Statoil shuns Airbus’ Super Puma

Norway

OSLO, December 7, 2016 – Norwegian major Statoil will no longer use Airbus Helicopters’ H225 Super Puma aircraft, the company communicated on Tuesday.

An accident involving the mentioned helicopter in late April that claimed the lives of 11 rig workers led to a commercial ban on the use of the Super Puma over the UK and Norway. “We have no plans to use this helicopter ever again, even if the Norwegian authorities decide to lift the ban,” Statoil spokesperson Morten Eek said, adding the company would henceforth be using the US-made Sikorsky S-92 rotorcraft.

Statoil’s rejection marks another setback for Airbus Helicopters – in June, Singapore deferred a USD 1-billion order for Super Pumas. “I regret the timing of Statoil’s comments during a difficult time for the offshore community as a whole, at a time when we are working with the Norwegian authorities and investigation team to address the specific concerns regarding the return to service of the H225 and AS332-L2 in the region,” Guillaume Faury, Airbus Helicopters’ CEO, said in comments on decision.

While an all-new successor is under development, production of the H225 Super Puma, production will continue for at least another 10 years.