Return to Bristow bases

..........Bristow Base: Aberdeen, U.K.

At its peak the Bristows base at Aberdeen was probably
the largest commercial helicopter operation in the world.
Located on the East coast of Scotland, Aberdeen airport
was chosen as a base to serve the booming North Sea
oil fields, and if my sources are correct, the first flight
took place on July 26th 1967 with a Whirlwind WS55 flight
out to the Hambros rig.


The picture on the left was probably taken around 1990
and shows the three main hangar complexes and terminal
building. Being based at a commercial airport enables
offshore workers to fly in from their home airports and
transfer smoothly to the rig flights.

28 aircraft can be counted in this photo with the A.S.332L
Super Pumas dominating the proceedings with a fleet of
approx. 22 in 1989. Many modifications were made to the
Super Pumas to bring them up to the Bristow standard
and this led to the nickname "Tiger" being adopted.

Again a "Tiger" trying to hog the limelight with a few
S61Ns and a S76 in the background. Over the years
most of the larger Bristows types have operated out
of Aberdeen i.e. ( Whirlwinds, Wessex, Puma, Bell 212,
Bell 214ST, S61, S76 and Tigers ).

The Bristow terminal is more akin to a regular airport
departure lounge with check-in desks, snack bar, a news
stand, security and custom services, offices for customer
representatives and video lounges ( for safety briefings )
and in 1989 was handling 40,000 passengers every month.


At its peak, approximately, 45 medium / large helicopters
were operating out of Aberdeen averaging 50 - 60 flights
per day and a record of 86 flights one Christmas.
The installation shown is a typical North sea rig served
by the Bristow fleet and when the "Tigers" were intro-
duced a direct flight to the Magnus oil field was made
possible creating a leg of approx. 280nm.

This map shows the U.K. sector Northern North Sea
oil fields the majority of which are served from Aberdeen
by one of the two big helicopter operators, Bristows and
Scotia.




Inevitably, as exploration slowed, offshore shift changes reduced, new install-
ations with fewer workers etc. etc., the requirement for aircraft reduced, which
has led to the "down-sizing" of the operation. It is unlikely there will ever be
a base as busy as Aberdeen was in its heyday and maintaining such a high
quality service in the face of some of the most hostile weather conditions in
the offshore arena is a credit to the staff that have manned the base over the
last 40+ years.

Record of Aberdeen Operations 1967-1993.

1967 - Commenced operations from Aberdeen Airport on 26th July with a
Westland Whirlwind WS55 helicopter to the Hambros rig.

1969 - First operation from Aberdeen Airport with Wessex 60.

1971 - S61N introduced to UK fleet at Aberdeen and operations moved to
a new location on the western perimeter of the airfield. The original hangar
started.

1974 - Bristow aircraft and crews rescue 90 persons from two oil rigs, Trans
Ocean III and Trans World 62 in an emergency.

1975 - New passenger terminal for Bristows opened.

1977 - Aerospatiale SA330J "Puma" introduced to worldwide fleet with first
flight of this type from Aberdeen.

- Over fifty pilots go on strike. Chaos ensues around the country as sympathy
strikes and picketing take hold. At one stage Aberdeen Airport was closed to
fixed wing flights with the only aircraft movements being Bristow aircraft!!

1978 - Bristows assist with relief and emergency flights after snow blizzards.

1979 - Over 500 persons evacuated by Bristow aircraft and crews from the
crane barge "Hermod" in severe storm force conditions.

1980 - First operational flight of the new Sikorsky S76 helicopter in UK takes
place with a Bristow aircraft from Aberdeen.

- Bristows announce an order for up to 35 Aerospatiale AS332L "Super Pumas",
the largest order for civil helicopters ever placed. The majority of these aircraft
were intended to be based at Aberdeen from where they would operate directly to
all the major North Sea oil fields without having to refuel en-route.

1981 - Two Bristow S61Ns rescue 48 persons from the drilling rig Trans World
58 in a severe storm.

1982 - £1,000,000 extension to Bristows facilities at Aberdeen granted planning
permission.

- First civil offshore flight by AS332L "Super Puma" carried out by Bristow
aircraft out of Aberdeen for Britoil.

- Extension to passenger and freight terminal formally opened.

1983 - Bristows commission the first, 4 axis, flight simulator for the AS332L
installed at the pilot training school at Aberdeen.

1984 - August sees a record level of activity with over 1,300 departing flights
carrying nearly 16,000 passengers and nearly 3/4 million pounds of baggage
and freight.

1985 - The AS 332 "Tiger" fleet reaches 20 aircraft and Bristows record over
1/4 million flights by Aberdeen based helicopters since 1969.

1986 - The landmark of 3 million passengers carried by Bristows in operations
from Aberdeen is reached.

1987 - The company is awarded one of the largest ever contracts for helicopter
services ever tendered in UK - by Marathon Oil UK Limited involving up to five
"Tigers" - requires extension of the terminal facilities.

- Bristow Group takes over British Caledonian Helicopters Ltd at Aberdeen
which results in the Bell 214ST joining the fleet.

1988 - Extension work completed. Implementation of computer facilities to aid
with flight planning, upkeep of technical records and invoicing.

- Four millionth passenger carried from Aberdeen in September.

1989 - H.U.M.S. ( Health and Usage Monitoring System) introduced to monitor
aircraft systems and dynamic components during flights and on the ground. This
multi-million pound project was developed with Plessey and the C.A.A.

- Two millionth Tiger passenger carried in October and 200,000 flying hours
logged on the Tiger fleet by November.

1990 - Five millionth passenger carried from the Aberdeen base in April and
300,000 hours completed on Tigers in August.

1991 - Six millionth passenger carried in December.

1992 - In July the total flying hours on Tigers exceeded the S61N, the Tiger
having been in service for ten years.

1993 - £500,000 extension to the Bristow passenger terminal granted planning
permission. It would allow seating for 250.

- In June the Bell 214ST had carried 1/4 million passengers on Bristow operations.