Cobham Aviation Services Australia launched in late April fly-in/fly-out services between Perth, Karratha and Barrow Island in Western Australia using a modified Avro RJ100, the first time the type has been used in the Australian fly-in/fly-out sector.
The operation is part of a six-year A$170 million ($157 million) contract with Chevron Australia - the largest fly-in/fly-out contract ever awarded in the country. Chevron's offshore Gorgon natural gas project is to begin production in 2015. Cobham will be responsible for flying exploration workers to the massive project.
The 99-seat RJ100 is one of two to be used to fly exploration workers, with the second scheduled to come on line in 2011. The aircraft had its interior stripped by Cobham at its Adelaide facilities and a new specially adapted interior installed to meet the strict quarantine and environmental requirements of the Barrow Island-based Gorgon natural gas project which is due to begin production in 2015.
Barrow Island, 50km (27nm) off Western Australia's north-west coast, is an A-class nature reserve with plants not found elsewhere and home to endangered animals.
"These modern aircraft have been designed to incorporate a passenger and quarantine-friendly cabin with the aircraft interior planned especially for this project," says Peter Nottage, Cobham chief executive.
The aircraft has leather seats that are less susceptible to holding dust or seeds than other materials and special flooring that is sealed at the edges and fixtures with no cracks, so that seeds or dirt cannot be trapped. The aircraft will undergo extensive cleaning before each flight, while passengers will also face extensive checks.
Cobham is listed by Flightglobal's ACAS database as operating 23 aircraft, including BAe 146s and Boeing 717-200s. It also operates one Bombardier Q100, one Q300, and an Avro RJ70ER.
Source: Flight International
