NEWS STATEMENT
CHC Scotia Limited can today (November 8th, 2010) confirm that a decision has been taken to relocate its Great Yarmouth operations from North Denes Aerodrome to Norwich International Airport.
The decision comes after 12 months of in depth research and consultation with customers, staff and the local business community and will allow CHC to offer significantly improved services to their clients and their offshore workforces and a much improved working environment.
At this moment, it’s not expected that the move would result in the loss of jobs and a full consultation with employees has started.
CHC currently operates five Agusta Westland 139 helicopters and has 74 staff operating from North Denes. The unlicensed site, which has been used as a base for offshore operations since the early seventies, is now significantly degraded and will require extensive refurbishment to meet the ongoing commercial needs of CHC, its customers and future regulatory requirements. Accordingly, we are of the view that the land will be better used as something other than a commercial airfield.
The new site at Norwich Airport will provide state of the art hangarage and a custom built terminal for offshore staff to offer the complete heliport experience and enhanced Emergency Response capabilities and access.
Tilmann Gabriel, CHC’s European Operations President said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly and comes after a year of research and discussions with our customers, staff and the local business community.
“Our priority is to provide the best possible service to both our current and potential future customers. Moving operations to Norwich Airport will provide us with a solid foundation from which we can grow the business and create more of a positive impact on the local economy for many years to come.”
The move is expected to take place in May 2011.
Issued on behalf of CHC Helicopter by The BIG Partnership
CHC Helicopter is the world's largest provider of helicopter services to the global offshore oil and gas industry, with aircraft operating in more than 30 countries around the world.
CHC’s European operations provide services from a total of 17 bases in the UK, Denmark, Norway, The Netherlands and Ireland, deploying a fleet of in excess of 70 aircraft. In the UK it operates for the offshore oil and gas industry from bases in Aberdeen, Humberside and North Denes.
