Bristow Nigeria introduces heli rescue services
Bristow Helicopters (Nigeria) has announced its plans to offer a new dedicated helicopter rescue and recovery service for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry from August.
Bristow Helicopters (Nigeria) has announced its plans to offer a new dedicated helicopter rescue and recovery service for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry from August.
The firm said the service will provide critical life-saving assistance currently not available in the country’s aviation landscape and will complement its suite of industrial aviation offerings, including its fixed-wing service between Lagos and Port Harcourt launched last year.
Captain Akin Oni, interim regional director Africa, explained: “We will utilise our global expertise to provide safe and reliable service in Nigeria. This new rescue and recovery service is a natural extension of our business transporting personnel offshore that we’ve provided in Nigeria for more than 50 years, and demonstrates our continued long-term commitment to the country.”
Bristow Helicopters said it will deliver the new service from its base at Port Harcourt, which is strategically located to transport resources quickly and efficiently to oil installations in the area. The company will devote an AW139 helicopter to the operation, which will be kitted out for SAR missions with gear including forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera technology, dual hoists and mission management capabilities.
A second AW139 operated from Lagos is expected to join the service by the end of this year. Both bases are to offer night medical evacuation services.
Pilots, technical crew, paramedics, engineers and ground crew are already at the Port Harcourt base to begin training in the area ahead of the service launch.
Captain Ibrahim Mamman, Head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Special Air Operations Unit, said: “We are happy that Bristow has provided a service complementary to ours. Collaboration is critical. Every support is required in SAR and it should be commended. It is important that efforts such as theirs are supported by their customers, predominantly the oil and gas industry.”
Meanwhile, Captain Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick, Rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, commented: “Search and Recovery System is an integral component of air operations and transport. The role Bristow Helicopters has decided to pioneer is a welcome development, and it deserves commendation, encouragement and support.”