regional airport of north-holland-north den helder …€¦ · shelf. bram van mannekes, who has...

6
REGIONAL AIRPORT OF NORTH-HOLLAND-NORTH VOLUME 11 | EDITION 4 | JULY 2007 1 - continued on page 2 - FOREWORD Foreword Once again, this issue of our newsletter has many interesting interviews, including an interview with Secretary-General Bram van Mannekes of NOGEPA, who discusses the latest developments in the offshore sector. In any case, Den Helder Airport is brimming with activities as never before. The offshore industry is running full steam ahead, which requires a significant increase in helicopter traffic. One of the conclusions during the preliminary presentation of the results of research conducted by Imares is that the civilian helicopter traffic has no significant repercussions on the flora and fauna of the neighbouring Wadden Sea area. The research report will be published this month and, in combination with the advice from the Environmental Hygiene Consultation and Information Committee (COVM), will provide the basis for our request to increase the number of permitted flight movements to 25,000. Unfortunately, we also had a major disappointment for our airport. The two Dornier aeroplanes of the Netherlands Coastguard will be stationed at Schiphol instead of coming to Den Helder. This means that the special hangar that would have been constructed will not be materialising and that JetSupport, which maintains these planes, will close the annex at Den Helder Airport. Once again, this means a loss of some high-quality employment for the Den Helder region. There are also new developments on the construction of a trial run spot. In cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Navy, research will be conducted on the right location and the possibility of combining a trial run spot and a sloping hill by constructing an earthen wall. This would reduce airport noise pollution for the area. We hope to be able to present a proposal to the COVM before the end of this year. Finally, I was taken somewhat by surprise last year when I heard that I could have retired as of 1 January 2007. Since it is impossible to resign on such short notice, I agreed on a two-year period to train my successor and gradually cut back. Conny van den Hoff has been proposed as successor. During the past fifteen years, she was closely involved in various management positions at Den Helder Airport. She was appointed deputy director as of 1 January 2007, and will be taking over an increasing number of my tasks during the coming period. Roel Hijmans Den Helder Airport Luchthavenweg 10A, 1786 PP Den Helder, The Netherlands Phone: (0223) 63 56 66, Fax: (0223) 66 08 92 Internet: www.denhelderairport.nl E-mail: [email protected] den helder airport is a very nice company Henk and Anneke Gouwenberg, members of a study group of flowerbulb growers, recently paid a visit to Den Helder Airport. They can look back at the extensive tour through the terminal building and neighbouring hangars with great pleasure. The visit taught them quite a bit about the projects that are carried out offshore and the role the airport plays in them. we purchased the piece of land, we knew what we were getting into. Believe me, we can deal with a little bit of noise. We don't have much trouble with the offshore helicopter traffic, so we wouldn't mind if they expanded the number of flights. In any case, we don't have any problem working on the land.” However, Henk and Anneke are less enthusiastic about the military helicopter traffic, including the night flights and the many exercises at the dummy deck at the end of the Henk and Anneke Gouwenberg live with their three children at the corner of Middenvliet and Kortevliet, right off the extension of the airport's runway. According to Henk, the Gouwenberg family has lived here for about 150 years and began with cattle breeding at one point. Henk: “My grandfather had cows and I remember that my father also had them. Later my father started to concentrate on cultivating flowerbulbs. He began with anemones and later tulips and other types of bulbs were added. When I was about ten, more than thirty years ago, the last cows disappeared from the company.” Henk is the oldest of three brothers who jointly run the Gouwenberg B.V. flowerbulb company. “We cultivate a total of approximately 85 hectares of flowerbulbs: 40 hectares of lilies, 20 hectares of tulips and the remainder consisting of daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and alliums. We have five permanent employees.” Problem with military traffic Part of the Gouwenberg family's bulb area borders the airport's take-off and landing strip. “When Henk and Anneke Gouwenberg enjoy living and working right next to the airport's take-off and landing strip.

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Page 1: REGIONAL AIRPORT OF NORTH-HOLLAND-NORTH den helder …€¦ · shelf. Bram van Mannekes, who has been managing this organisation for the past two years, has this to say about it:

R E G I O N A L A I R P O R T O F N O R T H - H O L L A N D - N O R T H

VOLUME 11 | EDITION 4 | JULY 2007

1

- continued on page 2 -

FOREWORDForewordOnce again, this issue of our newsletter has many interesting

interviews, including an interview with Secretary-General Bram

van Mannekes of NOGEPA, who discusses the latest

developments in the offshore sector. In any case, Den Helder

Airport is brimming with activities as never before. The

offshore industry is running full steam ahead, which requires a

significant increase in helicopter traffic. One of the conclusions

during the preliminary presentation of the results of research

conducted by Imares is that the civilian helicopter traffic has

no significant repercussions on the flora and fauna of the

neighbouring Wadden Sea area. The research report will be

published this month and, in combination with the advice

from the Environmental Hygiene Consultation and

Information Committee (COVM), will provide the basis for our

request to increase the number of permitted flight movements

to 25,000. Unfortunately, we also had a major disappointment

for our airport. The two Dornier aeroplanes of the Netherlands

Coastguard will be stationed at Schiphol instead of coming to

Den Helder. This means that the special hangar that would

have been constructed will not be materialising and that

JetSupport, which maintains these planes, will close the annex

at Den Helder Airport. Once again, this means a loss of some

high-quality employment for the Den Helder region.

There are also new developments on the construction of a trial

run spot. In cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Navy,

research will be conducted on the right location and the

possibility of combining a trial run spot and a sloping hill by

constructing an earthen wall. This would reduce airport noise

pollution for the area. We hope to be able to present a proposal

to the COVM before the end of this year.

Finally, I was taken somewhat by surprise last year when I heard

that I could have retired as of 1 January 2007. Since it is

impossible to resign on such short notice, I agreed on a two-year

period to train my successor and gradually cut back. Conny van

den Hoff has been proposed as successor. During the past fifteen

years, she was closely involved in various management

positions at Den Helder Airport. She was appointed deputy

director as of 1 January 2007, and will be taking over an

increasing number of my tasks during the coming period.

RRooeell HHiijjmmaannss

Den Helder Airport

Luchthavenweg 10A, 1786 PP Den Helder, The Netherlands

Phone: (0223) 63 56 66, Fax: (0223) 66 08 92

Internet: www.denhelderairport.nl

E-mail: [email protected]

den helder airp ort isa very nice company

Henk and Anneke Gouwenberg, members of a study group of

flowerbulb growers, recently paid a visit to Den Helder Airport. They

can look back at the extensive tour through the terminal building

and neighbouring hangars with great pleasure. The visit taught

them quite a bit about the projects that are carried out offshore and

the role the airport plays in them.

we purchased the piece of land,

we knew what we were getting

into. Believe me, we can deal with

a little bit of noise. We don't have

much trouble with the offshore

helicopter traffic, so we wouldn't

mind if they expanded the

number of flights. In any case, we

don't have any problem working

on the land.” However, Henk and

Anneke are less enthusiastic

about the military helicopter

traffic, including the night flights

and the many exercises at the

dummy deck at the end of the

Henk and Anneke Gouwenberg

live with their three children at

the corner of Middenvliet and

Kortevliet, right off the extension

of the airport's runway. According

to Henk, the Gouwenberg family

has lived here for about 150 years

and began with cattle breeding at

one point. Henk: “My grandfather

had cows and I remember that

my father also had them. Later

my father started to concentrate

on cultivating flowerbulbs. He

began with anemones and later

tulips and other types of bulbs

were added. When I was about

ten, more than thirty years ago,

the last cows disappeared from

the company.” Henk is the oldest

of three brothers who jointly run

the Gouwenberg B.V. flowerbulb

company. “We cultivate a total of

approximately 85 hectares of

flowerbulbs: 40 hectares of lilies,

20 hectares of tulips and the

remainder consisting of daffodils,

hyacinths, crocuses and alliums.

We have five permanent

employees.”

Problem with military traffic

Part of the Gouwenberg family's

bulb area borders the airport's

take-off and landing strip. “When

Henk and Anneke Gouwenberg enjoy living and working right next to the airport's take-off and landing strip.

DHA Nieuwsbrief 4 02-07-2007 15:43 Pagina 7

Page 2: REGIONAL AIRPORT OF NORTH-HOLLAND-NORTH den helder …€¦ · shelf. Bram van Mannekes, who has been managing this organisation for the past two years, has this to say about it:

2

take-off strip. “Those exercises are

usually held in the summer,

during nice weather. They usually

fly very low, which also caused us

some wind damage. Because of

the wind off the wings, the lilies

were flattened and crop growth

also suffered. The damage was

reimbursed. The problem could

be solved if the aircraft would fly

ten metres higher.” There are

other people in the area who are

also bothered by the navy

helicopters. According to Henk

and Anneke, this problem could

be solved very easily by moving

the dummy deck a few hundred

metres to the southeast.

