Bristow Helicopters received a Rescue Award during the HAI Heli-Expo 2016 (Photo credit: Bristow Group)

Sikorsky – a Lockheed Martin company – has recognised Bristow Helicopters for its critical role in safely evacuating hundreds of workers with S-92 helicopters from six oil platforms in the North Sea on Dec.31, 2015. The recognition was presented by Sikorsky President Dan Schultz to Bristow President and CEO Jonathan Baliff in a ceremony at the 2016 Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo show. Bristow Helicopters Ltd. is an affiliate of Bristow Group Inc.

Bristow crews, with support from engineers, technicians and operations personnel, utilised nine Sikorsky S-92 aircraft to safely airlift 400 offshore workers from platforms in the Eldfisk and Valhall fields in extreme weather conditions, after a 360-foot-long barge set loose by stormy weather and high seas drifted toward the oil installations and threatened their operations. The barge, which was being used to transport cargo, was returning to Norway from Tunisia when the tow line broke.

Bristow’s mission was to evacuate offshore personnel away from the threatened platforms to other rigs in the area outside the danger area and to a safe onshore location as quickly as possible, then transport personnel back to their worksites in the following days. When concluded, Bristow transported nearly 800 workers on 40 flights over three days.

“On behalf of our crews around the world and especially the 49 employees involved in these evacuations, we are incredibly honoured to be recognised for this operation,” says Jonathan Baliff, President and CEO Bristow Group. “Known for its reliability and advanced technology, the S-92 offered a variety of mission capabilities that were key to this Norway response and vital to the flexibility of our operations, even in the harshest of winter weather conditions.”

“Bringing people home everywhere, every time is the foundation of our mission at Sikorsky,” says Dan Schultz, President, Sikorsky. “We are honoured that Bristow entrusted the S-92 helicopter to perform these life-saving evacuations and applaud the crews for their bravery in performing the mission.”

Tags: Bristow Group Inc., Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky