HC Deb 24 March 1986 vol 94 cc361-2W
Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the priority accorded to safety considerations in the drawing up of recent contracts for helicopter use in the North sea oil and gas industry; and to what extent his Department is involved in such contracts.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Contracts for the use of helicopters in the North sea oil and gas industry are a matter for the contracting parties only. Helicopter operators are required to comply with public transport safety regulations laid down by the Civil Aviation Authority, which is statutorily responsible for aviation safety.

Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has in relation to the safety of landing of helicopters on alternative landings in the North sea; and what is the fuel margin specified to enable helicopters to land onshore;

(2) if he will list the offshore oil rigs designated as alternative landing sites for helicopters; and how he satisfies himself that the risk of helicopters having to ditch in the sea will be safeguarded by such a practice.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Civil aviation safety is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority. The authority has informed me that it expects its study into the risks involved in the use of offshore diversions for helicopters to be completed in mid-April and a paper to be available in May.

The CAA tells me that the nomination of offshore alternates is practised by only one of the four major North sea operators at present pending the conclusions on safety to be drawn from the authority's study. Irrespective of whether a nominated alternate is situated onshore or offshore, the fuel to be carried must not be less that that required to fly to the destination and thence to the alternate, plus an appropriate fuel reserve.

The CAA also tells me that any offshore rig classified as unrestricted for use by helicopters by the authority may be nominated as an alternate provided the helicopter operator first ensures for each flight that the rig is available and that the weather there is forecast to be satisfactory.