More manoeuvring room desired

The visit to Den Helder Airport

improved mutual understanding

for the problems. Henk: “We're all

entrepreneurs and, like airport

director Roel Hijmans, we're all

confronted with the increasing

pressure of legislation. More

manoeuvring room would be

desirable for both parties.” The

visit was within the context of the

25th anniversary of the study

group and therefore the spouses

of the flowerbulb growers also

joined this time. Roel Hijmans'

presentation on the projects

conducted by the various oil

companies offshore and the role

den helder airp ort is a very nice company-continuation- rare bird

den helder airp ort pl ays a critical role

NOGEPA, with its secretariat

established in The Hague, is an

organisation that promotes the

interests of the oil and/or gas-

producing companies (operators)

that are active in the Netherlands

and on the Dutch continental

shelf. Bram van Mannekes, who

has been managing this

organisation for the past two

years, has this to say about it:

“NOGEPA stands for Netherlands

Oil and Gas Exploration and

Production Association. The trade

association was founded in 1974

and now has twelve members and

six associate members (non-

operators). The NOGEPA has two

methods of operation. It works

with committees/working

groups that are staffed by

experienced specialists of the

companies that are members.

They are engaged in such matters

as the environment, safety,

company hygiene, operations and

regulations. The working groups

contract out any studies that have

to be performed. NOGEPA also

maintains contacts with the

government, for which our

secretariat plays an important

role. For example, we are now

deliberating with the Ministry of

Economic Affairs about the

mining climate, and we have

regular discussions with the other

ministries as well. A major

advantage of our location in The

Hague is that we are close to

everything and most of our

members´ head offices are in the

region.”

The NOGEPA secretariat also

maintains contacts with IRO, the

sector association for Dutch

suppliers in the oil and gas

industry, and with the

International Association of

Drilling Contractors (IADC).

Economic problem

Particularly interesting are the

discussions NOGEPA is now

conducting with the government

on the mining climate. The

accent is on future developments

on the Dutch continental shelf.

“These developments concern the

presence of infrastructure”, Bram

van Mannekes continues. “Much

played by Den Helder Airport was

appreciated by everyone. “Anneke

and I continue to see it as a very

nice company and the noise

pollution comes with the

territory”, says Henk, who knows

something about noise. He and

his two sons are into motor cross

racing. Apparently they're very

successful at it as you can see

from the many trophies in the

Gouwenberg home. “We're

located at a beautiful spot, with a

motor cross track practically in

our backyard. I also enjoy

watching the air traffic, even

though it can be noisy.”

Another rare bird was recently spotted at Den Helder Airport.

This time it was a twin-engine Cessna 404 from the British

Coastguard, which called in for a pit stop at the airport. The

plane, with registration G-EXEX, is stationed at Coventry Airport

and serves as a replacement for the Netherlands Coastguard

plane, a Dornier 228, when it needs maintenance.

In an extensive interview, Bram van Mannekes, Secretary-General of NOGEPA, talks about the objectives of this trade

association, opportunities and threats for offshore activities and Den Helder Airport's role in all of this. The number

of flight movements and the SAR issue are also discussed.

of the infrastructure on platforms

and pipelines is now about thirty

years old. When the fields become

depleted, it is no longer profitable

to maintain them. This is more of

an economic problem than a

technical one. It is still easy to

bring small or marginal fields

that are located in the vicinity of

existing platforms and pipelines

into production. But when this

infrastructure disappears, it will

simply come to an end. The fact is

that NOGEPA members must

remove their installations from

the sea within two years after

closing. If we continue in this

direction, significant parts of the

offshore infrastructure will be

dismantled starting in 2015.”

Not enough drilling

As to whether something can be

done to counter the threatening

decline, Bram van Mannekes

answers: “The question is what

can still be added in new reserves

in the coming years. Two

elements play a role here: The

reserves of fields that we already

know but have not yet brought

into production, and the

opportunities that are still

available to tap new reserves.” It is

estimated that there are still

some 100 billion cubic metres of

gas in the Dutch part of the

North Sea that have not yet been

tapped. “If you´d like to explore

this quantity of gas, the number

of exploration wells will have to

increase within the next five

years. We now find an average of 1

billion cubic metres of gas per

well. This means that you have to

conduct at least 100 exploration

wells within that period of time.

That's more than fifteen a year.

And we're are now at about half.

That's really the big problem.”

Fiscal measures

A good solution in intensifying

the search for small gas fields is to

make it more attractive for the oil

companies through fiscal

measures. “We made the

necessary calculations and came

to the conclusion that reintroduc-

tion of 'depreciation at will' for

Bram van Mannekes: “The question is what we can add in new reserves in thecoming years.”

DHA Nieuwsbrief 4 02-07-2007 15:43 Pagina 8

Page 3: REGIONAL AIRPORT OF NORTH-HOLLAND-NORTH den helder …€¦ · shelf. Bram van Mannekes, who has been managing this organisation for the past two years, has this to say about it:

3

marginal fields would have a

positive effect on the exploration

and exploitation of these gas

fields. In other words, if more can

be depreciated, it will become

more attractive to continue in the

Dutch sector.” NOGEPA would

also like to use this 'depreciation

at will' for a number of gas fields

with lower productivity. “Due to

the great density of the shale,

these 'tight' gas fields produce

much more slowly than normal

and you have to drill several wells

for adequate production. This

increases costs. A number of these

fields have reasonably large gas

reserves, but they are not being

developed due to current

economic circumstances.”

It is clear that the government

will have to decide about reintro-

duction of 'depreciation of will'

for marginal fields in order to put

a halt to losing offshore activities.

Ideal location

According to the secretary-

general, Den Helder Airport plays

a critical role in offshore

development. “With respect to the

offshore fields, Den Helder

Airport is situated at just the right

place for us. First of all, the airport

forms an excellent combination

with the harbour, where virtually

all the logistic activities are

developed. And from the

viewpoint of efficiency and

environmental impact and safety

there's no better alternative. For

example, if you chose Eelde, you

have to fly an average of an hour

longer over land and the Wadden

Sea, which places a greater

burden on the Wadden Area.

Moreover, longer flights can

compromise safety and require

additional fuel consumption. In

short, Den Helder Airport's

location is ideal for our offshore

activities. We can't operate

offshore without the helicopter

traffic from Den Helder Airport.”

The secretary-general is pleased

that, due to the closing of one of

the Defence department shooting

areas, there are more possibilities

for helicopter traffic again and

that the civilian helicopter traffic

has no significant negative effects

on the bird population in

neighbouring Balgzand. One

problem that still remains is the

number of flight movements: “We

support the management of Den

Helder Airport in finding a

structural solution for this. With

25,000 flight movements a year, I

believe that we'll be able to

manage for many years. And it

would be extremely positive if we

could close this file with that.”

SAR capacity

The problem that oil companies

must provide sufficient Search

And Rescue (SAR) capacity still

remains. The fact of the matter is,

it's a task for the government.

“Compared with all the other

countries around the North Sea,

it's interesting to see that the

Netherlands has the most limited

helicopter SAR capacity. To

supplement this to a responsible

level, we've engaged additional

SAR capacity until 2008 through

Bristow Helicopters. The new

NH90 helicopters should be

available in 2008, but the arrival

date is constantly being

postponed. There's now talk about

2010. We sent the government a

letter asking for an explanation.

We'd also like to know how the

NH90 should be equipped for SAR

operations and whether there'll be

sufficient back-up. We'd also like

to see that the Lynx helicopter

that's now being used for SAR

activities during the day can be

employed for a longer time

period, with a 20-minute

mobilisation time. In the coming

period, we need to have some idea

about how the SAR capacity will

take place in future. We've been

able to bridge the interim period,

but this is now drawing to a close.

Now it's time for the government

to step in.”

Postscript:

The SAR helicopter from the oil

companies, which recently had to

make a precautionary landing at

sea, will be temporarily replaced

by another Bristow helicopter.

However, deployment of this

plane is limited during dark

hours. Bristow will have an S61

SAR helicopter available starting

1 October 2007. This will

temporarily be used under the

current lease.

• The expansion of car park C was recently completed. The old car park along the access road to Den Helder

Airport closed once the 281 new parking spaces were put into use. The airport now has more than 700

parking spaces.

• The construction of the office building for Wintershall oil company is complete. They are now working hard

on the furnishings so that the building can be put into use very soon. Wintershall will be moving its

production department from The Hague to Den Helder. The building has a large control room that can

monitor all the Wintershall platforms in the Dutch sector of the North Sea. Forty employees from the oil

company will work in the new building.

• The shop space in the central hall of the terminal building that came free earlier this year is still available for

lease. It has a floor area of 31 square meters. For more information: 0223-635666 or [email protected]

• ESS Support Services Worldwide will be opening an office in Den Helder to support its offshore activities. The

company, which is market leader in England for catering and hotel services for the offshore industry, under

the flag of ESS B.V., would like to expand its interests in the Dutch sector of the North Sea. A prestigious

contract win has lead to expansion into the Netherlands.

• The Den Helder Airport website is now completely revised. A visit to www.denhelderairport.nl is certainly

worthwhile.

“We can't operate offshore without the helicopter traffic from Den Helder Airport.”

DHA Nieuwsbrief 4 02-07-2007 15:43 Pagina 9

Page 4: REGIONAL AIRPORT OF NORTH-HOLLAND-NORTH den helder …€¦ · shelf. Bram van Mannekes, who has been managing this organisation for the past two years, has this to say about it:

4

Distribution desk in departure hall of Den Helder Airport.

ideal lo cation in the departure hall

Biardo Survival Suits bv has had its own location in the departure hall

of Den Helder Airport since 1 February of this year. “It's an ideal spot,”

says founder and director Frans Meeuwissen of the Heemskerk-based

company. Dragging survival suits through the terminal building is

now a thing of the past, since these 'helicopter transportation suits'

are now distributed to offshore workers just before they board the

helicopter.

According to Frans Meeuwissen,

Biardo products have been used

in the offshore sector for quite

some time. “In 1986, my wife and

I decided to start our own

company to distribute survival

suits. One of our first customers

was Schreiner's helicopter

department. Later, KLM

Noordzeehelikopters and various

oil companies also became

customers.” During those years,

the suits were distributed to

offshore workers at Rotterdam

Airport Zestienhoven and at

Schiphol East. “Our suits have

only been distributed at Den

Helder Airport for the past ten

years. Until recently, we

contracted out the distribution to

another company. But at the

beginning of this year, we decided

to distribute them ourselves for

safety reasons. Offshore workers

used to receive a survival suit

when they checked in. They

would then drag it around

everywhere - to the company

restaurant or outside when they

wanted to smoke a cigarette. It

caused a lot of unnecessary

damage. Another problem was

that the suits could be found all

over the terminal building, which

always struck me as an eyesore.

That's why we put in a request to

distribute the suits ourselves at a

permanent location in the

departure hall.”

A pool of suits

Biardo Survival Suits' activities are

now fully concentrated at Den

Helder Airport. “We work there

with five people who distribute,

collect and visually inspect the

survival suits, which are called

'helicopter transportation suits' in

professional terms. After the suits

are worn five times, they're

washed, dried, tested and repaired,

if necessary, at our Heemskerk

office.”

The certified survival suits used

by Biardo are from the British

quality brand Shark. “They're

made from Nomex and GoreTex.

Nomex is a fire-resistant fabric,

while GoreTex is a fabric that

breathes and ensures that the suit

is comfortable to wear. They have

a good fit and can be delivered in

many sizes. We have more than

21 different types in our product

line. In the past, each company

purchased its own suits. Now we

have a pool of some 1,600 suits.”

Offshore workers from

companies such as Gaz de France,

Wintershall, Petro-Canada, Taqa

and Venture, as well as the pilots

from helicopter company CHC

use the Biardo survival suits.

Everything under control

The Biardo head office in

Heemskerk has six employees,

four of whom are constantly

working on cleaning, inspecting,

testing and repairing the suits.

“We'd like to keep everything

under control so we can be ready

to serve our customers in the

offshore sector 24 hours a day, 7

days a week. Service is of

paramount importance to us.

Biardo also provides a 'Life Jacket

Airpocket Plus' or 'LJAP' to

passengers boarding helicopters.

“These special life jackets have a

respiration system. If a helicopter

is submerged for whatever reason,

Frans Meeuwissen: “We'd like to keep everything under control.”

