BRISTOWWORLDI S S u e 1 / 2 0 1 3
Bristow Group strives for
OperatiOnal excellence
Pg 2The Power of Consistency in
Service Delivery
Bristow Academy has trained military pilots in the use of night vision goggles (NVGs) since 2005 (see latest developments on page 16).
Pg 6Bristow’s Response to EC225
Suspension Shows Strength
Pg 10Three-Year Strategy to Drive
Target Zero
Pg 12New Systems to Enhance
Operational Excellence
Next step to achieve Bristow’s strateGic Goals is to eNsure every
part of the orGaNizatioN is oN the path to operatioNal excelleNce
2 Bristow World 2013 Issue 1
the power of
cOnsistency coNsisteNcy of service delivery to clieNts is core to operatioNs’ push to
o peratio Nal excelleN ce. for Jeremy akel, seN ior v ice pres ideNt, GloBal
operatioNs, world-class customer service BeGiNs with coNsisteNcy.
Bristow World 2013 Issue 1 3
Why consistency matters
The experience of other companies shows the journey toward
consistency begins with a thousand small steps, identifying even the
smallest improvements in strategies, activities, tools and processes that
lead to operational excellence.
“On a business level,” says Senior Vice President of Global Operations
Jeremy Akel, “consistency is important when setting your goals and
strategy with a long-term view. It’s also important in your commitment
to and application of the highest standards in financial discipline,
execution, risk management and safety performance. And consistent,
reliable service is essential to retain your customers.
“On an individual level,” he continues, “consistency comes from
understanding our purpose and how important our roles are. How
important it is to do what’s necessary when no one is watching. How
important discipline in execution is, especially when you don’t see
immediate results. And completing a task above and beyond the baseline
as a matter of course – because you believe deep down in operational
excellence. No matter what your role is, you play a part in customer
service. Consistent systems and behaviors are key to customer satisfaction.
“Each time we establish the right standards, make the right decisions,
execute well, or continually refine and innovate, we improve the
company’s performance in some way and see the benefits ripple
through the organization. By making the delivery of our service more
predictable, we improve customer satisfaction and allow our teams to
focus their creativity on improving service delivery.”
How does he see the organization becoming more consistent? There
are a number of simple, tangible improvements from which Bristow can
reap significant benefits.
safety is fu n da m ental . “Safety is ground zero for consistency,”
Akel says. Bristow is working to ensure that the company’s safety
management system is implemented the same way in every business
unit. In addition to driving improvement in the company’s safety Key
Performance Indicators (KPIs), safety is a major factor in winning
new business. The key to safety leadership is consistent systems
and behaviors, and a pride in oneself to do it right the first time. “A
prospective client’s auditor will check our safety management system
before they give their approval for us to work with them,” he says.
(See related safety article on page 10.)
“the customers’ experieNce with Bristow should Be the same worldwide,”
he says. “this meaNs coNsisteNt practices aNd staNdards at every Bristow
locatioN.” Jeremy akel has speNt the past 12 moNths uNderstaNdiNG how
customer service is delivered GloBally aNd settiNG his operatioNal priorities.
his focus oN coNsisteNcy is to Give GloBal clieNts the same level of safety,
service aNd reliaBility reGardless of locatioN.
“By makiNG the delivery of our
s erv i ce m o re pred i cta B le, w e
improve customer satisfactioN
aN d allow our teams to focus
th ei r creativ ity o N i m provi N G
service delivery.” – Jeremy akel,
svp, GloBal operatioNs
4 Bristow World 2013 Issue 1
Health Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) were pioneered by
Bristow to detect potential equipment malfunctions before they
occur. Now HUMS data will be downloaded after every flight on all
new-generation aircraft, and Bristow has to be able to download
and analyze HUMS data across the Group in a consistent way. “Our
fleet support group in Aberdeen should be able to see all of the
data,” Akel says. “We need the same people looking at the data to
recognize performance trends.” The data can also detect traits for
each individual aircraft to make better decisions about placement
and operating parameters.
standardizing for consistency. By fiscal year 2015, all of Bristow’s
medium and heavy aircraf t will meet the standards set by the
International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP), an industry
group that promotes safe, responsible and sustainable operations.
In addition, all Bristow operations
will have and conduct procedures
consistent with OGP guidelines. “Our
major clients are in the OGP, and
having OGP-compliant aircraft will
improve safety, make it easier to
transfer aircraf t between clients
and support our strategic marketing
position,” he says.
Currently, the same aircraf t t ype
may have dif ferent configurations
in dif ferent regions. “While this is
usually done on an ad-hoc basis to
support clients, we experience a loss
in value because added components
require extra maintenance and more
time on the ground,” he says. “These
variations also make it more difficult to
sell or relocate the aircraft.”
