Copter flights to resume, says Bond

Ditching: Operator says Super Pumas now airworthy after assurances from manufacturer

Bond Offshore Helicopters are expected to resume operations today of its entire fleet of Super Pumas after all flights were suspended last week.

The operator said its decision followed a “rigorous” inspection of the EC225 model and the release of important data from manufacturer Eurocopter.

The company halted the flights while investigations tookplace intowhatcaused one of its aircraft to ditch in the North Sea on Thursday.

Two crew and 12 passengers had to be rescued about 25 miles off the coast of Aberdeen during the third serious incident involving abondsuperpuma in the North Sea in the last three years.

Results from an initial Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) examination of the Super Puma at the weekend showed that its gearbox shaft had cracked.

Yesterday afternoon managing director Bill Munro said the full fleet of helicopters would return to service over the next 24 hours following “assurances” from Eurocopter about their airworthiness.

“Wehavenowcompleted a rigorous engineering analysis and safety risk assessment of all aspects of the operation that included an inspection of the entire fleet,” he said.

“These actions, in addition to working closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the infor-

“We have now completed a rigorous engineering analysis and safety risk”

mation and the assurances received from Eurocopter as the gearbox manufacturer, have allowed us to return the fleet to service.”

He added that another incident just three weeks ago where the same Super Puma experienced an engine malfunction midair was not connected to the gear box failure that affected it last week.

As revealed in the Press and Journal yesterday, one of the two engines on the EC225 model suffered a malfunction on its approach to Aberdeen Airport on April 19.

The engine was removed and sent away for inspection, and the helicopter continued flying with a new engine.

Mr Munro said: “As a result of our detailed inspections, we are confident that there is no link between the gearbox-related incidents that Bond Helicopters have experienced, the causes of which have been proven to be beyond our control.”