Statoil to Improve Chopper Safety After Crash
September 23 2016 - 9:20AM
Dow Jones News
By Kjetil Malkenes Hovland
OSLO--Norway's Statoil said it would improve its safety response
in offshore helicopter transport and not allow cost-cutting
measures to compromise safety, as it outlined the findings of an
internal investigation after 13 people died in an offshore
helicopter crash in April.
The probe concluded that while Statoil's work helicopter safety
is good, the company should pay more attention to technical and
commercial aspects that may affect safety.
"The industry's efficiency-improvement efforts and increased
focus on costs must not compromise safety," Statoil said.
Struggling helicopter operators are slashing costs amid weaker
offshore activity and lower demand for their services, a situation
that could potentially put safety at risk, Statoil's investigation
group said in a report that was published Friday.
"We will follow up on the recommendations given by the
investigation to enhance Statoil's helicopter safety and emergency
response," said Statoil's chief operating officer Anders
Opedal.
The investigation was launched after a CHC-operated Airbus EC225
helicopter crashed near Bergen on Norway's west coast on April 29,
as it was returning from a Statoil offshore platform carrying
workers from companies, including Statoil, Aker Solutions and
Halliburton. The fatal helicopter crash was the first in the
country's offshore sector since 1997.
"None of the helicopter operators are currently making a profit,
and costs are being squeezed. Safety is still very good among the
operators, but I think we are close to a limit. This report
indicates that Statoil is aware of that," said Henrik Solvorn
Fjeldsbo, a representative of the Industri Energi offshore
union.
Statoil's internal investigators said their sources had reported
concerns about the potential consequences of cost cuts as
helicopter operators adjusted to weaker demand. In particular, they
said that each helicopter may be operating for more hours because
of reduced spare capacity, and warned that the spare parts
situation was challenging.
"A clearer aviation safety strategy and associated plan needs to
be developed," Statoil said.
The 67%-state-owned company's operations include about half the
helicopter flights to and from offshore platforms in Norway. It
expects traffic this year of 151,000 passengers, down from 211,000
passengers three years ago.
Statoil's internal report is separate from the continued
technical investigation into the causes of the April 29 crash,
which is being handled by the Accident Investigation Board
Norway.
The European Aviation Safety Agency, Europe's air-safety
regulator, in June grounded Airbus Group SE Super Puma helicopters,
including AS332 L2 and EC225LP units.
The move came after the AIBN had conducted metallurgical
assessment of recovered wreckage from the CHC Helicopter's critical
main gearbox, which suggested a component failed because of
fatigue.
Write to Kjetil Malkenes Hovland at
kjetilmalkenes.hovland@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 23, 2016 09:05 ET (13:05 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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