Bristow is leveraging technology to consolidate and align technical
manuals and share information globally. Bristow uses more than
1,000 manuals in its daily operations, and each one must be updated
regularly – a hidden cost that can be addressed by consolidating
and centralizing the database. “We’ll be able to address a lot of this
with our SAP implementation, but first we need to standardize the
content,” he says.
managing the fleet globally. Among the main focus areas are control
of fleet configuration and standardization of the aircraft acceptance
process. “There are inconsistencies now that sometimes result in
taking delivery when we should have asked for additional items to be
addressed,” Akel says. “Now we will have a consistent process and
accountability.” Going forward, Bristow will work with its suppliers to
achieve a more comprehensive, but more standardized configuration,
create visibility and improve delivery to revenue lead times.
creating a neW customer service role. Akel recently announced the
new role of service delivery manager to work with clients on a day-to-
day basis and ensure the clients’ requirements are met efficiently and
effectively. “This person will work with all functions to address aircraft
or personnel issues and develop steps within their business unit to
improve service,” he says.
clients Want a consistent exPerience
Underscoring all is the drive toward
operational excellence, supported by
a culture of openness and innovation.
Aligning across global operations
i s fundament a l to encourag ing
coordination, collaboration, sharing
ideas and best pract ices. Going
forward, Akel says, you can expect
to see initiatives in place that will
look to identify inconsistencies, and
simplify and standardize each of the
above areas.
The most compelling argument for
pursuing consistency is the advice
of our clients, who rank consistency
among the top attributes they want to
see in a global service provider.
The rewards will be felt by employees and clients. “Consistency
drives value, creates efficiency and eliminates hidden costs,” Akel
concludes. “Most importantly, it gives our clients a better and more
predictable experience.”
t h e m o s t c o m p e l l i N G
arGumeNt for pursuiNG
coNsisteNcy is the advice
of our clieNts, who raNk
coNsisteNcy amoNG the
top attriButes they waNt
to see iN a GloBal service
provider.
Bristow World 2013 Issue 1 5
uNderscoriNG all is the drive toward operatioNal
excelleN ce, s u ppo rted By a cu ltu re o f o peN N ess
aNd iNNovatioN. aliGNiNG across GloBal operatioNs
i s f u N d a m e N ta l to e N c o u r a G i N G c o o r d i N at i o N ,
collaBoratioN, shariNG ideas aNd Best practices.
6 Bristow World 2013 Issue 1
Bristow respoNds to challeNGe of
ec225 Fleet suspensiOn
News of the controlled landing of another operator’s EC225 into
the North Sea on October 22, 2012, flashed across the oil and gas
industry, the second such incident in six months. It didn’t take long for
Bristow to react and ground its global fleet of EC225s, pending further
investigation by authorities including the UK. Air Accidents Investigation
Branch (AIB) and Eurocopter into the root cause, attributed currently to
cracks in the vertical shafts of a gearbox. Eurocopter supports the UK
AIB in determining the root cause.
Not only Bristow suspended EC225 flights; most of the offshore
helicopter industry did so, grounding some 80 aircraft globally. Since
then, clients and helicopter companies have been scrambling to replace
coverage with their inventory of other aircraft. The situation has grown
increasingly difficult; with reduced helicopter transport, some oil
company personnel have remained longer than planned on platforms,
and production plans have had to be modified. In some cases,
production platform and drilling rig shutdowns have been threatened.
Senior Vice President of Commercial Mark Duncan says Bristow
contacted its clients within hours of the suspension. “We began to work
immediately on how to utilize our global resources and think ‘out of the
box’ to help clients replace their lost coverage.”
The challenge facing Bristow was significant. “We were already facing
a very tight supply situation, and taking the EC225 out of the picture
has only made it worse,” says Duncan. “So we made a decisive move to
aggressively pursue expansion of our fleet of heavy aircraft.”
Because of its disciplined and prudent balance sheet management
strategy, Bristow had the financial capability to respond quickly. Within
Bristow’s actioN followiNG the ec225 fleet suspeNsioN was remarkaBle for
what it says aBout the compaNy’s fiNaNcial streNGth aNd resilieNce.
Bristow World 2013 Issue 1 7
Bristow respoNds to challeNGe of
ec225 Fleet suspensiOn
days of the landing incident, Bristow had ordered an additional 10
Sikorsky S-92s to be delivered between July 2013 and December 2014,
and secured options for another 16 for 2015 and beyond.
bristoW quickly diverts all available aircraft
The suspension of EC225 flights hit Bristow’s base in Aberdeen, Scotland,
the hardest, grounding 12 aircraft out of a fleet of 14. Bases in Norway,
Australia and Malaysia each removed two or three EC225s from service.
The first priority was to replace the suspended EC225s in Aberdeen.
Bristow was able to divert new heavy and medium aircraft from its
operations in the Gulf of Mexico and Nigeria, bringing the Aberdeen fleet
to its current level of active aircraft. As part of this effort, Bristow also
brought back into service six AS332 Super Pumas that were slated for
sale. One of the biggest challenges was getting the AS332s refurbished
and recertified.
“Working with our colleagues in EBU and AUSBU, our COBU team in
Aberdeen is bringing these six aircraft back into service in about six
months,” says John Cloggie, Director of Bristow’s Centralized Operations
Business Unit (COBU). “Thousands of man hours are being expended
in the process. This is an incredible effort and really demonstrates the
commitment of the engineers and support staff in Aberdeen.”
“It has been a big job bringing back the AS332s, and both EBU and
COBU did a fantastic job with the overhauls and rebuilds,” Duncan says.
Bristow’s recent acquisition of Cougar in Nova Scotia also proved timely.
