EC225 pilots nominated for flying award
Source: The Herald Scotland, 29-May-13
Four hero pilots who saved the lives of 29 oil workers after two helicopter ditchings off the coast of Scotland have been shortlisted for a prestigious flying award. (See Full Story)
Avinics Appoints New CEO Western Europe
Source: Avincis Group, 24-May-13
Avincis Group (Avincis), a leading global provider of aerial services for mission critical operations, is pleased to announce the appointment of Manuel Lopez Aguilar as Regional CEO Western Europe with immediate effect. Manuel will also hold the position of Director General for INAER Spain. Based in Alicante, Spain, Manuel will be responsible for Avincis’ business [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters signs new contract with ADTI
Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters, 09-May-13
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd (Bond), one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a new contract with Applied Drilling Technology International (ADTI). The new contract, worth approximately £14m, is to provide crew-change flights for the well management specialist. Services are due to begin early [...]
No criminal proceedings for April 2009 Bond AS332L2 accident
Source: Scottish Crown Office, 05-Apr-13
On 1 April 2009 Super Puma helicopter AS332 L2 G-REDL crashed into the North Sea resulting in the deaths of all 16 men on board. Having carefully considered all the circumstances of this incident, Crown Counsel have decided that there is insufficient evidence for a prosecution and as result no criminal proceedings are instructed. The [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters signs new contract with Premier Oil
Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters, 28-Mar-13
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd (Bond), one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a new contract with Premier Oil plc. The contract is to provide crew change flights for the independent exploration and production company. Services started on the 4th of March and the [...]
Avincis responds to losing UK SAR contract
Source: Avincis Group, 27-Mar-13
Avincis CEO James Drummond said: “We are pleased that Secretary of State has noted the very high quality and credibility of our bid, which drew on our global and UK expertise in providing helicopter emergency services. Of course we are disappointed, but Bond has had fantastic success in winning new business this year. I’m very [...]
Super Puma AS332 L2 G-REDL Fatal Accident Inquiry announced
Source: Crown Office, 22-Mar-13
On 1 April 2009 Super Puma helicopter AS332 L2 G-REDL crashed into the North Sea resulting in the deaths of all 16 men on board. Having carefully considered all the circumstances of this incident, Crown Counsel have decided that there is insufficient evidence for a prosecution and as result no criminal proceedings are instructed. The [...]
Bond SAR crew win award for courage
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 13-Mar-13
Two Bond Offshore Helicopters (Bond) Search and Rescue (SAR) crewmen have been awarded the Billy Deacon SAR Memorial Trophy 2012, in recognition of their key role in a dramatic North Sea rescue last December. The award honours SAR winchmen and operators who have shown great skill and courage in carrying out rescues over land or [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters becomes a full member of Step Change In Safety
Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters, 06-Mar-13
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd (Bond), one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services, is proud to be the first helicopter operator to become a full member of Step Change In Safety. Step Change In Safety was founded in 1997 by the principal oil and gas industry trade associations, with the aim of making [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters confirm fleet repaint
Source: HeliHub.com, 26-Feb-13
Bond Offshore will be changing the livery of its helicopters to dark blue to match the rest of the Avincis Group’s global offshore fleet, but the aircraft will still be branded with the Bond name. This change is designed to allow Avincis to more efficiently direct resources to where they’re most needed, such as bringing [...]
Bond to base AW139 at Aberdeen for new North Sea contract
Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters, 21-Feb-13
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd, one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a new contract with BW Offshore. This new contract, worth in the region of £16 million, is to provide crew change support for the BW Offshore (UK) Limited Floating Production Storage and [...]
Scottish Ambulance Service trains volunteers to light helipads
Source: Scottish Ambulance Service, 18-Feb-13
The Scottish Ambulance Service has completed an initiative to create new lit helicopter landing sites on Shetland’s outer isles that will enhance access for medical evacuations. While the Coastguard helicopter has always had 24 hour access to these islands, the new sites will allow access at night by the Jigsaw helicopter, which requires a lit [...]
