Bristow Helicopters Fleet
Bristow Helicopters operate a large fleet of 490 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. It operates 24 helicopter types in 2015, but intends to reduce the variety to 6 types.[1] The fleet includes unconsolidated affiliates and joint venture partners, as of 31 December 2008 is as follows:[2]
Helicopters
Small helicopters
Small helicopters carry 4 to 6 passengers for smaller production facilities, daytime flights and shorter routes. All of these smaller helicopter types have now been removed from the fleet with the exception of a number of Bell 407 rotorcraft and one Bell 206B with the latter strictly being used for training.[3]
| Aircraft | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eurocopter AS350 | 35 | |
| Bell 206L | 43 | |
| Bell 206B Jet Ranger | 5 | |
| Bell 407 | 45 | |
| BK-117 | 1 | |
| BO-105 | 2 | |
| Eurocopter EC 135 | 6 | |
| Total Number of Aircraft | 137 |
Medium helicopters
Medium helicopters carry up to 13 passengers and are the most versatile type of helicopter. All of the Bell 212, Bell 412, Eurocopter EC 155 and Sikorsky S-76A rotorcraft have now been removed from the fleet.[4]
| Aircraft | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bell 212 | 0 | |
| Bell 412 | 80 | |
| Eurocopter EC 155 | 10 | Six were in service for Shell Nigeria, aircraft also have external life rafts and are equipped for SAR duties.[5] |
| Sikorsky S-76A | 0 | |
| Sikorsky S-76C+/C++ | 44 | |
| Total Number of Aircraft | 188 |
Large helicopters
Large helicopters carry up to 20 passengers. They can fly longer distances and in harsher weather conditions.
| Aircraft | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AS332L Super Puma | 34 | Were used for North West Shelf hydrocarbon personnel transfer operations & North Sea Oil and Gas. No longer operated. |
| Sikorsky S-61 | 2 | Were used for SAR out of Den Helder. No longer operated. |
| Sikorsky S-92 | 19 | Six of which are based at Scatsta in the Shetland Islands. Also operated from Bristow Gulf of Mexico, Norway, Nigeria and Brazil.
Newest to Aberdeen, the 200th S92 off the production line, G-GALC, registered with respect to the Royal Baby - George Alexander Louis Cambridge |
| Mil Mi-8 | 8 | |
| Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma Mk II+ | 12 | Used in North Sea operations supporting the oil & gas industry, with deliveries expected to be completed in 2008. Bristow in Australia also operate 7. Fleet remains grounded due to an accident in Norway involving an EC 225 operated by Bristow competitor CHC Helicopter. |
| Total Number of Aircraft | 79 (+2 orders) |
Training helicopters
Training helicopters are used for initial pilot training, typically carrying up to 4 passengers and crew. Many of Bristow's aircraft are part of a technologically advanced fleet from an avionics perspective. This has allowed pilots from the academy to transition more smoothly into various roles including aerial tours, utility, and various other operations. While the majority of Bristow's training helicopters are operated by Bristow Academy in Titusville, Florida, a small number of aircraft operate out of a secondary training base located in New Iberia, Florida.
| Aircraft | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Schweizer 300 CB/Cbi | 32 | |
| Robinson R22 | 9 | |
| Robinson R44 | 6 | |
| Bell 206 | 11 | |
| Total Number of Aircraft | Approx. 58 |
Fixed wing aircraft
Bristow's Fixed Wing Service provides a range of fixed-wing transportation services for crew transport to helicopter bases around the world. Bristow operates jet and turbo prop aircraft to meet the needs of the global oil and gas industry. For subsidiary Eastern Airways fixed wing jet and turboprop aircraft, see Eastern Airways.
| Aircraft | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| British Aerospace BAe-125-700B, -800 and 1000B | ? | |
| Beech 200 Super King Air | ? | |
| Piper PA-34-220T Seneca III | ? | |
| Total Number of Aircraft | 15 |
Orders
Orders have been placed for 47 aircraft, which includes 1 small helicopter, 27 medium helicopters and 19 large helicopters.
- 7 × Sikorsky S-92
Former fleet
- Westland Widgeon - Offshore support operations initially the Persian Gulf and then in Nigeria. Three abandoned in Nigeria as a result of the Nigeria-Biafra conflict. Five operated from 1957 to 1968.[6]
- Westland Wessex - 15 Wessex Mk.60s built at Yeovil, based on the RAF HC.2 but with improved avionics and seating for 10, and one conversion from an ex-Ghana Air Force Wessex Mk.53 by Bristow at Redhill. 16 operated from 1965 to 1981.[6]
- Westland Whirlwind
- Westland AB-47G-4A
- Aerospatiale SA-330J Puma
- Britten-Norman BN-2A-20 Islander
- Twin Otter
- Hiller UH-12C - Purchased in 1964 and operated at their Redhill and Middle Wallop flying schools.
- Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer Srs1 - Crashed on 4 April 1967 in Nigeria after stalling and during a single engine approach.
References
- ↑ Johnson, Oliver. "Charting Bristow's Course" Vertical, August 2015. Archive
- ↑ http://www.bristowgroup.com/clients/helicopter-fleet/
- ↑ http://www.bristowgroup.com, 2016 Annual Report
- ↑ http://www.bristowgroup.com, 2016 Annual Report
- ↑ Eurocopter Press Release - Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd. Receives Its First EC155 B Archived November 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2009-11-08.