CHC Helicopter will take delivery of its first Sikorsky S-92 in November after ordering three of the 19-seat aircraft for use on Norwegian North Sea offshore-support contracts. The third helicopter will be delivered in July 2005.
European subsidiary CHC Helikopter Service will operate the S-92s from Bergen and Kristiansund in Norway, alongside Eurocopter Super Puma Mk2s, under multi-year contract renewals from Norsk Hydro and Statoil (Flight International, 17-23 February). The S-92s and Super Puma Mk2s will replace Sikorsky S-61s and Super Puma Mk1s now used on the support contracts.
Under the Statoil contracts, one S-92 and up to two Super Puma Mk2s, plus a Super Puma Mk1, will be based at Kristiansund. Two Super Puma Mk2s will be based at Bergen and one at Floro, and another Super Puma will be shared between the three bases. Under the Hydro contract, two S-92s will be based at Bergen, with part-time back-up use of a Super Puma Mk2 from CHC's pool of aircraft.
Canada's CHC is the latest offshore operator to order the S-92. Norsk Helicopter has ordered two aircraft to replace Super Puma Mk1s and to support Statoil from next January. Petroleum Helicopters has ordered two S-92s to support deepwater operations in the Gulf of Mexico, and will receive the first production aircraft next month. The status of Cougar Helicopters' S-92 launch order is unclear. The Canadian offshore operator was acquired this month by VIH Logging.
Source: Flight International
