Bristow helicopters hit 'Target Zero'

Zero accidents, zero harm to people and zero harm to the environment. These goals would seem ambitious for any helicopter company, especially one that supports operations in extreme environments. But 'Target Zero' was exactly what the Bristow Group helicopter service was aiming for.

Target Zero is a comprehensive cultural and training program that encourages every Bristow regional operation around the world to eliminate accidents, mishaps and downtime.

Nowhere are these goals more important and more challenging than in Bristow's oil and gas operations in the North Sea, where conditions are harsh, changeable and unforgiving.

Communications in such an environment must be reliable. So the Zetron DCS-5020 digital console system was chosen to be recently deployed for Bristow's North Sea operations.

The system has provided the continuity of service required and has supported the global Target Zero effort by helping to ensure the effectiveness of Bristow's North Sea operations and the safety of those who have a role in executing them.

Bob Gellie, senior operations controller for Bristow's European operations, explains why it became necessary to obtain a new communication system.

"Our old system was seriously unreliable," he says. "We were told by the system vendor that this was to be expected and that 100% availability was not attainable. But this response was unacceptable to us. Our operators are responsible for giving weather updates and other vital information to helicopters that are in flight. In an emergency, they and our aircrews must have complete confidence that messages will get through. Uncertainty is simply not an option for us. So we decided to see if there was a vendor who understood our needs and was prepared to stand behind the reliability of its system."

Gellie says that Zetron's system was chosen in large part because of the company's commitment to 'mission-critical' levels of performance.

"There is nothing worse than a communication system that fails when you are in the middle of an emergency," says Gellie. "We needed a new system that would function at all times, even when we are operating at our maximum capacity. That's why it's so important that Zetron's definition of mission critical is the same as ours. We expect a system to work 100% of the time. So do they."

The three-position system deployed at Aberdeen is making it easier for Bristow's three operators to coordinate the roughly 35 flights they handle per day. The flights transport workers and supplies back and forth between the mainland and dozens of oil and gas production platforms up to 300 miles away in the North Sea.

With the system's touch screens, operators can switch more easily between the multiple radio and telephone channels they use to provide air crews with loading data, weather updates and re-routing information. They also use the system to communicate with platforms about arrival and departure times and other operational matters.

If a major incident or accident occurs, operators can also use the system to coordinate the flow of emergency and rescue information between air crews and platforms, and the coastguard and other rescue agencies.

"Our operators find the system very easy to use," says Gellie. "This has improved their confidence. They also like the way the screens can be configured to their individual needs. They actually helped with the screen layouts during their training on the system."