Australian operators award helicopter services contract to CHC

CHC Helicopter has been awarded a helicopter services contract by Woodside and other operators in the North West Shelf and North West Cape regions, providing passenger transfer flights, medical evacuation and search and rescue services for four customers from bases in Australia’s Pilbara region.

The signing ceremony. Source: CHC Helicopters

CHC said on Monday that the contract will start in July 2019 and will provide more than ten daily flights for Woodside, Jadestone Energy, Vermilion Energy and BHP as part of a shared service from bases at Karratha, Learmonth and Onslow Airports.

“CHC has provided services to customers in the North West Shelf since March 2011 and we are honoured to be part of this innovation in passenger transfer services in Australia,” said Karl Fessenden, President and CEO of CHC Helicopter.

“I would like to thank Woodside and other operators in the region for putting their trust in CHC to deliver the largest shared aviation service model in Australia’s offshore oil and gas industry.”

CHC added that the five-year contract also has two two-year extensions. The company is expecting to fly more than 100,000 passengers a year to and from their place of work, with Woodside set to utilize the majority of flight capacity CHC’s team will fly and maintain two AW139 medium helicopters and two AW189 super medium helicopters to support the service.

CHC noted it has committed to supporting local and Aboriginal employment and training with apprenticeship opportunities available to the local community over the period of the contract and all other roles to be filled by local employees, where possible.