KILLER COPTER CLEARED TO FLY AGAIN
Offshore workers horrified as CAA give OK to Super Pumas
insulting that they are even thinking about taking them back into service.
“It’s for the operators. They’ve got them sitting there and they can’t use them. It’s absolutely shocking.”
Unite’s Tommy Campbell, chair of the joint unions offshore co-ordinating group, said: “We’re very disappointed and angry.
“We have taken a consistent line that we need to know the root cause analysis of the accident in Norway last year and we still haven’t got the answers to that.
“We think it’s very inappropriate that the ban should be lifted.”
The RMT’s Jake Molloy said: “We feel that lifting the restrictions at a time when we have no root cause for the Norwegian tragedy is the wrong decision.”
CAA head of airworthiness John McColl said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly. It has only been made after receiving extensive information from the Norwegian accident investigators and being satisfied with the subsequent changes introduced by Airbus Helicopters through detailed assessment and analysis.
“The safety of those who travel on offshore helicopter flights is a key priority for UK and Norwegian authorities.
“We would not have made this decision unless we were convinced that the changes to the helicopters and their maintenance restore the required airworthiness standards.”
The helicopters won’t fly immediately. A plan of checks, modifications and inspections will be undertaken before any flights take place. These include:
●Removal of components that were susceptible to premature deterioration. ●Earlier replacement of components.
● Improved maintenance inspection method to enable earlier detection.
●More frequent inspections.
●Reduction in the thresholds for rejecting components based upon early signs of any deterioration.
Les Linklater, executive director of Step Change in Safety, the offshore industry safety group, said: “At this time, there is an ongoing Airbus survey for pilots and passengers regarding these specific helicopters’ flight safety and comfort, which was issued just one week ago.
“It’s our understanding that this survey still has a further three weeks to run.
“Given the importance of the workforce’s opinion regarding this highly emotive subject, we do not feel it’s appropriate to make any further comment until Airbus have gathered, and shared, the survey’s results and can demonstrate how they intend to address any concerns raised by the workforce.”
OUTRAGED offshore workers yesterday spoke of their shock at news that banned Super Puma helicopters had been cleared to fly again.
Days after it appeared that air safety regulators would keep them grounded, UK and Norwegian authorities lifted the ban on the 225 and L2 models despite a history of fatal accidents.
One oil worker chillingly described how the return of an aircraft which has been dogged with a bad accident record made him despair.
He said: “When you go on, everyone tries to go to sleep. If something happens, you’re not going to know about it. I’m filled with dread every time I’ve been told I had to go on one.
“You can’t tell your family, you can’t tell your kids that you’re flying in a 225 because they worry.
“The last thing you want to do is to worry them when you’re away.”
The dad, who asked not to be identified, added: “I’ve looked at trying to get jobs back onshore but it’s a tough time all over.”
Super Pumas have been grounded in the UK and Norway since a crash in April last year off the Scandinavian coast which killed 13 people, including Iain Stuart of Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire.
Since then, the Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) craft have been largely replaced by Sikorsky S92s.
But over the weekend, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority revealed plans to lift the ban in the wake of numerous changes and modifications to the helicopters following extensive input from Norwegian accident investigators.
Martin Tosh, 38, from Kintore, Aberdeenshire, was in the CHC Super Puma that plunged into the sea on approach to Sumburgh on Shetland in August 2013, killing four passengers.
The former offshore mechanic remains haunted by the tragedy and has never been back offshore.
He said: “That one day ruined my life and it still affects me to this very day. I’ve got a brother who goes offshore and it’s bad enough knowing that he’s going offshore but, if he’s going on one of those, I’ve no confidence in it.
“It’s