Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has conducted a cost benefit analysis of returning Super Puma helicopter models (a) EC225LP and (b) AS332L2 to workforce transport operations in the North Sea oil and gas industry.

The safety of those who travel on offshore helicopter flights is a key priority for both the UK and Norwegian aviation authorities. The CAA would not have made the decision to lift operating restrictions on these Super Puma helicopters unless they were convinced that the changes to the helicopters and their maintenance restore the required airworthiness standards.

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. Now that restrictions have been lifted, a cost benefit analysis is a matter for operators and their customers.