Two senior level departures from Bond Offshore Helicopters
Source: HeliHub.com, 04-Feb-13
Bond Offshore Helicopters have confirmed to HeliHub.com this morning that Malcolm Paine, Director of Flight Operations, and Graham Wildgoose, Ground Operations Manager, have both “left the company to seek opportunities externally” (our inverted commas, not theirs) Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com
Alerts on two Bond AS332L2s
25-Nov-12
Two Super Puma helicopters were at the centre of fresh safety fears. The Bond aircraft, which were travelling independently to different offshore installations, were both forced to return to the heliport in Aberdeen following concerns. (see full story)
UK – Bond to add new base with offshore contract win
Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters, 19-Nov-12
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd, one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a new contract with Perenco Oil and Gas. This new contract, worth in the region of £37 million, is for the provision of crew change flights to Perenco’s newly-acquired assets in the [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters names new Managing Director
Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters, 05-Nov-12
Luke Farajallah joins Bond Offshore Helicopters as new Managing Director 5th November 2012. Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of Luke Farajallah as Managing Director. Luke brings with him 25 years of aviation experience leading different functions in a number of airlines both in the UK and Internationally. Most recently Luke [...]
Bond/INAER parent company renames as Avincis; based in UK
Source: Avincis Group, 16-Oct-12
Avincis Mission Critical Services (Avincis Group) has established itself in the UK today as the world’s leading provider of mission critical aviation services. The Group’s mission is to save lives, protect the environment and provide safe transport for mission critical people and assets for public services and blue chip corporations. Avincis’ operating companies deliver across [...]
Bond settles with partners of pilots involved in April 2009 Super Puma crash
07-Oct-12
Paul Burnham, 31, of Methlick, Aberdeenshire, and Richard Menzies, 24, of Worcestershire, were at the controls of the Bond Offshore Super Puma when the aircraft plunged into the sea in April 2009. (see full story) See also this page from our safety data coverage – 01-Apr-09 G-REDL Eurocopter AS332 11m E of Peterhead, UK (16F)
Lerwick Harbour pilot boats are key in Bond’s Jigsaw operations
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 14-Sep-12
Crews of Lerwick Harbour pilot boats and Bond Offshore Helicopters’ aircraft are working together to ensure the high level of skill required in Bond’s search-&-rescue operations in Scottish waters. The combination has now reached its 100th exercise since the pilot boats began supporting Bond’s training programme in early 2011. Bond’s offshore search and rescue operation [...]
Bond’s SAR clinical lead gives insight to medicine in extreme offshore conditions
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 10-Sep-12
Bond Offshore Helicopters’ clinical lead, Dr. Mark Bloch, today gave insight into the critical work of paramedics on search and rescue (SAR) helicopters, and the challenges they face working in extreme conditions offshore. Bond has been operating the Jigsaw SAR service for BP in the North Sea since 2006. In that time, Bond’s on-board paramedic [...]
UK Government reduces SAR bidders to three
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-Aug-12
After the huge debacle of the previous round of bids (see £6bn UK SAR privatisation deal on hold – police investigate), the UK Government has announced the short-list of bidders going forward to provide SAR services around the British coastline for a 25 year period. The successful bidder(s) will take over roles currently provided by [...]
Eurocopter clears Bond over EC225 ditching
Source: HeliHub.com, 19-Jun-12
In an unusual move, Eurocopter has announced that there is no blame on Bond Offshore Helicopters for the ditching of their EC225 on 10th May. In an unpublished statement released only to the Aberdeen Press & Journal – and then widely re-reported elsewhere, Eurocopter have stated “the incident was caused by a rupture of the [...]
