Union polls members over safety on board North Sea helicopters

Unite the Union has launched a survey of its members on North Sea helicopter safety following a series of issues in recent weeks.

So far this year, the sector has seen a fatal crash off Norway, continued supply chain constraints over spare parts and moves by Airbus to reintroduce the Super Puma model.

The poll asks workers for their thoughts on the S-92, which is the dominant helicopter in the UK.

It also asks members for their opinion on the Super Puma, which was removed from the sector in 2016 following a series of fatal crashes.

Unite said: “There have been several stories about offshore helicopters in the media over the past weeks and months.

“It is within this context that Unite Offshore has launched an online poll of members and offshore workers about helicopters and helicopter safety”. At the end of February, a search and rescue helicopter in training for Equinor near Bergen ditched, with one person dying.

North Sea operators have kept the airframe in service and, in conjunction with the country’s aviation authorities, said there is no suggestion of a wider impact on helicopter safety. Investigations are ongoing, including into the reasons the flotation devices which were armed did not automatically deploy in the water.

Reidun Hestetun, 61, lost her life in the incident on February 28.

Also in February, shortly before the S-92 incident, Airbus executives hinted at a potential return of the H225 Super Puma helicopter to the North Sea oil and gas sector.

Head of energy Regis Magnac told reporters that Airbus is now fielding questions from the offshore sector, and has recently hosted delegations from Norwegian unions.

Oil workers boarding a CHC Helicopter-operated S92.