“We were able to transfer aircraft from Cougar in Canada to Aberdeen
on a short-term basis, which gave us additional capacity,” Duncan says.
“In the Canadian Atlantic, they operate in similar conditions to the North
Sea, so the aircraft were easily adaptable.”
bristoW Pilots retrain
Since pilots are trained for a specific aircraft type, each pilot moving to a
new type of aircraft is required to undergo training that could take from
weeks to months. Because of demand, a unique challenge then arose
in finding training aircraft and simulators.
“Every available aircraft is doing crew change operations, so is not
available for training,” Duncan says. Again, Bristow’s investment in
training and resources has paid off. “Fortunately, we have our own
8 Bristow World 2013 Issue 1
simulators for some aircraft types. We also have strong relationships
with external training consultants. For the Sikorsky S-92, for example,
we’ve booked every simulator slot we can get in the world.”
Duncan notes that all of Bristow’s business units have been working
together to find pilots for certain aircraft types in addition to getting
aircraft where they are needed. Pilots are also providing support to
clients by visiting bases and talking with passengers.
Duncan commends the quick response by Bristow global operations.
“The fact that we’ve been able to respond at the level we have is a
testament to our people on the front lines and the careful planning
and investment in resources that will continue to be part of our
commitment to operational excellence. We really are saving our clients
from production platform and drilling rig shutdowns.” And despite the
challenges, Bristow continues to strive to achieve Target Zero on safety.
Jon Stripling, Director, Global Standards, Quality, Safety & Training,
says the situation “is being managed carefully and properly by the
organization, but we have to remain vigilant to the extra pressures that
have been placed on some areas of our business. We must continue to
reinforce that safety comes first.”
future is unknoWn
Cooperation among clients, regulators and even operators has helped
ease the pressure on the system, making space available on helicopters
for offshore crew changes. But the busy summer season is just ahead
and everyone is looking to ramp up their activity. All markets are in a
growth cycle for the first time in a number of years, putting extra strain on
resources and significantly changing the supply demand balance.
All of which raises the question: When will the EC225s return to offshore
transport? As of Bristow World’s publication date, word from the UK Civil
Aviation Authority is that it will not lift EC225 operating restrictions until
Eurocopter is able to show it has a fix.
In the meantime, Bristow is not waiting for resolution of the issue; it’s
already adapting its business strategy to cover the EC225 gap and
accommodate its clients as they move farther offshore.
Bristow has commitments for six AW189s to be delivered starting in
2014 and five EC175s to be delivered starting in 2015. Over the next
two years, a significant number of brand-new aircraft – S-92s, AW139s
and 189s, EC175s and S-76Ds – will be added to its global fleet to meet
market demand and address clients’ offshore requirements.
“I believe the whole situation will have a profound effect long term on the
helicopter service industry. Among other things, it has brought home
how helicopter service impacts the bottom line for offshore oil and gas
operations,” Duncan says. “We’re already seeing clients shift from a
single model to a mixed fleet so they will be able to fly if something like
this happens again.”
“ t h e f a c t t h a t w e ’ v e B e e N a B l e t o
r es p o N d a t t h e lev e l w e h a v e i s a
testameNt to our people oN the froNt
li N es a N d th e ca r efu l p la N N i N G a N d
i N v es t m e N t i N r es o u r c es t h at w i ll
coNtiNue to Be part of our commitmeNt
to o peratio Nal excelleN ce. we really
are saviNG our clieNts from productioN
platform aNd drilliNG riG shutdowNs.”
– mark duNcaN, svp, commercial
Bristow World 2013 Issue 1 9
“workiNG with our colleaGues iN eBu aNd ausBu, our coBu team iN aBerdeeN is
BriNGiNG these six aircraft Back iNto service iN aBout six moNths.”
– JohN cloGGie, director of Bristow’s ceNtralized operatioNs BusiNess uNit (coBu)
10 Bristow World 2013 Issue 1
three-year safety strateGy to
Drive target ZerOthe tarGet zero safety proGram has achieved aN impressive record siNce its iNceptioN iN 2007,
driviNG Bristow to safety performaNce that’s far aBove the rotary wiNG iNdustry averaGe. this year
marks the start of a reNewed effort, Not oNly to reach tarGet zero, But also safety leadership iN
the rotary wiNG, fixed-wiNG aNd oil aNd Gas iNdustries.
ACCIDENTS
LEAD
ERSH
IP
COMPETENCECU
LTUR
ECOMPLIANCE
& ASSURANCE
CAPABILITY
3-YEAR SAFETY STRATEGY
Bristow World 2013 Issue 1 11
Bristow Group is emBarkiNG oN a reNewed effort to achieve
leadership iN safety as part of its pursuit of operatioNal
excelleNce. “ it’s a tall order, Because there are a lot of
Good compaNies with Good safety records,” says JoN stripliNG,
director, GloBal staNdards, Quality, safety & traiNiNG. “But i
doN’t see aNy reasoN why we caN’t achieve a leadiNG positioN.”
imPartial assessment
The f irst step is to see where Bristow stands today in safet y
management, so the company has engaged Baines Simmons, a leader
in airworthiness and aviation safety consulting and training services, to
make an independent and impartial assessment.