UK pilot union comments on Shell’s rejection of Bond
Source: BALPA, 01-Jun-12
Commenting on the decision by Shell to withdraw from a contract with Bond helicopters following three incidents in three years, Jim McAuslan, General Secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association, said: ‘People are used to contracts changing; it is part of commercial life in the North Sea. What is of concern in this instance is [...]
Shell abandons plans to sign contract with Bond Offshore Helicopters
Source: STV, 31-May-12
It is reported that the oil giant has pulled out of a deal with Bond to take over its UK flights as it did not have “sufficient assurances” of the safety of Bond’s operations. (see full story)
Managing Director of Bond Offshore Helicopters quits
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 28-May-12
The second part of Bond’s press release deserves a separate story… It was also announced that Bill Munro has decided to step aside as Managing Director of Bond Offshore Helicopters. Malcolm Paine, hitherto Director of Operations at the company, will assume leadership of the business with immediate effect. Paine brings an extensive knowledge of Bond [...]
Bond Aviation Group appoints new CEO
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 28-May-12
Bond issue a two-part announcement of people changes, here is part 1… The Bond Aviation Group announces the appointment of Richard Mintern to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Mintern comes with nearly 30 years’ experience leading different functions of international aviation businesses, most recently as Group COO of The Monarch Travel Group. Prior to [...]
Bond AS332s and EC225s take to the air again
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 15-May-12
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd., one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services announced the resumption of flights following the release of important data from Eurocopter. The full fleet of helicopters will return to service over the next 24 hrs. Bill Munro, Managing Director of Bond Offshore Helicopters said, “Bond puts safety first, above [...]
Helicopter Safety Steering Group meets over North Sea EC225 ditching
Source: Oil & Gas UK, 15-May-12
The Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG) met today, Monday 14 May, to share preliminary information on the recent helicopter ditching incident in the North Sea. Making up the HSSG are helicopter operators, oil and gas operators and contractors, offshore trade unions, the pilots’ union BALPA, the regulators HSE and CAA and Oil & Gas UK. [...]
Bond EC225 ditching – AAIB report consistent with Bond analysis
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 15-May-12
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd., one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services concur with the initial findings of the AAIB interim Service Bulletin S2/2012 issued which indicates component failure. The bulletin states that, “An initial visual inspection of the main gearbox has identified a 360° circumferential crack on the bevel gear vertical shaft, [...]
Bond issue statement on North Sea ditching
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 11-May-12
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd, one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services reports that at 12.13h today an Eurocopter EC225 helicopter (registration G-REDW) outbound from Aberdeen going to the Ensco102 Maersk Resilient platform made a controlled descent 24 nautical miles off-shore. The Captain and Co-pilot made the controlled descent and landed on the [...]
Bond Aviation Group suffers PR failure with new website
Source: HeliHub.com, 26-Apr-12
Bond Aviation Group has merged separate websites for each of its onshore and offshore operations into one Group website. Gone are www.BondOffshoreHelicopters.com and www.BondAirServices.com – both replaced by www.BondAviationGroup.com While the intent to merge two websites into one is understandable, and the willingness to expand on the predecessor sites with a new “Media” section, the [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters take on third AW139
Source: HeliHub.com, 05-Mar-12
Bond Offshore Helicopters have now registered their third AgustaWestland AW139 with the UK Civil Aviation Authority. G-PERD will join the first pair G-PERA and G-PERB which were acquired in March and May of 2011. The alphabetic sequence was broken due to G-PERC being currently allocated to a Cameron hot air balloon, and the UK CAA [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters adds another EC225
Source: HeliHub.com, 04-Jan-12
Yesterday, Bond Offshore Helicopters registered a new Eurocopter EC225LP helicopter with the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Going by other similar activity in recent years, this likely means the delivery flight from the factory in Marignane started yesterday or is expected to today. Registered G-PUMR and with Eurocopter serial 2818, this example takes the current Bond [...]
