"Potentially Unsafe" Issue With Super Puma Helicopters Identified

Published 29th Sep 2015

A "potentially unsafe" issue with life rafts onboard Super Puma helicopters has been identified.

The European Aviation Safety Agency has issued an emergency directive to operators urging them to carry out inspectors.

It's over fears that in an emergency, some life rafts from EC225 models may fail to release, putting lives at risk.

The agency said an incident was reported where a mechanism, involved in the release of life rafts, jammed.

The aircraft is used by Bristow, Bond and CHC, to transport oil workers to and from platforms.

A spokeswoman from CHC Helicopter said: “We received the directive on Friday and, in line with our rigorous commitment to safety, have inspected and returned to service the one aircraft affected in the UK.”