“Over the next several weeks, they will be conducting a Safety
Management Diagnostic at Bristow facilities around the world, using
surveys, interviews, observations and focus groups to evaluate our current
policies and procedures that we use to manage safety,” Stripling says.
The diagnostic will make its evaluation across five major focus areas:
• leadershiP: Do Bristow’s leaders set the strategic direction for safety
and are they actively leading the company toward a world-class
safety management system?
• caPability : Does Bristow have the infrastructure to support the
management of safety?
• comPetence: Is Bristow equipped with the necessary knowledge and
skills to perform safely?
• comPliance and assurance: Is Bristow fulfilling the requirements to
provide oversight and assurance?
• culture : Does Bristow’s behavior support the principles of safety
management?
“From talking to our staff and seeing what we do, Baines Simmons will
generate a report that will provide a clear picture of our capability and
performance as well as identify potential gaps and leading practices,”
Stripling says. “This will help us prioritize where we need to invest our
resources as well as recognize where we are being successful.”
communications strategy
With the information from the diagnostic in hand, Bristow’s senior
management team and business unit leaders will embark on a series of
briefings to share the results with employees around the world. “We want
as much feedback as possible from these sessions, and from there we will
pinpoint the actions we need to take to reach Target Zero,” Stripling says.
In the meantime, employees will receive an invitation to participate in
a computer-based Target Zero safety training refresher course. “We
always need to stay vigilant and current in our training,” Stripling says.
“Complacency is our enemy.”
getting to target zero
Stripling praises several Bristow business units for having achieved
Target Zero, demonstrating that the goal of perfection – zero accidents
– is possible.
“We have already realized a big step change in safety through Target
Zero,” he says. “Now as we draw nearer to zero and the fine-tuning
phase of our safety strategy, we have to double our efforts to continue to
make improvements.”
Stripling stresses that the aspirations for the new safety strategy
encompass every Bristow activity, from flight operations to all actions
involving safety, health and the environment.
“We need to have a shared vision within Bristow that Target Zero is
achievable and sustainable,” he says. “We need to be aligned in what
we do and how we act, and never forget that safety comes first.”
“we always Need to stay viGilaNt aNd curreNt
iN our traiNiNG. complaceNcy is our eNemy.”
– JoN stripliNG, director, GloBal staNdards,
Quality, safety & traiNiNG
12 Bristow World 2013 Issue 1
New systems to eNhaNce
OperatiOnal excellence anD Business perFOrmance
Technical competence, rigorous attention to procedure and a renowned
safety culture have earned Bristow a reputation for being a strong, safe
and reliable service provider. As our clients move into deeper water
and new frontiers, they want Bristow to move with them, providing
consistent superior service across their geographies and adding value
that goes beyond their expectations for safety and service delivery. As
told to Bristow in a recent survey, clients see a clear opportunity for
us to leverage our strengths. Bristow’s strategy to achieve operational
excellence will improve our capabilities and capacity to deliver
cons i s ten t l y ac ro s s our g l ob a l
operations and expand our business
to new areas to support our clients.
To help achieve this global delivery
model, Bristow is simplifying and
standardizing. This requires careful
planning, agreeing to standard ways
of working, developing new processes
and procedures, and incorporating them in new systems. With the full
support of our senior leadership team, several major transformational
projects are under way; among the highest priorities for 2013 are
global platforms for supporting flight operations, and Enterprise
Resource Planning for finance, supply chain and maintenance.
flight oPerations
Imagine a future where Bristow pilots can perform their pre-flight
activities using helpful and easy-to-navigate applications accessible
from computers or their tablet devices. Imagine tablet devices
containing publicly available applications with maps, planning
software and other useful tools. Bristow applications that enable
pre- and post-flight tasks to be completed anywhere, yet remain fully
integrated with our company information management systems. And
once in flight, tablet devices with an “electronic flight bag” of most
current electronic manuals and other
information. This future is not as far
off as you may think.
In 2011, Bristow determined that
its various flight operations support
systems were approaching their end of
life, and a new single and global flight
operations system was required to
replace them and support our future vision. This resulted in the eFlight
“excellence in flight operations” initiative that began in January 2012.
The eFlight project team comprises of flight operations subject matter
experts and stakeholders from every Bristow business unit. IBU Director
Bristow World 2013 Issue 1 13
Duncan Moore explains their purpose for coming together: “The team has
collaborated to deliver something that we have never before achieved at
Bristow – a single, robust, standardized global flight operations system,
built to be best-in-class. I am certain that eFlight will differentiate Bristow
and help us further our goal of achieving operational excellence.”
The eFlight program encompasses pre-flight, flight, post-flight and
resource management components, all working together to help
transform how Bristow delivers information and improves global
operations in areas that include pilots, training, scheduling, crew
management, invoicing and contracts.
This multi-year effort to automate
and standardize flight operations
will first deploy in Trinidad toward
the end of 2013. Among its many
features, eFlight will streamline
work activities, provide improved
customer service and invoicing,
and deliver a comprehensive
view of our contracts, customers,
aircraft and crew worldwide. With
its robust and efficient planning
features, eFlight will optimize
resources and schedules, attain
efficient and accurate reporting,
and increase utilization of assets.