Oil & Gas UK responds to report into fatal Bond AS332 accident
Source: Oil & Gas UK, 29-Nov-11
Oil & Gas UK welcomes the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report published on November 24 on the tragic crash of helicopter Flight 85N which took place off the Aberdeenshire coast on 1 April 2009. Robert Paterson, Oil & Gas UK’s health and safety director, said: “With today’s publication of the report, we remember, first [...]
AAIB Final Report – 01-Apr-09 G-REDL Eurocopter AS332L2
Source: AAIB, 24-Nov-11
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) was notified of the accident by Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre (ARCC) Kinloss at 1326 hrs on 1 April 2009 and the investigation began the same day. In accordance with established international arrangements the Bureau d’Enquetes et d’Analyses Pour la Securité de l’Aviation Civile (BEA), representing the State of Manufacture [...]
Bond signs MoU for AW139s, AW169s & AW189s
Source: AgustaWestland, 29-Sep-11
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, and Bond Aviation Group, are pleased to announce that they have signed an MoU today that will see both companies work together to establish a multi-year contract covering the purchase of AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopters for offshore oil and gas support, HEMS, SAR and emergency service missions, together with support [...]
RH Bodyworks branches out into helicopter painting
Source: HeliHub.com, 28-Sep-11
RH Bodyworks (Helitech stand 1715) is expanding its portfolio by starting in spraying helicopters. Thus far it has completed an AgustaWestland AW139 for Bond Offshore Helicopters (see below) and a respray of the tail boom of the Essex Police EC135T2+. Part of the Roy Humphrey Group, RH Bodyworks are based on the old Eye Airfield [...]
Bristow introduces TCAS2 to S92 and S76C++ fleets on North Sea
Source: HeliHub.com, 22-Aug-11
Bristow Helicopters has recently begun using the TCAS2 traffic collision avoidance system on one of its seven North Sea based S92s on a flight from Scatsa to an offshore rig. All seven of its UK Sikorsky S92 fleet – six based at Scatsa and one at Aberdeen – are expected to have the system installed [...]
BBC profile Bond Offshore Helicopters
Source: BBC, 17-Jun-11
Bond Offshore Helicopters are profiled in this article run today on the BBC as part of their lead-in to the Paris Air Show
Bond Offshore Helicopters wins £50m contract
Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters, 06-Jun-11
[Note: We run the press release from Bond below verbatim. However, we have been reporting this since 1st February 2011 - see here!] Bond Offshore Helicopters, part of the Gloucestershire-based Bond Aviation Group, has won a £50m contract to supply oil and gas company Perenco with two new Agusta Westland AW139 aircrafts. Bond has been [...]
North Sea flights cancelled due to ash cloud
Source: HeliHub.com, 24-May-11
As a number of airlines including British Airways, Flybe and Loganair cancel flights, North Sea helicopter operators appear to be following suit. Bond Offshore Helicopters has already cancelled return flights for BP from Aberdeen to both “Well Enhancer” and “Island Constructor”, as well as another return flight for ConocoPhilips from Aberdeen to jackup rig “Ensco [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters register second AW139
Source: HeliHub.com, 13-May-11
The second AW139 for Bond Offshore Helicopters is now registered in the UK as G-PERB. This is the second aircraft for operations on the Southern North Sea for Perenco, and will be based at Norwich. There are reports of Bond acquiring a total of four AW139s, two leased from Era Helicopters – these first two [...]
AW139 rolled out in full Bond Offshore colours
Source: HeliHub.com, 05-May-11
Bond Offshore Helicopters are due to start operating the AW139 on offshore operations to the Southern North Sea soon. A key customer in this region of gas fields is Perenco, for which Bond will fly a pair of AW139s, registered G-PERA and PERB picking up the first three letters of oil company’s name. On delivery, [...]
Tragedy pair suing Bond Offshore Helicopters for £4 Million
Source: Press & Journal, 03-May-11
The partners of two crewmen killed in the April 2009 North Sea helicopter disaster are taking legal action worth more than £4million. Captain Paul Burnham, 31, and co-pilot Richard Menzies, 24, died along with 14 oil workers when their Super Puma helicopter crashed off Peterhead on its return from BP’s Miller platform.
