Evergreen International Aviation Inc. serves offshore oil and gas industry customers in the Gulf of Mexico from bases in Louisiana and Texas. Both contract and scheduled crew changes use medium class twin-engine helicopters as well as smaller single-engine helicopters to support production.
According to Evergreen, it is the first operator in the domestic US market to operate a new helicopter type for crew changes in the GoM. The Bell 412EP is a medium class helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron. Currently, two are operating in the GoM with several more scheduled for delivery in 2007.
The Bell 412EP is the latest version of the classic Bell 412 helicopter.
Flown by two qualified and experienced Instrument Flight Rules pilots, the Bell 412EP features twin Pratt & Whitney PT-6T- 3D turbine engines and can be configured for offshore operations in the GoM with two passenger seating configurations: 1) 11 passenger seats featuring an auxiliary fuel tank for additional range, or 2) 13 passenger seats with no auxiliary fuel tank.
The Bell 412EP is the most modern version of the classic Bell 412 helicopter. According to Evergreen, this new Bell 412EP is equipped with the latest avionics and navigation systems including Honeywell digital flight control computers, Honeywell flight directors, GPS navigation systems, and “Blue Sky” satellite-based flight tracking system. This helicopter also is equipped with the state-of-the-art Apical pop-out flotation system featuring conformal life rafts mounted externally on the skid gear in tandem with the aircraft flotation system.
The Bell 412EP also offers an enhanced level of operational safety in flight as it features true “Category A” performance in a one engine inoperative situation. For example, Evergreen says, should the Bell 412EP take off vertically with up to 10,800 lbs of payload onboard and then experience a loss of power in one of the two engines, the helicopter can land safely on the remaining engine. This “Category A” performance also provides an enhanced level of safety in approach to landing situations as well, should an engine lose power.
Evergreen also operates other helicopter types serving the offshore oil and gas industry in the GoM, including the new Bell 206L-4 “Long Ranger IV”, the Bell 212, the Bell 206L-3 “Long Ranger III”, the Bell 206B-3 “Jet Ranger III”, and the Eurocopter AS 350B-2 “AStar”. Evergreen has ordered several Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopters from the manufacturer with first delivery scheduled for the spring of 2008.