The eFlight team has an ambitious
schedule of multiple global deployments over the next year. “This team
has been diligent in creating an integrated system with capabilities to
improve both our clients’ experience of our services and our ability to
respond more quickly and efficiently to their daily demands,” explains
Jon Oakey, IBU Director of Operations. “We are thrilled to showcase
Bristow’s new eFlight system coming soon in Trinidad.”
enterPrise resource Planning
Imagine Bristow mechanics and engineers spending more time working
on our helicopters and less time typing and performing administration
tasks. Having more parts available at the right time because of
advanced material planning applications. Updates to maintenance
manuals automatically appearing in the work order instructions for
maintenance tasks. Or requisitions automatically initiated for repair
or replacement when a part is removed from an aircraft and declared
unserviceable. This is another exciting endeavor under way – the
replacement of IFS with a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
system, called SAP. This program will deliver standard and enterprise-
wide processes and allow for the global visibility of business information
while reducing risk and improving compliance.
Involving many aspects of Bristow, the SAP plat form will help
standardize and simplify operational processes to ensure financial
management, automated controls, an efficient supply chain, more
effective maintenance planning and execution, and enhancements in
business intelligence.
Representatives from all parts of
the Bristow business are working
together as one integrated team
to develop the best ERP solution
for the company. Nearly 100
workshops have been conducted
with active par ticipation from
business process owners (BPOs),
subject matter experts (SMEs)
and many other stakeholders. The
workshops focused on more than
15 different work streams within
the process areas of Maintenance
Repair and Overhaul (MRO),
Configuration Control, Supply
Chain Management, Financial
Reporting and Planning. Each workshop has gathered the business
requirements for the future global business processes to be adopted
by Bristow.
“We are committed to advancing the global financial management
capabilities of Bristow. This is an outstanding team of experts focused
on creating ef f iciencies through standardization and workflow
processes, and reducing risk with automated controls,” explains Vice
President and CAO Brian Allman.
The initial release of the ERP program, focused on financial processes
and some components of supply chain, is expected to be implemented
in 2014. MRO and the remainder of supply chain will be implemented in
successive releases thereafter.
Sales
Finance
CRM
GRC
Master Da
ta
MRO
SCMHC
M
Enterp
rise Res
ource Planning
ERP
14 Bristow World 2013 Issue 1
Bristow wiNs uk search aNd rescue (sar) BidOn March 26, 2013, Bristow Helicopters Ltd. signed a contract with
the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to provide Search and Rescue
(SAR) services to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) that
is responsible for delivering UK’s national SAR services to England,
Scotland and Wales. This partnership will deliver leading-edge SAR
services with new aircraft and advanced technologies. Operations are
anticipated to begin in 2015. Bristow Helicopters will operate from 10
bases across the UK that will be strategically located near areas of high
SAR incident rates.
Bristow Helicopters Managing Director Mike Imlach says the SAR
workforce will number in the range of 350, drawn from a combination of
Bristow and ex-military personnel.
“Bristow is proud to be returning to our British heritage of providing
world-class SAR services in the UK,” says Imlach. “Bristow has a
36-year history of providing SAR services in the UK, and over the years,
our pilots have flown more than 44,000 SAR operational hours in the
UK and conducted over 15,000 SAR missions, during which more than
7,000 people were rescued.”
New s-92s for uk Gap sar feature first seeN techNoloGyTwo of the four Sikorsky S-92 helicopters for the UK Gap Search and
Rescue (SAR) contract have arrived in Scotland and feature an array of
state-of-the-art technology, some of which has never before been used
in commercial search and rescue aircraft.
“Bristow will Be aBle to provide uN precedeNted
search aNd rescue capaBilities. our New s-92 search
aNd rescue aircraft are the first type iN europe to Be
certified for NiGht visioN GoGGle (NvG) techNoloGy,”
says sar co m m ercial m a N aG er s i m o N tye. “th is
techNoloGy is esseNtial wheN respoNdiNG to NiGhttime
iNcideNts, particularly iN NortherN scotlaNd where
wiNter days are short aNd operatioNs caN draG iNto
the hours of darkNess.”
Other SAR-related features on the S-92 represent the latest technology.
“Our new S-92s have improved forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and
thermal imaging camera technology for more effective searches,”
says Tye. “High illumination lighting makes winching easier and safer.
News
BrieFs
Bristow World 2013 Issue 1 15
This will be particularly useful when operating in confined spaces
or conducting cliff rescues. The long-range fuel tanks will allow us to
operate across the vast distances in Scotland we will be servicing.”
The new S-92s are the first aircraft in Europe to be fitted with Trulink®
wireless capabilities for communications between the aircraft and crew,
while the wireless intercom system allows winchmen to communicate
not only with the aircraft, but also with nearby vessels in the event that
they are left behind at the scene. An enhanced external public address
system will enable the SAR crew to communicate more clearly with
casualties on the ground below.
A bespoke cabin layout accommodates more casualties and medical
equipment. Cabin and cockpit are split into isolated zones so that
medical teams can work on a patient without distracting the flight crew.
Improved cabin lighting will facilitate advanced medical procedures. In
addition, the cabins are fitted with 230 volt ac power outlets so that the
SAR aircraft can operate advanced medical equipment.
Bristow will commence operation of the Gap SAR contract from
Sumburgh on June 1, 2013, and from Stornoway on July 1, 2013. Two
S-92s will be stationed at each base.
Bristow siGNs coNtracts, recoGNized By sikorsky at heli-expo 2013
At Heli-Expo 2013 in Las Vegas, Nev., Bristow participated in several
signing events and a Sikorsky ceremony recognizing Bristow’s long-
term relationship with the company. Bristow also hosted a reception
attended by more than 400 participants.
Bristow President and CEO Bill Chiles was presented a hat by Sergei
Sikorsky, son of Sikorsky founder Igor Sikorsky, acknowledging the long-
term relationship of the two companies. A plaque was presented that
read: “The employees of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation recognize the
employees of Bristow for 40 years of leadership in the aviation industry.”
Bristow Group and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. entered into an agreement
for 10 S-76D™ helicopters with options for another 16. Bristow signed
a 10-year Total Assurance Program (TAP) agreement with Sikorsky
Aerospace Services (SAS) to support the S-92 fleet operated by
Bristow Group.
Bristow signed a contract with AgustaWestland for six AW139
helicopters plus a number of options for additional aircraft. Bristow also
signed an agreement with Eurocopter for up to 12 EC175s.
ec175 performs demoNstratioN fliGhts at New iBeria aNd GalliaNo BasesEurocopter came to Bristow’s New Iberia and Galliano bases in
Louisiana on February 25 to introduce the new-generation EC175
helicopter in an all-day event at which Bristow employees and guests
were able to view the aircraft and take part in demonstration flights.
The 16-18-seat EC175 features a 434-cubic foot cabin and 685 gallons
of standard fuel capacity for extended range. It is suited for a wide
range of missions, including offshore, search and rescue, and medevac
operations. Bristow is a launch customer for the EC175, with five
deliveries scheduled for 2015.
16 Bristow World 2013 Issue 1
coBu advaNces GloBalizatioN, staNdardizatioNBristow’s Centralized Operations Business Unit (COBU) recently
announced changes that will globalize and standardize several key
functions of the group, which serves as the company’s internal provider
of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services and supply chain.
Global Director of Fleet Management Nina Jonsson is now accountable
for the Fleet Technical Services team in New Iberia, La. This team
supports aircraft acquisition and sales, parts purchases and third-party
MRO. Jonsson also leads the Strategic Sourcing Group, which takes on
the added responsibility for new aircraft purchase contracts as well as
support agreements with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
“This provides Bristow with the right resources grouped together to better
manage our fleet and centralize strategic OEM interaction,” says COBU
Director John Cloggie. “These efficiencies are expected to improve
aircraft availability and uptime for our clients.”
Elsewhere, MRO activities in both New Iberia and Aberdeen, Scotland,
will be streamlined under the guidance of Business Services Director
Mark Becker. “We are focused on globalizing and standardizing MRO as
well as aligning business processes and preparing COBU for the rollout
of SAP, so that Bristow can maximize the benefits of its new business
system,” Becker says.
The final elements of this restructure involve globalizing Fleet Support,
which is located in Aberdeen, together with a team that will include
engineering specialists based locally across Bristow operations.
Within Supply Chain, all business unit supply chain managers will report
to Global Supply Chain Manager Scott Fyvie in Aberdeen. Additionally,
Strategic Planning Manager Chris Barnhill and Supply Chain Data
Analyst Scott Gauci will join Supply Chain and report to Fyvie, who
assumes responsibility for Supply Chain while Global Supply Chain
Director Angus Kerr supports the SAP project.
“These changes will strengthen service delivery to our internal clients
and assist them in delivering the client promise,” Cloggie says. “Notably,
with the success of the Gap SAR and the recently announced UK SAR
contract, COBU is ensuring it has the infrastructure and resources to meet
the varying demands of the business.” (See related story on page 2.)
Bristow academy to traiN with Nvis liGhtiNG systems
Bristow Academy announced an agreement with Aero Dynamix to use
Aero Dynamix night vision imaging systems (NVIS) to enhance its night
vision training program, as well as offer the installation of Aero Dynamix
night vision systems to its customers worldwide. Both companies are
industry leaders in night vision applications – Bristow Academy in
rotary pilot training for night vision goggles (NVG) operations and Aero
Dynamix as a provider of NVIS lighting systems for aircraft.
Bristow Academy trains helicopter pilots to operate safely at night using
helmet-mounted NVG. The NVG program includes two courses, an initial
course and a refresher course. The Academy has 12 NVG-qualified Flight
Instructors, five NVG-compatible Schweizer 300CBi helicopters and nine
NVG-compatible Bell 206-BIII helicopters. NVG flight training is offered at
the Titusville, Fla. campus and Carson City, Nev., training site. All of these
training aircraft are equipped with Aero Dynamix NVIS lighting systems.
customer thaNk youBristow in Brønnøysund, Normay, was commended
by a BP Aviation Technical Advisor for its excellent
customer service in suppor t of BP FPSO Skarv
operation, commenting:
“... k i N dly pass o N our s i N cere thaN ks to
a ll th e B r i sto w tea m o N & o ff s h i ft at
BrøNNøysuNd for all the work that has BeeN
proGressed siNce my last visit & for hostiNG
our visit yesterday. the aircraft is clearly
BeiNG preseNted & operated to a very hiGh
staNdard aNd the haNGar Now reflects that
same Bristow hiGh staNdard. it’s really Great
to see th is aNd we look forward to maNy
vis its iN the future aNd really appreciate
all the teams co-operatioN that Goes iNto
supportiNG Bp fpso skarv operatioN.”