World Helicopters acquires Bond Aviation Group for €300m
Source: World Helicopters, 02-May-11
Bond Aviation Group becomes an integral part of World Helicopters, together with the Inaer Helicopter Company and Australian Helicopters. Creates the world leader in the emergency helicopter services industry. Creates a leading player in the international oil and gas helicopter services industry. World Helicopters will operate ca. 360 aircrafts (rotary and fixed wing). World Helicopters, [...]
Acquisition #1 – Bond Aviation Group sold to INAER’s private equity owners
Source: HeliHub.com, 28-Mar-11
Bond Aviation Group, the UK company encompassing the onshore operator Bond Air Service and its sister company Bond Offshore Helicopters, is set to be sold by Stephen and Peter Bond for a figure thought to be around £300 million (approx $480M). The buyers are the two private equity groups that own Spanish operator INAER, which [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters signs a new SBH contract with Turbomeca
Source: Turbomeca, 09-Mar-11
British oil & gas helicopter support operator Bond Offshore Helicopters signed a new Support-by-the-Hour® contract with Turbomeca UK for their four new AS365N3 Dauphins, powered by the Arriel engine. The helicopters’ Arriel 2C turbines will be maintained by Turbomeca UK which supports nearly 700 engines powering British and Irish-owned customers’ helicopters. Two of the new [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters prepare for AW139 operations
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-Feb-11
Yesterday, Bond Offshore Helicopters registered their first AW139 helicopter with teh UK CAA – it is G-PERA which reflects it being contracted to the independent oil & gas company Perenco. Previously this company’s operations were supported by an AW139 from CHC. The AW139, which will be joined by a second prior to the contract start [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters turnover up 13% at £61M, profits up 12%
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal, 10-Jan-11
Recently released accounts show turnover at £61.09 million for the year to 31st March 2010, up 13%, and pre-tax profits at £3.572 million, up 12%
Bond Aviation Group seeks investor to expand
Source: Telegraph, 08-Nov-10
Bond Aviation has hired advisers to look at strategic options for the business, said sources. The family-owned company is understood to be interested in selling 30 to 60% to expand
UK: Helicopter task group head honoured after disaster
Source: BBC, 21-Oct-10
Robert Paterson, industry body Oil and Gas UK’s health, safety and employment issues director, said: “Everyone in the oil and gas industry really appreciates the work Bob put in to make these safety improvements actually happen.”
UK: Bond Aviation launch £1m helicopter design department
Source: Stroud Life, 29-Jul-10
Bond Aviation Group, Britain’s fastest growing privately owned helicopter service provider, has unveiled a new £1 million Design and Completions Department at its UK headquarters
Bond signs a new SBH® Contract with Turbomeca UK
Source: Turbomeca, 03-Jun-10
British oil & gas helicopter support operator Bond Offshore Helicopters signed a new Support-by-the-Hour® contract with Turbomeca UK for their four new AS365N3 Dauphins, powered by the Arriel engine. The helicopters’ Arriel 2C turbines will be maintained by Turbomeca UK which supports nearly 700 engines powering British and Irish-owned customers’ helicopters. Two of the new [...]
Bond starts new Perenco contract in Southern North Sea
Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters, 03-Jun-10
[The following press release from Bond supplements HeliHub's own story regarding the delivery of these two 365s] The latest additions to Bond Offshore Helicopters’ fleet of aircraft have entered service on behalf of new client, Perenco (UK) Ltd, in the UK sector of the southern North Sea. Crew change flights with two AS365N3 Dauphin aircraft [...]
Bond Offshore Helicopters takes delivery of two 365N3 Dauphins
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-Jun-10
In the last few days, Bond Offshore Helicopters have registered two new AS365N3 Dauphins, G-REDG (serial 6907) and G-REDH (6911). The former was first registered in the UK on Thursday 27th and delivered into the UK the following day. The latter was (most unusually) first registered on a UK public holiday yesterda, and the HeliHub.com [...]
