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Pilots call on unions to back helicopter crash ‘summit’
Association says inquiry too important to be left solely to oil and gas industry
Pilots are urging trade unions to get behind their call for a high-level and independently led safety “summit” following the North Sea helicopter accident that killed 16 men.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said yesterday an accident inquiry was too important to be “left solely to the oil and gas industry” and had to be subject to public scrutiny.
The union has tabled an emergency motion on the issue at the STUC’s annual congress, which started in Perth yesterday and continues today and tomorrow.
Helicopter rescue practices are in the spotlight today.
Balpa, which represents more than 80% of the UK’s professional airline and helicopter pilots, fears commercial pressures could be undermining safety in the North Sea oil and gas industry.
As well as the appeal to other unions for their backing, it has written to First Minister Alex Salmond and UK Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon for support.
Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said: “We're asking that politicians in both Holyrood and Westminster convene this summit involving all the key players, not least independent safety experts and those who actually fly the helicopters.”
The oil and gas industry has already set up its own helicopter safety taskforce.
Primarily made up of representatives of companies directly involved in the accident on April 1, it will also assist in the implementation of any recommendations made by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) following its report on the incident.
But Mr McAuslan said this did not go far enough, adding: “It will be the industry talking to itself.”
The union boss said any talk of oil and gas sector investment in safety was against a background of a squeeze on suppliers to make huge cost reductions.
“This circle will not be squared and this should be of concern to all who want a safe and sustainable North Sea industry,” he added.
Balpa wants all major offshore companies, helicopter operators and other major organisations “with a vested interest” to attend the safety summit, alongside politicians from both Holyrood and Westminster.
It would examine all recent helicopter incidents and also take a wide-ranging look at all aspects of safety in the offshore industry.
Oil and Gas UK chief executive Malcolm Webb took “exception to the suggestion” that commercial pressures were undermining the safety of offshore helicopter operations.
“Our industry is determined never to allow commercial considerations to prejudice safety,” he said. “Through Step Change in Safety, over 80 managing directors from oil and gas companies last month met to reaffirm the industry’s ongoing commitment to safety, stressing that the current economic downturn will not shift the industry’s focus away from the important issues of safety and skills.
“There could not be a clearer demonstration of that than in the way we have responded to the recent fatal helicopter accident”
The fatal accident on April 1 saw a Super Puma en route to Aberdeen Airport from BP’s Miller platform crash into the sea 11 miles east of Peterhead.
The AAIB has ordered “urgent” safety checks on gearboxes as a result of the crash and 25 Super Pumas operating in the UK offshore oil and gas industry have been grounded until necessary inspections and modifications are complete.
A few will start flying from today, having had their checks completed, with the rest expected to be modified and checked in the next eight days.
The emergency motion to the STUC congress, jointly made with the Unite and the Rail, Maritime and Transport unions, says: “This tragedy has brought home to us all that working offshore is a hazardous occupation. Families have to be reassured that when their loved ones go offshore to work they will return home safely.”
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Association says inquiry too important to be left solely to oil and gas industry
Pilots are urging trade unions to get behind their call for a high-level and independently led safety “summit” following the North Sea helicopter accident that killed 16 men.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said yesterday an accident inquiry was too important to be “left solely to the oil and gas industry” and had to be subject to public scrutiny.
The union has tabled an emergency motion on the issue at the STUC’s annual congress, which started in Perth yesterday and continues today and tomorrow.
Helicopter rescue practices are in the spotlight today.
Balpa, which represents more than 80% of the UK’s professional airline and helicopter pilots, fears commercial pressures could be undermining safety in the North Sea oil and gas industry.
As well as the appeal to other unions for their backing, it has written to First Minister Alex Salmond and UK Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon for support.
Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said: “We're asking that politicians in both Holyrood and Westminster convene this summit involving all the key players, not least independent safety experts and those who actually fly the helicopters.”
The oil and gas industry has already set up its own helicopter safety taskforce.
Primarily made up of representatives of companies directly involved in the accident on April 1, it will also assist in the implementation of any recommendations made by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) following its report on the incident.
But Mr McAuslan said this did not go far enough, adding: “It will be the industry talking to itself.”
The union boss said any talk of oil and gas sector investment in safety was against a background of a squeeze on suppliers to make huge cost reductions.
“This circle will not be squared and this should be of concern to all who want a safe and sustainable North Sea industry,” he added.
Balpa wants all major offshore companies, helicopter operators and other major organisations “with a vested interest” to attend the safety summit, alongside politicians from both Holyrood and Westminster.
It would examine all recent helicopter incidents and also take a wide-ranging look at all aspects of safety in the offshore industry.
Oil and Gas UK chief executive Malcolm Webb took “exception to the suggestion” that commercial pressures were undermining the safety of offshore helicopter operations.
“Our industry is determined never to allow commercial considerations to prejudice safety,” he said. “Through Step Change in Safety, over 80 managing directors from oil and gas companies last month met to reaffirm the industry’s ongoing commitment to safety, stressing that the current economic downturn will not shift the industry’s focus away from the important issues of safety and skills.
“There could not be a clearer demonstration of that than in the way we have responded to the recent fatal helicopter accident”
The fatal accident on April 1 saw a Super Puma en route to Aberdeen Airport from BP’s Miller platform crash into the sea 11 miles east of Peterhead.
The AAIB has ordered “urgent” safety checks on gearboxes as a result of the crash and 25 Super Pumas operating in the UK offshore oil and gas industry have been grounded until necessary inspections and modifications are complete.
A few will start flying from today, having had their checks completed, with the rest expected to be modified and checked in the next eight days.
The emergency motion to the STUC congress, jointly made with the Unite and the Rail, Maritime and Transport unions, says: “This tragedy has brought home to us all that working offshore is a hazardous occupation. Families have to be reassured that when their loved ones go offshore to work they will return home safely.”
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