Bristow World 2013 Issue 1 17
two employees commeNded for GoiNG the extra mileRecently an Eket base B412 had to divert to the Eket airstrip in
Nigeria due to the weather and eventually had to shut down to wait
for the weather to clear. This required an engineer to conduct a
turnaround inspection before the next flight. The Chief Engineer
called Engineer Pavlo Igori, who came in on his day off and helped
the client avoid two hours of downtime due to the logistics of moving
an engineer from the ExxonMobil QIT base to the airport.
In another instance, a Bristow Helicopters Nigeria S-76 (5N-BMX)
had one of the onboard life raft Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT)
activate for no apparent reason. To disable the ELT, David Allardyce,
Safety and Survival Equipment Specialist, had to open the life raft pack
thus rendering the aircraft unserviceable for operations. The repacking
of the life raft required repositioning the aircraft from Port Harcourt to
the Lagos Safety and Survival Equipment workshop, which involved a
longer than usual flight to meet the requirement to fly over land due to
the disabled life raft.
David repositioned with the aircraft to Lagos and worked to ensure
that the 5N-BMX was ready to depart for its home base as soon as
possible. The Port Harcourt client Agip was pleased to see it back on
line so quickly.
eBu holds pilot careers opeN day at Bristow academy Gloucester
As part of the EBU recruitment strategy, Captain Matt Rhodes and
Lorraine MacNab, HR Business Partner, held a careers open day
recently for pilots at Bristow Academy Gloucester, UK. Past, present
and future students at the Academy were invited to attend this informal
day to find out more about Bristow as a company and as the employer
of choice for pilots. More than 50 pilots attended. Participants listened to presentations, followed by individual interviews.
david allardyce
safety aNd survival eQuipmeNt specialist
pavlo iGori
eNGiNeer
18 Bristow World 2013 Issue 1
Barrow islaNd employees raise moNey for childreN’s hospitalSean Winter, one of the Barrow Island Airport administrators, and his
colleagues continue to raise money for the Princess Margaret Children’s
Hospital Foundation by positioning collection tins throughout the airport
terminal. In 2012 Bristow employees helped raise more than $10,000
AUD by fundraising at the airport and this year they are aiming to raise
$15,000 AUD. The Princess Margaret Children’s Hospital Foundation is
the fundraising entity for the hospital located in Western Australia.
New iBeria expaNds support for special olympics eQuestriaN eveNtEmployee volunteers from COBU and NABU in New Iberia, La. and the
Bristow Uplift program expanded their support for the area’s Special
Olympics Equestrian Invitational, giving participants and their families a
day full of fun and memories.
The annual event, held at the SugArena, attracted about 35 riders, an
increase of six from the previous year. Bristow volunteers provided two
horses this year.
Bristow volunteers enjoyed their day helping out at the Special Olympics Equestrian Invitational in New Iberia in February.
employees plaN amBitious Bristow uplift moNth scheduleBristow employee teams around the world are ensuring the second
annual Bristow Uplift Month this April has a packed calendar as they
partner with local communities, charities and nonprofit organizations in a
wide variety of activities. Following are just some of the scheduled events:
australia
• Pilots will volunteer at the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Starlight
Express Room to play games and enjoy ar ts and craf ts with
the children. They’ll also deliver gifts such as remote-controlled
helicopters, aviation games and model helicopters. Barrow Island
Airport volunteers will make a similar visit later in the month.
• Employees will be volunteering prior to a local football game to
collect donations from spectators to support the Starlight Children’s
Foundation. A similar donation campaign will take place the entire
month at the Barrow Island Airport.
• Employees will visit Princess Margaret Hospital and make headpieces
for girls who may lose their hair during treatment.
nigeria
• Nigeria employees will visit the Wesley School for the hearing
impaired to help refurbish the school’s computer laboratory and
provide an alternative energy source (solar power). Stable electrical
power remains a challenge, and the replacement will enable the
children to use essential learning and teaching aids.
trinidad
• Bristow’s IBU will support Operation Smile Home for Children, a
non-profit organization in Williamsville, Trinidad. IBU management
and staff will donate the proceeds of a Bristow Cookbook sale.
Bristow will provide a day of treats for the children in April, including
Bristow World 2013 Issue 1 19
lunch and snacks, and employees will have the opportunity to spend
time with the children of the home. Bristow will also donate stationery
supplies and miscellaneous items such as baskets, garbage bins,
clothes hangers, kitchenware and shower curtains.
united kingdom
• Bristow Business Services UK volunteers will spend April 12
performing gardening and maintenance work at the Orpheus
Centre, which provides young disabled adults (18-25 years) with
opportunities for personal development through performing arts and
equips them with skills to live independently in the community.
