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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Helicopters to return to service | Helicopters to return to service |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| The fleet of Super Puma helicopters operating in the UK will begin to return to service on Tuesday after a North Sea crash which killed 16 people. | The fleet of Super Puma helicopters operating in the UK will begin to return to service on Tuesday after a North Sea crash which killed 16 people. |
| The two types of Super Puma helicopter have been checked by ground staff and modifications made to gearboxes after the crash on 1 April which killed 16. | |
| Industry body Oil and Gas UK said the fleet of 25 helicopters would gradually return to the air from Tuesday. | Industry body Oil and Gas UK said the fleet of 25 helicopters would gradually return to the air from Tuesday. |
| An initial report indicated there had been a gearbox failure. | |
| Oil and Gas UK added aircraft would return to the skies only after the necessary modifications were made, but believed all would be fit to fly within 10 days. | Oil and Gas UK added aircraft would return to the skies only after the necessary modifications were made, but believed all would be fit to fly within 10 days. |
| 'Best interests' | 'Best interests' |
| The AS332L2 model Super Puma, the type involved in the 1 April crash, was grounded on Friday. | The AS332L2 model Super Puma, the type involved in the 1 April crash, was grounded on Friday. |
| The EC225LP variant Super Puma was also grounded that day. An example of this model crashed in the North Sea on 18 February in an accident in which all 18 on board survived. | The EC225LP variant Super Puma was also grounded that day. An example of this model crashed in the North Sea on 18 February in an accident in which all 18 on board survived. |
| Inspection and modifications on the aircraft's gearboxes have been carried out after the manufacturer, Eurocopter, issued an alert on Saturday. | Inspection and modifications on the aircraft's gearboxes have been carried out after the manufacturer, Eurocopter, issued an alert on Saturday. |
| Fourteen passengers and two crew died in the 1 April crash | Fourteen passengers and two crew died in the 1 April crash |
| Malcolm Webb, chief executive of Oil and Gas UK, said: "Oil and Gas UK applauds the way in which the UK helicopter operating companies are dealing with this matter. | Malcolm Webb, chief executive of Oil and Gas UK, said: "Oil and Gas UK applauds the way in which the UK helicopter operating companies are dealing with this matter. |
| "The companies are allowed three months to complete the modification. | "The companies are allowed three months to complete the modification. |
| "However, they have decided not to fly these aircraft until both the inspection and the modification have been completed, which must be in the best interests of safety for all those working offshore." | "However, they have decided not to fly these aircraft until both the inspection and the modification have been completed, which must be in the best interests of safety for all those working offshore." |
| The crash earlier this month killed 14 passengers and two crew who were returning from BP's Miller platform. | The crash earlier this month killed 14 passengers and two crew who were returning from BP's Miller platform. |
| Following the February incident, the Civil Aviation Authority blocked the use of personal locator beacons on passengers in case they interfered with the more powerful beacon signal from downed aircraft. | Following the February incident, the Civil Aviation Authority blocked the use of personal locator beacons on passengers in case they interfered with the more powerful beacon signal from downed aircraft. |
| But Oil and Gas UK has now said that finding a technical solution that would allow the personal beacons to be safely reinstated was a matter of priority, with the issue discussed at a meeting on Friday. | But Oil and Gas UK has now said that finding a technical solution that would allow the personal beacons to be safely reinstated was a matter of priority, with the issue discussed at a meeting on Friday. |