Helicopters Supporting North Sea oil rigs

Over the years since the oil and gas boom in the North Sea began there has been a number of companies. including BEA, BHI, Bond, and Bristow operating helicopters in support of the industry's offshore operations along with some fixed-wing types. At one time most of the helicopter flights operated out of Sumburgh, in the Shetland Isles. Transporting personnel maintenance men and supplies to oil fields in the North Sea presents one of the most challenging tasks for the helicopter pilots who have to carry out these tasks in what is a very busy area for civil airliners too. Most of the helicopters used including the Bell 212 (the first) the Sikorsky S-61N, Sikorsky S-76 Spirit, SA330 Puma, and SA332L Super Puma have been modified to improve their safety features for this demanding tasks even so, there have been a number of fatalities. This ebook is a breif history of North Sea oil industry helicopter support operations from inception until the present day.