(advertisment)

DHA Nieuwsbrief 4 02-07-2007 15:44 Pagina 10

Page 5: REGIONAL AIRPORT OF NORTH-HOLLAND-NORTH den helder …€¦ · shelf. Bram van Mannekes, who has been managing this organisation for the past two years, has this to say about it:

5

combined flight saves on helicopter flights

About eighteen years ago, Jan

Willem Cornelissen went to work

as the only Peterson representati-

ve at Den Helder Airport. “At that

time, I worked at Peterson as a

customs clerk for Placid oil

company. I only worked at the

airport one day a week. My task at

the airport quickly expanded,

however, when shortly thereafter

Peterson received a contract from

the Nederlandse Aardolie

Maatschappij (NAM) to dispatch

Various oil companies, in cooperation with Peterson, have decided to set up a pool for helicopters, based on the positive

experience and significant cost savings from the SNS Pool (Southern North Sea Pool) for supply vessels. The helicopters

will fly from Den Helder Airport for these oil companies. According to Manager Jan Willem Cornelissen, this pool can

significantly reduce the number of annual helicopter flights, providing substantial cost savings, a reduction in noise

pollution for the surrounding area and less impact on the environment.

Jan Willem Cornelissen: “The set up of the Air Logistics Centre is based on the proven vessel sharing conceptof the SNS pool.”

Logistics Centre (ALC) and the

operations department of the

Danish operator DanCopter is

taken care of. “As far as freight

dispatch is concerned, we now

work for the NAM, Venture and

Taqa”, according to Jan Willem

Cornelissen, who sees it as a

fantastic experience to witness

Den Helder Airport's growth and

Peterson's activities from up close.

Sharing

An intensive scientific study

performed on assignment by

Peterson and based on data from

2002 has provided a concept with

a 'capacity monitor'. “We can use

the capacity monitor to enter

transportation requirements and

helicopter capacity, among other

things. The computer then

makes a calculation, ultimately

coming up with a proposal of the

best option for scheduling flights.

It also takes limitations into

account. For example, since the

larger helicopters cannot land on

many of the satellite platforms

offshore, smaller helicopters can

be used for that. The capacity

monitor takes it all into account.”

Relatively new is also the set up of

the Air Logistics Centre (ALC).

Peterson would like to take its

proven vessel sharing concept for

supply craft and successfully

apply it to helicopters as well.

“Peterson took on the daily

management of the ALC on 1

October 2006. This is controlled

by a steering committee on

which all the oil companies have

a seat. Our experiences are based

on the SNS Pool that Peterson

manages. Moreover, eight oil

companies jointly use a fleet of

ten to twelve supply vessels. In

practice, when the available

tonnage is well distributed, there

can be significant savings on the

number of vessels that are

required. This provides a

considerable environmental

advantage as well as a financial

advantage. We'd like to achieve

the same advantage with

helicopters. I see the success of

the Air Logistics Centre as a

personal challenge.

this system provides enough air

to get out of the aircraft.”

The life jackets also have a

Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).

This is a device that, in case of

emergency, broadcasts a signal so

that a drowning person at sea can

quickly be located. Biardo also

maintains and tests the LJAPs and

PLBs itself. The Heemskerk

company also delivers other life-

saving devices to shipping

companies, rescue companies and

governments, but under the flag

of the FM Rescue Equipment bv

subsidiary. For example, the sea

pilots, who are transferred from

the Maasvlakte, wear practically

the same suits as those worn in

the offshore sector. Biardo just

delivered another shipment of 45

suits to the Pilot Service. The

company has now outgrown the

Heemskerk building and is

working hard on plans for new

construction at a site right next to

the A9 motorway that would be

more accessible to everyone. “We

are confident of the future and

are very happy with our ideal

location at Den Helder Airport”,

Frans Meeuwissen concluded.

- continuation -

ideal lo cationin the departure hall

freight. By creating a good

product and always being there

for the customer, people began to

trust us and more work naturally

started flowing in.”

As an increasing number of oil

companies concentrated their

activities at Den Helder Airport

during that period, it became

busier and more and more new

people were needed. Jan Willem

Cornelissen switched from freight

dispatch to helicopter scheduling.

At one point, Peterson took over

the Supplylink company, which

dispatched freight at the airport

and also distributed survival suits.

“We now work with thirty people,

largely divided into an early shift

and a late shift. This is due to Den

Helder Airport's opening hours,

with flights from 7.00 in the

morning until 10.00 at night.”

Allround service provider

“We now present ourselves as an

allround service provider”, Jan

Willem Cornelissen continues,

“and aim to serve everyone with a

total concept. We're available 24

hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Indeed, a look around the airport

shows that Peterson provides a

broad package of services. For

example, the company checks in

passengers, provides air cargo,

monitors personal safety

logbooks of offshore workers and

distributes survival suits.

