Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Civil Aviation Authority and (b) trades unions on the safety record of Super Puma helicopter models (i) EC225LP and (ii) AS332L2 in the offshore oil and gas sector.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has lifted operating restrictions on H225LP and AS332L2 helicopters. The restrictions were imposed following the fatal accident of a H225 helicopter in Norway in April 2016. The two helicopter types, popularly known as Super Pumas, were restricted from being used commercially by UK and Norwegian operators. The restrictions have been lifted after receiving extensive information from the Norwegian accident investigators and being satisfied with the subsequent changes introduced by Airbus Helicopters through detailed assessment and analysis.

A plan of checks, modifications and inspections needs to be undertaken before any flights take place. It will also be for operators and their customers to decide whether they wish to re-introduce the helicopters to service. In order to resume operations individual operators will need to supply safety cases to ensure that they have all the necessary measures (procedures, processes, tooling and training) in place for a return to service. To date no UK operators have done so.

The CAA continue to work with the helicopter operators, the offshore industries, international regulators, unions and pilot representatives to enhance offshore safety standards still further and all these parties are actively involved in ongoing discussions.