Icelandic volcano cancels North Sea rig support flights
Source: HeliHub.com, 15-Apr-10
The eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland is the second in Iceland in less than a month. Aberdeen Airport, central to the majority of North Sea oil rig support helicopter flights, closed at Midnight and the latest update at 04.45 local states “Following advice from the Met Office, the airspace around [...]
Super Puma’s 16 crash victims remembered one year on
Source: BBC, 07-Apr-10
The 16 men who died when a Super Puma helicopter crashed into the North Sea have been remembered on the first anniversary of the tragedy.
Bond Offshore signs a new SBH® Contract with Turbomeca UK
Source: Turbomeca, 09-Mar-10
British oil & gas helicopter support operator Bond Offshore Helicopters signed a new Support-by-the-Hour® contract with Turbomeca UK for their four new AS365N3 Dauphins, powered by the Arriel engine. The helicopters’ Arriel 2C turbines will be maintained by Turbomeca UK which supports nearly 700 engines powering British and Irish-owned customers’ helicopters. Two of the new [...]
Bond North Sea AS332 crash families aid 11 charities
Source: Scotsman, 15-Jan-10
More than £300,000 raised in memory of the 16 men killed in a Super Puma helicopter crash in the North Sea last year is to be distributed to 11 charities chosen by the bereaved families. Funds have also been set aside for a “symbol of remembrance” in a public garden in Aberdeen
Bond returns to Blackpool to support Centrica’s gas rigs
Source: HeliHub.com editorial team, 06-Jan-10
To start the new year, Bond Offshore Helicopters took over the rig support contract out of Blackpool Airport for gas firm Centrica. Bond have now moved in with two brand new bright red AS365N3 Dauphins, registered G-REDE and G-REDF, operating initially from temporary accommodation at this UK airport. They had won the contract from CHC [...]
Bond wins 5+ year Perenco contract in Southern North Sea
Source: EDP24, 29-Dec-09
Aberdeen-based Bond Offshore Helicopters has won a five-year deal with global energy company Perenco, which will see Bond provide helicopter services to Southern North Sea rigs from Norwich International airport.
Bond Aviation Group join UK’s fastest growing businesses
Source: South West Business, 08-Dec-09
TWO county companies have stormed into a national league table for the UK’s fastest growing businesses. Gloucester-based online book retailer, The Book Depository has made the Fast Track 100 list for the second year running ranked 55th. And it has been joined by Staverton-based helicopter operator Bond Aviation in 80th position.
Bond Offshore Helicopters EC225 North Sea ditching report delayed
Source: STV, 26-Nov-09
An official report to determine why a helicopter with 18 people on board ditched into the North Sea has been delayed, the Government announced on Tuesday.
Bond Aviation Group secures five long-term contracts, adds 80 jobs
Source: BBC, 25-Sep-09
Eighty new jobs have been created at a Gloucestershire-based helicopter specialists after it secured five new long-term contracts worth £153m
Bond retires flight number assigned to Super Puma in offshore accident
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal, 14-Aug-09
Bond Offshore Helicopters has confirmed that it has retired the flight number given to the aircraft involved in one of the oil industry’s worst disasters earlier this year.
Bond Offshore Helicopters to resume rig support flights for BP after crash
Source: BBC, 13-May-09
Bond Offshore Helicopters will resume crew change flights for BP from Monday in the wake of the North Sea helicopter disaster, it has been announced
BP and Conoco suspend use of Bond Offshore Helicopters, pending review outcome
Source: Scotsman, 11-Apr-09
Bond Offshore Helicopters EC225 “crashed and was not ditched” in the North Sea
Source: Press & Journal, 10-Mar-09
Leaked report suggests cloudbase significantly lower than expected
