Oil & Gas UK is to host a one-day seminar with the aim of bringing together leading figures in the oil and gas and aviation industries to discuss offshore helicopter safety.

The event, which is sponsored by Aker Solutions, is the sixth annual Aviation Seminar organised by Oil & Gas UK and will feature a range of high profile speakers discussing the many recent advancements made to offshore aviation safety.

Delegates on the day will hear from Max Ruelokke, chief executive of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, who will give an insight into the key findings from the 2009 S-92A helicopter ditching off Newfoundland.

Bill Munro, managing director of Bond Offshore Helicopters and co-chair of Step Change in Safety’s Helicopter Safety Steering Group, will report on the achievements the group has made in its first year. These include: the roll-out of the multilateration flight tracking system, improved radio communications and the re-introduction of helicopter awareness courses for safety representatives.

Speakers from AgustaWestland and Sikorsky will also talk about how their companies have each responded to the safety challenges in recent years and will look ahead to their planned innovations to fleet safety.

Other speakers at the event will discuss a wide range of issues relating to offshore helicopter safety; ranging from engine manufacturers’ innovations to lightning strike prediction capabilities.

Robert Paterson, Oil & Gas UK’s health and safety director, said: “I’m pleased to say that this annual Aviation Seminar is growing every year both in terms of prestige and numbers. It has once again attracted a very high calibre of speakers and I’d encourage anyone to attend who has a working interest on offshore safety – particularly where there is a cross-over into helicopter operations.”

The event will take place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on 8 June 2011 between 9am and 5pm.

Bookings can be made on the Oil & Gas UK events webpagehttp://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/events/index.cfm