• COBU UK and EBU volunteers from Bristow Aberdeen will spend
April 24 at the Harlaw Day Centre for adults with disabilities. They will
be painting fences, performing general gardening, maintaining paths,
constructing polytunnels, trimming hedges and planting trees.
united states
• Corporate employees will be visiting a disadvantaged high school
in Houston on April 11 for a “lunch and learn” to teach students
about budgeting and reinforce the impor tance of education
beyond high school.
• Bristow is either sponsoring or participating in events to support the
Women’s Home, the Houston Zoo, the Arbor School, the Houston
Area Women’s Center, the Buffalo Soldiers Museum, Hope through
Grace and the Houston Celebration of Reading hosted by the Barbara
Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
• Bristow also awarded a large grant to the Girls Scouts of San Jacinto
to provide the opportunity to bring the scout experience to as many as
4,200 girls in economically disadvantaged schools in the Houston area.
• COBU US and NABU volunteers will spend April 12 at SNAP, which
is a home for women and children coming from abusive situations.
The volunteers will be cleaning out the attic, replacing paper holders,
painting the living areas, rehanging closet doors, putting up shelving,
organizing the shed and changing light fixtures. They will also be
replacing door knobs with handicapped handles, spray washing the
exterior of the building and trimming overgrown tree limbs.
• Bristow Academy is hosting an Eco-Challenge from April 1 to 30
in celebration of Earth Day and to promote an environmentally
conscious lifestyle. The event consists of individual and group
challenges throughout the month. Group challenges include a trash
bash in Titusville on April 20, a junk mail drive and a trail cleanup at
the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary.
Bristow uplift hiGhliGhts
Bristow Houston participated as a Diamond sponsor of
ReelAbilities: Houston Disabilities Film Festival 2013
and was recognized by the Houston Mayor’s Office with
a proclamation citing the company’s community service
and declaring February 11 as “Bristow Uplift Day.”
For the third consecutive year, Bristow Alaska in
Fairbanks hosted a Red Cross Family Fun Carnival. This
year’s event raised more than $3,000 for the Tanana
Valley Red Cross.
Bristow employees in Australia helped raise more
than $10,000 AUD by fundraising at the airport for
the Princess Margaret Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Bristow Defence Industries in Oakey, Queensland,
Australia, helped repair a local Country Women’s
Association house that sustained flood damage.
Bristow awarded a $25,000 grant to help support the
VanGo mobile art museum in Central Florida.
VanGo brings a free museum field trip experience to schools, community organizations and underserved groups. Last year it traveled some 5,000 miles to visit 91 facilities and nearly 6,000 students.
NABU and COBU employees helped bring Christmas
cheer to the Safety Net for Abused Persons (SNAP)
shelter in New Iberia, La. Employee volunteers in New
Iberia also participated in the area’s Special Olympics
Equestrian Invitational.
Editor
Tricia Morley, Director Global Communications [email protected] 713.267.7618
Submit your story idea to your local team member.
Bristow Group Inc. 2103 City West Blvd., 4th Floor Houston, TX 77042 t 713.267.7600 f 713.267.7620 bristowgroup.com
Editorial Team
Rick Rogers – N. America (Alaska)
Jeff Peabody – N. America (Alaska)
Audrey Smith – Europe/Central Operations
Jessica Ditch – N. America (U.S. Gulf of Mexico)
Anisha Hopkinson – Bristow Academy
Iyabo Bello – West Africa (Nigeria)
Amla Ramnasibsingh – International
Allan Blake – Australia
Sandie Richardson – Legal (Redhill)
Dena Sorrells – Commercial
Hilary Ware – IT/HR
Chris Bond – Safety
Matt Sale has joined Bristow as Director, Global
Accounts and Business Development. Matt will be
responsible for developing a long-term strategy to
further develop and grow Bristow’s business with key
U.S.-based customers.
Tara Bienvenu has been appointed Director, Leadership
Development & Change. Tara is responsible for the
Leadership and Management Development Team
programs and the North American HR network.
Lynne Renshaw has joined Bristow as Director of
Internal Audit. Lynne is based in Houston where she
reports administratively to Senior Vice President and
Legal Counsel Chip Earle and directly to Stephen King,
Chairman of Bristow’s Audit Committee.
bristoW Wins best comPany for leaders 2013 aWard
Bristow has BeeN recoGNized with a Best
compaNy for leaders 2013 award By chief
executive m aGazi N e, w h ich each year
selects the top GloBal compaNies that
seek to develop their taleNt.
maNaGemeNt chaNGes
All On Time Departure (OTD)
Bristow On Time Departure (BOT)
Service Availability (SAV)
Total Flights Delayed (TFD)
Recognition (TRR)
93%
98%
98%
1,327
7.49
95%
99%
99%
14,889
5.00
97%
97%
95%
14,445
1.00
MTDCLIENT VALUE-ADDED SCORECARDFebruary 2013
YTD Goal
ausBu pilots atteNd the ec225 sim traiNiNG ceNtre iN malaysia
Four AUSBU Training Captains attended the five-day Simulator
Instructors Course for Eurocopter’s new EC225 Sim in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, earlier this month. Participating were Paul McKenna, Mark
Strong, Jean Suhuch-Chassin (Trainer), Steve Pearson and Jack Ward.
The training staff will now be conducting all their BU Simulator training
for AUSBU’s 28 pilots at this centre. This is a new facility and will
replace the need to travel to Aberdeen for training.