Pilots Suspended By Company Pending An Investigation

Two pilots have been taken off flight status by Bond Helicopters after they landed on the wrong oil rig in the North Sea Friday.

According to a report appearing on the Energy Voice website, the helicopter with an unspecified number of workers on board was supposed to fly to the Buzzard platform about 60 miles north of Aberdeen, but wound up landing on the Nexen-operated Ensco rig about nine nautical miles away from their intended destination.

Other than the navigation error, the safety of the passengers and crew was threatened because the rig was fully operational when the aircraft landed. Normally, crane operations are suspended during helicopter operations, and a standby boat is in the water to assist if needed. But the Ensco rig was not prepared to receive a helicopter when it arrived.

The report says that the Bond S-92 aircraft made several scheduled landings before going off course. A spokesman for the company said that “we can confirm an S-92 helicopter landed safely on the deck of a platform which was not on the original flight plan.

“Both pilots have been removed from the flying roster pending an investigation.”

(Sikorsky S-92 pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.bondaviationgroup.com