Sikorsky helicopters begin return flights after North Sea recall
11 Jan 2017
Flights by Sikorsky type S-92 helicopters from Aberdeen to the North Sea are being restored following a serious safety incident.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is now looking into the episode which occurred at the West Franklin Platform during an aircraft landing when the machine reportedly “gouged” the site deck.
As many as 30 helicopters are thought to be in use across the UK Continental Shelf, all of which have now been recalled for checks.
Earlier, Sikorsky recalled all S-92s worldwide for checks on each machine in current use.
Inspections are thought to have focused on the machines’ tail rotors.
In interviews Sikorsky spokespeople have insisted that safety would be paramount and all machines would be properly tested. Group executive director Les Linklater said individual machine checks would take up to 11 hours.
Some machines are already back in service with flights underway from Aberdeen to clear the traffic demand for oil and gas platforms.
