Give the man a coconut .. bet he wasn’t squeezed in tight like us
OIL workers yesterday challenged a helicopter boss to sample real North Sea conditions after he flew into an air show in a controversial Super Puma H225.
Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury touched down safely at the Helitech International 2017 event in London.
But his show of faith in the H225LP and AS332 L2 aircraft – both dogged by offshore tragedies – backfired when he emerged in a smart suit and tie.
One oil worker said: “Give the man a coconut, bet he wasn’t squeezed in.”
The helicopters were grounded after a crash in Norway when the rotor blades became detached from the fuselage.
Thirteen men died in the accident in April last year, including Iain Stuart, of Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire.
Investigators found fatigue and surface degradation in the main gearbox and it’s thought the rupture of a secondstage gear caused the crash – but the root cause is not fully understood.
The aircraft have since been cleared to fly but no North Sea operators have reintroduced them.
Oil workers are refusing to fly in them and now hundreds have signed a petition calling on Faury to endure a flight under the conditions they face – including full survival suit and flight jacket.
Airbus insist that after introducing a range of measures, the crash could not be repeated.
Faury said: “It takes time to restore trust after these accidents. I’m very happy to be here to explain the safety measures that have been put in place.”
But offshore workers, their families and unions have lost trust in the aircraft after a spate of accidents. Rebecca L wrote: “My husband works offshore and I don’t want to end up a widow.”
John Morrison said: “They should fill a flight with the engineers that put them together. Let’s see how many have the b***s to fly in one.”
Unite regional officer Tommy Campbell added: “Our overriding priority must be the safety of those working in the North Sea.
‘Until we have clarity, Unite will not support the reintroduction of the Super Puma H225LP and AS332 L2 helicopters.”