Helicopter Was Recently Cleared By U.K. And European Agencies To Return To Over-Water Service

A CHC Helicopter EC225 Super Puma made a flight Wednesday from Aberdeen Airport in Scotland to an offshore oil platform marking the return of the aircraft to offshore oil service in the North Sea.

The aircraft flew to a platform operated by Total oil and gas group, according to a report from the U.K. television service STV. On board were several of the company's executives.

The Super Pumas were grounded, and later restricted from over water flights, following two ditching incidents in the North Sea last year. All of those on board the two aircraft were rescued, but it called the EC225's safety into question.

A CHC spokesperson told STV News that the flight followed months of investigating, testing, modifying, and collaborating by Eurocopter and the industry. The spokesman said that there will be additional flights "over the coming days and weeks," but did not say when the next flight was scheduled.

The aircraft was cleared by aviation authorities to return to service in July. The problems were traced to welds in the main gear box which failed, leading to a loss of power to pumps that supply lubricating oil to the rotor gears.

(CHC Super Puma pictured in file photo)

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