3-Jan-2018Source: Lockheed Martin
The S-92® helicopter produced by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), takes center stage in the debut of the new Science Channel series “Mega Machines.” This debut episode airs Thursday, Jan. 4, at 10 p.m. EST/PST on the Science Channel. The engineering-focused show highlights the robust design and reliability of the S-92 and features... Read more
8-Oct-2014Source: NFL
A beacon of remembrance was lit at Quidi Vidi Lake yesterday as the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, officially dedicated the Offshore Helicopter Accident Memorial. The memorial pays tribute to the victims of Cougar 491 and the 1985 Universal Helicopter crashes. “After centuries of making our living from the sea, our province... Read more
2-Oct-2014Source: The Telegram
There was no real reason for the family members of those named to wait before laying their flowers. So they didn’t. They had long ago waited enough — for news, for remains, for investigations and reports. See full story... Read more
12-Sep-2013Source: TSB
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) today released its investigation report (A11H0001) into an incident where a Sikorsky S-92A operated by Cougar Helicopters Inc. inadvertently descended and came within seconds of striking the water in July 2011. “The aviation industry is increasingly relying on cockpit automation in its day-to-day operations,” said Daryl Collins, the Investigator-in-Charge. “Despite the many benefits of... Read more
4-Oct-2012Source: Bristow Group
Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS), the leading provider of helicopter services to the worldwide offshore energy industry, and Cougar Helicopters Inc., the largest offshore energy and search and rescue (SAR) helicopter service provider in Canada (“Cougar”), jointly announced today the closing of Bristow’s previously announced minority interest investment by Bristow in Cougar and the purchase by Bristow... Read more
4-Sep-2012Source: Bristow Group
Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS), the leading provider of helicopter services to the worldwide offshore energy industry, and Cougar Helicopters Inc., the largest offshore energy and search and rescue (SAR) helicopter service provider in Canada (“Cougar”), today jointly announced that Bristow has entered into a definitive agreement with Cougar’s parent VIH Aviation Group Ltd. (“VIHAG”) and various VIHAG affiliates to acquire... Read more
17-Feb-2012Source: CBC
The Newfoundland and Labrador government has already committed to spend $400,000 on a memorial to mark the crash, which killed 15 workers heading to their jobs at offshore oil platforms and the two Cougar Helicopters pilots who were transporting them. (see full story)... Read more
6-Jan-2012Source: The Telegram
With the completion of the new hangar at St. John’s International Airport in the coming weeks, Cougar Helicopters will have its own SAR facility. The hangar will house the already-available, dedicated SAR helicopter, providing a 24-7 service for Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil projects (see full story)... Read more
9-Dec-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Late on Wednesday this week, a Sikorsky S92 from Cougar Helicopters completed its ferry flight from Newfoundland to Aberdeen in the UK. This delivery flight is the initial stage of the helicopter being leased to Bristow for operations on the North Sea. We are awaiting Cougar’s response to our enquiries regarding the length of the... Read more
28-Nov-2011Source: CBC
Representatives for both companies wouldn’t give details of the settlement. Cougar’s statement of claim said it was looking for more than $20 million for negligence and fraudulent misrepresentation after the crash (see full story)... Read more
23-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The man who rescued the only survivor from the Cougar S92 crash in March 2009 is getting the Governor General’s Medal of Bravery award. Ian Wheeler is an SAR technician with Cougar Helicopters. Cougar Flight 491 was heading to an offshore installation when it crashed into the Atlantic. Robert Decker escaped the aircraft, severely injured... Read more
25-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Kevin Kelly, spoke this week for the Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada – which represents some Newfoundland offshore workers – and called for the Sikorsky S92 to be replaced in offshore service. Kelly works on the Hibernia oil platform east of St. John’s, and was reacting to the 20th September issue with a... Read more
5-Jul-2011
Aviation manufacturer Sikorsky has lost another court challenge in its attempt to move a lawsuit over the fatal 2009 Cougar Helicopters crash to the U.S. The company has argued that a pending lawsuit should be heard in Connecticut, where the company is based. (full story)... Read more
