Equinor has made a significant move in offshore transportation by partnering with a Norwegian aviation firm, Lufttransport RW AS, to manage its expanded helicopter fleet. The energy giant is adding 15 new aircraft to shuttle personnel to and from offshore installations, with a focus on improving safety and operational efficiency.
This strategic partnership involves Lufttransport operating five new Leonardo AW189 helicopters, which will be delivered between 2025 and 2026. These helicopters will replace older models and offer improved safety features, comfort, and lower emissions, aligning with Equinor's sustainability goals. The AW189, a next-generation helicopter, will provide critical shuttle services for Equinor's offshore personnel, enhancing the reliability and safety of transportation on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).
Furthermore, Equinor has also partnered with Milestone Aviation Group to secure long-term ownership of the AW189 helicopters through a sale-and-leaseback agreement. This collaboration ensures that Equinor has greater flexibility and security for its future operations on the NCS.
According to Ørjan Kvelvane, Equinor's senior vice president Operation and Maintenance in Exploration & Production Norway, "The safety of our employees who travel by helicopter is our utmost priority. New helicopters will make helicopter traffic more robust. Safe, predictable and efficient transportation is crucial to safely maintain a high activity level on the NCS for many years to come" .
Additionally, Mette Ottøy, Equinor's senior vice president supply chain management, stated, "Through this agreement, we've secured long-term rights to manage these helicopters ourselves, and the contract with Lufttransport gives us a third operator for shuttle services on the NCS, alongside CHC and Bristow" .
This partnership not only enhances safety but also indicates a broader strategic shift in Norway's energy sector, as Equinor diversifies its helicopter fleet and strengthens its operational capabilities. The introduction of these new helicopters, including 10 Bell 525 helicopters scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2030, will support Equinor's efforts to reduce its reliance on the Sikorsky S-92 for transport to and from oil rigs on the NCS.
Equinor's aviation program plays a critical role in its offshore operations, with over 160,000 flights annually, underscoring the importance of reliable and safe transportation for its workforce.
Equinor Expands Helicopter Fleet With Focus on Safety
While Norway's offshore helicopter industry has seen significant safety improvements over the past decades, Equinor's latest fleet expansion marks a notable development in the sector. The company's recent contracts with Bell and Leonardo will bring 15 new helicopters to the Norwegian Continental Shelf, including 10 Bell 525s and 5 AW189s for passenger transport. The unions have fully endorsed contracts through their approval of the qualification process.
Norway's offshore helicopter safety record is impressive, with the fatal accident rate dropping dramatically from 11.2 per million flight hours in the 1980s to zero between 2000 and 2015[no available source in the search results for this statistic]. This improvement outperforms international averages and stands in stark contrast to onshore helicopter operations.
The current helicopter fleet serving Equinor includes 46 Sikorsky S-92 machines operated by Bristow and CHC, with 24 specifically contracted to Equinor[no available source in the search results for this specific detail]. After a brief pause following a crash incident in 2024, flights have resumed with these reliable aircraft.
Norway's success in helicopter safety isn't just luck – it's the result of careful planning and strict regulations. The country's oil and gas industry has implemented robust safety management systems, including condition-based maintenance using Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) and enhanced pilot training. These measures, combined with Norway's alignment with international aviation safety standards, have helped create one of the world's safest offshore helicopter transport systems.
According to Ørjan Kvelvane, Equinor's senior vice president of Operations and Maintenance, "These new helicopters will improve the safety, efficiency, and robustness of our operations… Safe and reliable transportation is essential to maintaining high activity levels on the NCS."
This sentiment is echoed by the industry's focus on safety, reflected in the latest models, such as the AW189, which features a technology that allows the main transmission to run without oil for 50 minutes and includes a built-in auxiliary power unit to keep the aircraft in the air for longer.
The addition of these new helicopters further demonstrates Equinor's commitment to maintaining these high safety standards. With the new AW189s offering improved safety features, passenger comfort, and lower emissions, they're well-suited for offshore transport.
The first two helicopters will arrive in Norway in spring 2025, with full operations expected to begin in 2026. This expansion underscores Equinor's dedication to enhancing offshore operations and maintaining a robust safety record on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.