bristow, as none of the recent incidents have involved them, but the aftermath certainly does.
The guys that fly in the back are going to take a lot of convincing to step onto the SP family again I think, although Union leaders making general comments about grounding 'all types' are hardly helpful or practical. OK ban them all...just HOW will your members get to/from work then? Ship? I don't think so.
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: The Midlands
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Something needs to be done, I can't imagine the companies or oil workers can continue to fly the pumas, whether they split the fleet up with half s92 and something similar will only know in the future but grounding 30+ helicopters at Aberdeen alone will cause chaos for the movement of workers, fingers crossed it can be resolved quickly but also safety needs to be drastically improved to prevent anymore deaths, one death is one too many and I feel for the 4 families affected, just hoping something like this is not repeated and more money is spent on the safety aspect of offshore transit flights