Moreover, helicopter scheduling

is arranged from both the Flight

Schedule Unit (FSU) and the Air

DHA Nieuwsbrief 4 02-07-2007 15:44 Pagina 11

Page 6: REGIONAL AIRPORT OF NORTH-HOLLAND-NORTH den helder …€¦ · shelf. Bram van Mannekes, who has been managing this organisation for the past two years, has this to say about it:

6

p older advies groep starts at den helder airp ortEarly this year, the Polder Advies Groep

set up office at the available shop area in

the hall of the terminal building.

Founders Rob Alders and Loek

Schuttenhelm can be found here almost

daily. Their speciality is providing a wide

range of financial services.

The two men have no lack of

expertise in the financial area.

Rob Alders can look back on a

long career as a certified financial

and mortgage advisor at the

Rabobank. Loek Schuttenhelm

also comes from the banking

world. He worked at both the

ABN and the Rabobank and is a

certified Federation Financial

Planner (FFP). At the beginning of

2006, Rob and Loek decided to set

up the Polder Advies Groep. The

company has now expanded with

two new partners. Rob: “Tim Man

of the Sassaya Group from

Amsterdam will contribute his

knowledge of accountancy, tax

matters and legal matters. The

three of us complement each

other perfectly and can provide

tailor-made work to our

customers. We can also engage

other financial specialists, if

necessary.” Loek adds: “We're

actually a one-stop-shop for all

financial services. And we are

objective, professional and

independent and our work

extends far over our border.”

Polder Advies GroepLuchthavenweg 10 E1786 PP Den Helder (Airport)

www.polderadviesgroep.nlTel. 0223-650060

TENTATIVE

PROGRAMME

The Den Helder Airport and De Kooy Naval Air Base joint Open Day

will be held on 15 September 2007. The tentative programme for this

Heldair Maritime Show is as follows:

1100..0000 aa..mm.. OOppeenniinngg

1100..0000 aa..mm.. -- 1100..3300 aa..mm.. DDeemmoonnssttrraattiioonn bbyy tthhee DDeenn HHeellddeerr MMooddeell AAeerrooppllaannee CClluubb

1100..0000 aa..mm.. -- 11..0000 pp..mm.. SSiigghhttsseeeeiinngg fflliigghhttss bbyy CCHHCC HHeelliiccoopptteerrss ffrroomm DDeenn HHeellddeerr AAiirrppoorrtt

1100..0000 aa..mm.. -- 55..0000 pp..mm.. AAiirr mmaarrkkeett,, vvaarriioouuss fflliigghhtt ssiimmuullaattoorrss,, cchhiillddrreenn´́ss vviillllaaggee,, eexxhhiibbiittiioonnss,,

tteerrrraacceess,, eettcc.. aatt DDee KKooooyy NNaavvaall AAiirr BBaassee aanndd DDeenn HHeellddeerr AAiirrppoorrtt

11..0000 pp..mm.. -- 44..3300 pp..mm.. SSppeeccttaaccuullaarr AAiirr SShhooww

55..0000..pp..mm.. EEnndd

(advertisment)

Rob Alders and Loek Schuttenhelm in front of their financialconsultancy firm in the hall of the terminal building.

The fourth partner of the Polder

Advies Groep is Loek's son, Rory

Schuttenhelm. He'll be setting up

a travel and ticket agency at the

airport and will be organising

sightseeing flights from this

location.

On the mark

Although at first glance it may

seem strange that a financial

consultancy firm would set up

office at an airport, it appears to

work well. “We're not really

aviation-related”, Rob continues,

“but we clearly appear to fulfil a

need. We're amazed at the kind of

people who walk in here and the

kind of business that comes in.

We didn't expect it at all.”

Loek: “We receive a lot of

questions about insurance,

pensions, mortgages and tax

matters. Someone asked us to sell

his house in Zuidwolde for him.

Both private customers and

companies can come to us for all

their financial matters. We

officially opened our doors at the

airport on 20 January. After some

start-up problems with computer

equipment, everything now runs

like clockwork. We feel right at

home here. It's a dynamic world,

which suits us well. We try to offer

some added value for the airport

by promoting its facilities among

our corporate customers. For

many of them, the airport is still

relatively unknown, but they are

very enthusiastic when they see

everything that is available. We

also give them a copy of the Den

Helder Airport newsletter.

DHA Nieuwsbrief 4 02-07-2007 15:44 Pagina 12