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| Thursday, September 27, 2007 |
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Bristow Clocks Up New Record on Eurocopter EC225 Helicopters
By FlyingNews @ 7:52 PM :: 144 Views ::
0 Comments :: Helicopters
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BRISTOW Helicopters has soared ahead clocking up a record-breaking 10,000 flying hours on its fleet of new helicopters.
The flying time is the result of its six new Eurocopter EC 225 helicopters. They are the successor to the AS 332L Super Puma and are being deployed across the North Sea and beyond.
The distance they have flown so far is an amazing 1.7million miles, the equivalent of flying to the moon seven times or almost 70 round-the-world trips.
Bristow European Operations, based in Aberdeen, were the lead commercial customer for the EC225 and began operations with the aircraft in September 2005. One of its most notable early flights was to an installation in the Dragon field, off Swansea, in South Wales, carrying 19 passengers and back without refuelling.
Within the first 18 months the aircraft chalked up 5000 hours ferrying workers to and from oil and gas platforms. But, in the six months since May 2007, Bristow’s fleet of six EC 225s have raced
ahead to 10,000 flight hours.
This has been achieved due to the EC 225’s ability to travel consistently with a full fuel and payload of 19 passengers and baggage, the excellent performance of the engineering team maintaining the helicopters’ availability and the dedication of the highly-skilled flight operations team.
John Cloggie, Bristow’s Director of European Operations said: “The EC 225 is the only aircraft in the North Sea that guarantees a full 19-seat payload and that is very significant for Bristow customers who need this reliability of payload. To be able to offer our customers the consistency of planning for 19 passengers is key to the helicopter’s success and very important in the maintenance of the Bristow reputation for safety and reliability.
“As well as the state-of-the-art aircraft, the other vital feature of Bristow’s service is the dedicated team of professional crew and operations staff who have made this achievement possible.”
He added: “Bristow has a highly-trained and committed workforce across all disciplines – from engineers and pilots to ramp and apron staff along with those in our passenger terminal – who ensure our service runs smoothly and at the highest standard.
”Bristow is delighted to have achieved this milestone so quickly and looks forward to flying our customers for the next 10,000 hours.”
Bernard Fujarski, Eurocopter’s EC 225 programme director, said: “The EC 225 brings a step change in respect of safety enhancements, performance characteristics and comfort features compared with the previous generation of helicopters in the passenger transport role.
“We are very proud to see the EC 225 attain the 10,000 flight hour mark so quickly. Bringing a new aircraft type into service so successfully says much, not only for the qualities of the EC 225,
but also for the professionalism of the Bristow flight and ground crews whom we warmly congratulate on this achievement.”
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