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    2. Coronavirus

    Bristow adapts UK helicopters for offshore workers showing signs of sickness

    March 20, 2020
    Bristow Helicopters has repatriated three persons working on offshore oil and gas installations with suspected symptoms of the COVID-19 virus.
    (Courtesy Bristow)
    Bhl C 19 S92 2 Sm 5e74dc15a56f6

    Offshore staff

    ABERDEEN, UK – Bristow Helicopters has repatriated three persons working on offshore oil and gas installations with suspected symptoms of the COVID-19 virus.

    The company, which has been deploying three specially-configured former search and rescue aircraft, has transported all three staff in one of the aircrafts since Wednesday.

    It has introduced this arrangement specifically to support the industry’s response to the pandemic. The Sikorsky S92 helicopters are not for use for general crew change flight activities.

    Each has undergone modifications to ensure the necessary separation is provided between flight crew, an on-board medic travelling with each flight to provide passenger monitoring support, and passengers with suspected COVID-19.

    As the aircraft are purpose designed for a search and rescue role, they have a different seating configuration to crew change helicopters, and according to Bristow, this ensure appropriate separation can be maintained between those on-board.

    Numerous preventive barriers including protective curtains separating the cockpit from the passenger area and airflow systems, with specific entrance and exit points provided for each of the flight crew, paramedic and passenger to further ensure the required distance is maintained.

    Each aircraft undergoes a full decontamination process after every flight. Other features are rugged waterproof seating and a fully waterproof floor.

    (Courtesy Bristow)
    As the aircraft are purpose designed for a search and rescue role, they have a different seating configuration to crew change helicopters, and according to Bristow, this ensure appropriate separation can be maintained between those on-board.
    As the aircraft are purpose designed for a search and rescue role, they have a different seating configuration to crew change helicopters, and according to Bristow, this ensure appropriate separation can be maintained between those on-board.

    Bristow said it was providing operational and medical expertise to the UK industry’s pandemic steering group, which aims for continuous improvement in the options for repatriation of staff working offshore.

    Learnings from the deployment of this solution in the UK sector will now inform operations in other regions.

    Matt Rhodes, director UK and Turkmenistan Oil & Gas at Bristow Helicopters, said: “This service has been established with approval from the CAA, and the support of Oil & Gas UK, our client base and the relevant health authorities – and we remain in continuous dialogue with those organizations.

    “Having completed two repatriation flights on behalf of clients in the UKCS, we are pleased to be able to confirm we now have three dedicated aircraft available to companies across the energy sector.

    “We are now exploring further options for other parts of the UK, and other industries, as the national response to the coronavirus outbreak gathers pace.”

    03/20/2020