Worked offshore all through the 80s and 90s as a passenger not a pilot. recall the 212s on the gothia in the brent field and the workhorse 61 and 76 on occasions and a flight back to aberdeen on a 216 on a couple of occasions....never liked the puma lost a friend in the cormorant accident in march 92...i often have a helecopter simulator session really a frustrated pilot Take care
Hi Peter no it was the Great Yarmouth base bought by Steven for NSH..later Bond. The other bases they had were Strubby for Conoco(Near Mablethorpe) and later they moved to Humberside airport. They used to fly from Dimlington (BP) , initially crewed from strubby and then later when they moved from Humberside. CHC bought Bond (In 1999, CHC Helicopter purchased the Helicopter Services Group, Stephen and Peter Bond (sons of founder David Bond) then acquired Bond Air Services division, (non oil & gas operations), from Helicopter Services Group.) I retired in 2014 and in 2015 CHC closed North denes and moved to Norwich. When did you leave the North sea?
Hi Peter. I "escaped" from Aberdeen in 1985 after being there and Longside (NSH) and also from 1979 offshore flying mostly in the Brent in single pilot BO105s.till about 82. Converted to S76 and flew from Aberdeen out to the east Shetland Basin 2 crew.
Sorry didn't see this. Rarely went above 10000. Only on transit flights to another country..crossing the Alps etc.We were supposed to use oxygen if we did, but didn't carry on it as normal
True. the 139 I felt was a game changer in the power available. Big difference to the old days in the Bell 47. Bolkow 105 and the S76. Each a step forward.
Hi Al, this takes me back. Nice video, how pleasant that southern North Sea weather looks compared to what I recall from the East Shetland Basin! You still at it? Regards, Rupert Lawson Bond ABZ S76 1984-1996.
Great to hear from you Gerry. Did this a few months before retiring. We sneaked a borrowed one on board. I thought, and still think it had potential to be used as a training aid. Where are you now?
I always thought it would be more beneficial to show pilots good and bad examples of CRM rather than just discussing the topic once a year. I'm in Abu Dhabi now. Still on the 139.@@aljeavons
Dream Job, hoping that I'll pass medical cause of my diabetes once I'm old enough to go to flight school. Fortunately flight school is free in my country, so that's nice.
These videos are amazing Allan! Thank you so much for uploading them. I am a trainee helicopter pilot currently with 135 hours and doing my ATPL(H) exams, hoping to complete them and obtain my CPL and IR in 2023. It's my dream to do some offshore flying so to be able to see and hear these videos is an incredible learning experience for me! I have to say, the night flying looks terrifying but I guess it's something you get used to?! 😂😂
Hi Allan! I left the above comment apparently 1 year ago or there abouts?! I came back to tell you that today I formally accepted a job offer from CHC in Norwich as a first officer flying the AW139! I am incredibly happy and excited! I guess dreams really do come true with enough hard work and perseverance! Thanks again for the inspiration and best wishes to you!
@@Marco37472 Thank you Marco! My training has been quite spread out over the last 4 years, are you UK based? I did my PPL at Doncaster airport when it was still operational, followed by an R44 rating at Blackpool, a 206 type rating and Newcastle and ultimately my CPL and MEIR in the AW109 at Gloucester Airport!
You're still departing, your SIC just coupled, you're still low and in a critical phase of flight, and you start talking about what she said about a break? Maybe focus on flying the aircraft just a tiny smidge longer? I dunno but sterile cockpit comes to mind...
Its a long time ago but just listening again Anglia radar was saying that she was not available shortly due to a break. I commented, purposely after alt acquire... We are climbing towards our next landing. A comment was required by me because the radar separation might not be available shortly and there are other aircraft in the field. I do agree with a sterile cockpit but you still have to communicate with one another and I was not sure what was said. We spent our lives flying low over water at night and an evening shuttle may be around 12 sectors on a busy night. Am assuming that the scenario is familiar to you and that you fly helicopters as a occupation. Cheers Al
They were taken over a few days the year I retired. I asked the training department to use gopro as a training aid on procedures to check standards but the idea wasn't taken up! It's a record of many platforms now gone and also our two crew method of operations. Glad we did it for a future record for posterity.
These videos are brilliant! I aspire to fly offshore in the not too distant future so these videos are great to get an understanding of the job and the multi crew environment you work in.
All the Pax had ear defenders. It's noisy but you can carry on a conversation...but better with Headsets. The Pax could always hear messages from us on the intercom with their ear defenders on, so no problem.
Loved evwry second of it. It's something I want to do after I do my time in raf. How hard is it to get the job,other than pilots license what do you need, what's the wage like, who do you fly for and do you have a favourite weather to fly in. I'm envyous of these pilots. Just wish I was 18 and not 14 so I can do this like you