29-Jun-2011Source: TSB
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) gives Satisfactory Intent rating on responses to four recommendations stemming from its investigation into the 12 March 2009 Sikorsky S-92A helicopter crash. For helicopters certified in the future, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Canada (TC) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have all agreed to review the certification rules. “But it... Read more
25-Mar-2011Source: CBC
Canada’s Transportation Minister Chuck Strahl said his officials are reviewing last month’s report from the Transportation Safety Board on its investigation into the crash and said his department would respond to the board by May 7.... Read more
25-Feb-2011Source: Vancouver Sun
The families of 15 passengers who died in a March 2009 helicopter crash off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador — and the lone survivor — want the federal transport minister to investigate the certification of the aircraft model involved.... Read more
10-Feb-2011Source: TSB
Pushing a series of four key reforms to improve helicopter safety, the Transportation Safety Board today released its final report into the fatal 2009 crash of Cougar Flight 91 off the coast of Newfoundland. “We want the legacy of this accident to be a safer system for all those who fly over water,” said Board... Read more
10-Feb-2011Source: CTV
The Transportation Safety Board says there were 16 factors that contributed to the crash that caused the death of 17 people in an offshore helicopter crash off Newfoundland two years ago.... Read more
8-Feb-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The Transportation Safety Board (“TSB”) of Canada has announced that it will be holding a press conference for the media on Wednesday to publically release the final TSB investigation report (reference id A09A0016) into the crash of a Cougar Helicopters Sikorsky S-92A off the coast of Newfoundland on March 12, 2009. Members of the panel... Read more
26-Jan-2011Source: Marine Institute
The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland today announced a $2.4 million donation by Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) towards the installation of new, state-of-the art simulation training equipment at the Institute’s Offshore Safety and Survival Centre (OSSC) in Foxtrap, NL. “A commitment to safety is something we value and... Read more
11-Jan-2011Source: TSB
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) will hold a news conference for the media on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 to make public the final TSB investigation report (A09A0016) into the crash of a Cougar Helicopters Sikorsky S-92A off the coast of Newfoundland on March 12, 2009. This will be held at the Delta St.... Read more
19-Nov-2010Source: Toronto Star
Critics have accused the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board of a conflict of interest because it is tasked with developing offshore resources to the maximum extent while also protecting workers and the environment.... Read more
18-Nov-2010Source: C-NLOPB
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) received the Report of the Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry today and is releasing it to the public immediately. “On behalf of the Board, I thank Commissioner Robert Wells, commission counsel and the staff of the commission for their work during the course of Phase I of the... Read more
28-Oct-2010Source: The Telegram
Cougar launched the lawsuit in June against both Sikorsky and its subsidiary Helicopter Services Inc. (HSI), but has recently served notice it was discontinuing the civil action against HSI.... Read more
20-Oct-2010Source: The Telegram
Lawyers for Cougar Helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. were in court Monday to debate a procedural issue in Cougar’s $27-million lawsuit against the U.S. helicopter manufacturer.... Read more
1-Oct-2010Source: CBC
Officials with the Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry said Thursday that commissioner Robert Wells expects to be finished his report in early October and will have it printed and delivered to the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board by 25th of this month... Read more
9-Sep-2010Source: Vancouver Sun
The federal agency charged with investigating the fatal crash of a helicopter ferrying workers to an oil rig off Newfoundland last year is defending its decision to exclude the victims’ families from the review process of the draft accident report.... Read more
6-Sep-2010
The Transportation Safety Board probe into a deadly helicopter crash off Newfoundland is flawed and unfair, say lawyers for the victims of Cougar Flight 491.... Read more
2-Sep-2010Source: Globe and Mail
Lawsuit claims almost $27-million for damages and losses from the 2009 tragedy in the North Atlantic... Read more
1-Sep-2010Source: CBC
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has completed a draft report on its investigation into the crash of Cougar Helicopter’s Flight 491 last year.... Read more
31-Aug-2010Source: Montreal Gazette
The families of two pilots who died in a helicopter crash that killed 17 people off Newfoundland and Labrador last year want improved safety equipment – including mandatory helmet use – for helicopter crews flying offshore workers... Read more
7-May-2010Source: CBC
The crack was discovered in the same S-92 helicopter that had been grounded in January with the same problem.... Read more
30-Apr-2010Source: CTV
“Progress may not be as fast as some people might like — and perhaps I might like,” said commissioner Robert Wells in an interview. “But you know, in fairness, they are making progress.”... Read more
11-Mar-2010Source: Canadian Press
Observers, experts and employees said the crash of Cougar Flight 491 highlighted the need for a separate safety agency to replace an offshore regulator that has the competing tasks of promoting the industry and protecting workers... Read more
2-Mar-2010Source: News 880AM
A scholarship and bursary program has been established in the memory of the 17 victims of the crash of Cougar Flight 491 off Newfoundland last year.... Read more
2-Feb-2010Source: Oilweek
“The events of March 12th changed my life forever, there´s no doubt about that,” said Burt, who is also a vice-president of Cougar´s parent company, VIH Aviation... Read more
29-Jan-2010Source: Canada.com
Cougar Helicopters found a single, hairline crack in a main gearbox footing of a Sikorsky S-92A helicopter that flies workers in Newfoundland to and from the offshore oilfields.... Read more
12-Jan-2010Source: Toronto Sun
Oil company executives at an offshore helicopter inquiry said safety is their top priority — even as a lawyer representing workers pushed to question them on why it took nine years to introduce underwater breathing devices onboard.... Read more
6-Jan-2010Source: Winnipeg Free Press
The families of passengers who died in the crash of a Sikorsky helicopter off the coast of Newfoundland last year, as well as the sole survivor of the tragedy, have reached a settlement in their lawsuit against the U.S. company.... Read more
1-Dec-2009Source: Canada.com
The head of the inquiry investigating last spring’s helicopter crash that killed 17 offshore oil workers and aircrew off the Newfoundland coast announced Wednesday he has asked the Defence Department to send a witness to explain the federal role in SAR... Read more
17-Nov-2009Source: CBC
Emergency breathing devices for suits worn by passengers during offshore helicopter flights weren’t installed until nine years after they were first recommended and only after a helicopter crashed off the coast of Newfoundland in March, killing 17 people, an inquiry heard Monday.... Read more
4-Nov-2009Source: Globe and Mail
Engineers have discovered a hairline crack in the gearbox of a Canadian-based Sikorsky S-92 helicopter, the latest chapter in an ongoing mechanical saga that has cast an investigative spotlight on the high-tech machine.... Read more
24-Sep-2009Source: Amherst Daily News
An official with the Newfoundland-based company said a chip indicator on the Sikorsky S-92 sensed there were lose fragments of material in the oil, which can cause problems in the main gearbox... Read more
14-May-2009Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090514.wxcopter14art2237/BNStory/National/home
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21-Apr-2009Source: CBC
The author of a newly published book about last month’s helicopter crash that killed 17 people off Newfoundland’s east coast is denying a widow’s criticism that the publication is capitalizing on other people’s tragedy.... Read more
11-Apr-2009Source: Globe and Mail
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11-Apr-2009Source: C-NLOPB
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26-Mar-2009Source: Oak Bay News
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26-Mar-2009Source: The Telegram
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20-Mar-2009Source: AM900
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17-Mar-2009Source: CBC
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14-Mar-2009Source: CTV
The search for 16 missing passengers of a helicopter which crashed off the coast of Newfoundland was called off Friday evening, because officials said “the likelihood of finding survivors is no longer there.”... Read more
