BP Amoco selects Era for Northstar island transportation

Employment of IFR Bell 212 helicopters after ice roads unusable will allow construction to continue year-round at the offshore project

Petroleum News Alaska

BP Amoco has selected Era Aviation Inc. to provide air transportation during the construction of Northstar Island, the Anchorage-based firm said at the end of December.

Era will send two IFR Bell 212 helicopters to be used on the offshore project in late April when ice roads used during winter construction are no longer an option.

Era President Chuck Johnson said Era would dedicate four pilots and a maintenance crew to each helicopter used in the operation. Two pilot crews will work the traditional North Slope schedule of two weeks on and two weeks off. The crews consist of an IFR captain, a co-pilot and an aircraft maintenance technician. The crews will be based at Era’s Deadhorse facility.

The Bell 212 is the most versatile of Era’s fleet, the company said. It is the twin engine civilian version of the U.S. Army’s “Huey” helicopter and operates with IFR. The twin engines make the Bell 212 ideally suited for offshore and remote areas work.

“We’re very excited to be part of this three year project on the North Slope. Era has been supporting Alaska’s oil industry for over forty years and we’re glad to continue that tradition into the new century as part of the Northstar team. Our helicopters will help BP Amoco meet its commitments for the Northstar project and allow construction to continue year-round,” said Johnson.

Era is the largest helicopter operator in Alaska and the third largest commercial helicopter company in the United States. The firm employs more than 800 people throughout the world with more than 500 of those stationed in Alaska.

Era is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rowan Companies Inc. of Houston. Era celebrated 50 years of operations in 1998.