Bond Offshore

Source: Energy Digital

Date :03/07/2008 17:12:38

Best of both worlds

Written by David Watts and Produced by Alex Smith

Founded back in the 60s by David Bond as Bond Helicopters Ltd, Bond Offshore Helicopters began working in the offshore market in the North Sea in 1972, operating a variety of twin-engined helicopter types to support the oil and gas industry.

Growth has been rapid for the company. From relatively humble beginnings, by the mid 1990s Bond had expanded to encompass a fleet of 110 helicopters as part of its global presence, before a merger in the late 1990’s led to the formation of a multi-national company, which in turn almost doubled the size of its fleet.

In 1999, Stephen & Peter Bond, former owners of Bond Helicopters Ltd, bought Bond’s UK onshore operating division, Bond Air Services, from parent group Helicopter Services Group AS, with much of Bond’s senior management climbing on board.

Two years later, another private company was formed - Bond Offshore Helicopters Limited - with the intention of re-entering the UK offshore helicopter support market.

As a plan, it’s been a resounding success. With operations based on the east side of Aberdeen Airport, Bond currently employs 160 members of staff, has a turnover of £45million and a solid relationship with both the public sector and the blue-chip firms of the oil and gas industry.

Meeting expectations

Back in November 2002, Bond was awarded the largest yet offshore helicopter transport service contract – worth £120million – to provide BP with helicopter support over the next ten years for its Aberdeen operations. This support mainly involves crew change operations, with around twelve flights per day, five days a week – which adds up to around 750 hours flying time per month.

On top of this, the company also provides crew change services to other oil companies and also covers aerial lifting work and VIP flights.

BP later awarded Bond its multi-million pound search and rescue (SAR) contract, part of its Jigsaw Project. Jigsaw was initiated following the merger of BP and Amoco in 1999 with the aim of improving search and rescue synergies and capability. Combining air response with marine cover, the program has been an outstanding success since its launch two years ago, combining a variety of tasks including SAR flights, platform down-mannings and medical evacuations, while also providing assistance at the request of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency and airlifts in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

The original concept for Jigsaw was based on the use of advanced SAR helicopters, based offshore with specially trained crews, and platformbased fast rescue crafts. As the BP project evolved through employee consultation, regional support vessels were added to the resources.

These vessels, based in the ETAP, Miller and Magnus areas respectively, operate alongside two SAR aircraft from Bond, with one based offshore in the central North Sea area, and one based at Sumburgh, Shetland.

It’s a comprehensive program. Bond’s two specially-modified and dedicated Super Puma AS332L Mark II helicopters feature a four-axis auto-hover system which improves their ability to operate in severe weather conditions, as well as heat-seeking infrared cameras and up-to-the-minute avionics and SAR equipment, making them some of the most advanced of their type in the world.

Lift-off

With an initial capital investment in the Jigsaw project of £135million by BP, expectations were rightfully high. This figure was more than justified by news earlier this year that the aircraft have flown over 100 missions since the project went live in March 2006.

With such a valuable resource, exclusivity doesn’t seem quite right. So, apart from work for BP, the Super Pumas have conducted missions to assist twelve other offshore companies, rig contractors and oil-related vessel operators in the North Sea.

Bond has considerable experience in this field, having pioneered the use of helicopters as air ambulances in the late 1980s. Today, it offers the most comprehensive helicopter support network in the UK through Bond Air Services, with each aircraft working in conjunction with the existing infrastructure and operating as an integral part of the ambulance service.

Bond also has the infrastructure and expertise to operate and maintain police helicopters, either as a complete package for police forces who prefer to lease aircraft support services, or equally to provide support packages including pilots and engineering support, and back-up helicopters to police forces who currently own their aircraft, and also offers similar programs for the fire services.

A dependable partner

It’s clear that a huge amount of trust is placed in Bond, right across the public and private sectors. It’s no mean feat achieving this, of course, and to maintain it, investment is a necessity.

For example, Bond is currently undertaking major investment in expanding its fleet, recruiting and training staff, including pilots and engineers, and in improving and expanding its base facilities as part of its continuing growth, which is expected to see new clients and contracts added soon.

With this commitment to improving its operations behind it, 2008 is set to be another exciting year for Bond. And with announcements regarding new areas to its business set to be made in the near future, the company looks set to further enhance its reputation.

Click here to view the corporate brochure on Bond Offshore