Member Article

Humberside benefits as CHC Helicopter secures £29m contract

Centrica Storage and Centrica Energy have signed a £29m three-year contract, with options for a two-year extension, with CHC Helicopter to secure an improved helicopter service to meet its operational needs across key oil and gas fields in the North Sea.

In the Southern North Sea, CHC will operate an AW139 aircraft out of Humberside Airport from November 2013, to support Centrica’s offshore activities, including the York and Rough platforms, as the operator relocates all flight operations from Yarmouth.

In the Northern and Central North Sea, Centrica Energy has secured the use of aircraft out of Aberdeen, from June 2013, on a part-exclusive basis to improve scheduling and flexibility of flights to its operated Kittiwake platform.

A joint team has been established by the operator and CHC, the world’s largest offshore helicopter operator, to set up both services – increasing the number of flights, improving the overall efficiency of the service and securing dedicated flights to each of the installations.

The move will see CHC invest more resources in Humberside whilst maintaining its current base in North Denes where demand for its services remains high.

CHC, which recently invested £300,000 in its North Denes operation, will continue to service its other energy sector customers from the base.

Paul Litten, commercial director, Humberside International Airport, commented: “We are delighted that Centrica Energy will be joining with Centrica Storage to operate from our airport and that CHC, one of our major helicopter partners, has secured this contract, bringing another helicopter to our facility.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .