JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 109
‘The arrival of
the AW189s
marks a new
chapter.’
VINCE D’ROZARIOT
here is a new presence in the
skies over Western Australia,
with CHC’s recent introduction
of the next-generation Leonardo
AW189 helicopter.
Based in Karratha, three of the
Italian-built ‘super medium’ AW189s
- the first in Australia – began flying
in support of Woodside’s North-West
Shelf operations in November.
“The arrival of the AW189s
marks a new chapter in our long and
established relationship with the
aircraft manufacturer Leonardo,”
Vince D’Rozario, CHC Regional
Director, Asia Pacific, said of the new
machines’ arrival.
“We look forward to continuing
to deepen this relationship as we
provide this fit-for-purpose aircraft
to Woodside, who we have proudly
served since 2011.”
CHC’s Australian journey
With a heritage that dates back over
70 years, CHC offers a wealth of
experience to the helicopter transport
market in Australia. With its roots in
Canada, the organisation’s forebear
Okanagan established aviation
services in 1947 with a Bell 47B-3,
used to support offshore drilling
operations.
CHC was established in 1987 after
the amalgamation of Okanagan,
Toronto Helicopters and Sealand
Helicopters. The new organisation
expanded its fleet and grew annual
turnover to over C$1 billion by 1995,
and would acquire Australia’s Lloyd
Helicopters in 1999.
CHC’s extensive Australian
operations are managed out of its
regional base at Jandakot Airport,
south of Perth.
“Western Australia is a great base
for us as we can focus on growing
the business in oil and gas passenger
transfer contracts which support
activities that are important for both
the WA and national economy,”D’Rozario told Australian Aviation in
December.
However, while CHC is perhaps
best known as a major contractor to
resource companies such as Woodside,
a significant portion of its local
revenue is earned from government
services in various Australian states,
with 50 per cent of CHC’s Australian
revenue coming from search and
rescue operations.
“Not only do we operate search and
rescue for our military clients, but we
operate the RAC Rescue helicopters
out of Jandakot and Bunbury on
behalf of the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services (DFES) – these
are Bell 412s, branded in RAC livery,
and is a service that many people in
Western Australia have come to rely
on,” D’Rozario says.
The business also holds a key
search and rescue role contract
with the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF).
“We’ve been flying for the RAAF for
almost 30 years and have just received
another contract continuation with
them,” comments D’Rozario.
“We also fly in Victoria, where
we’ve got contracts to lease and
maintain helicopters to the Victorian
Police Air Wing.”AW 189
One of the new AW189s is towed
at CHC’s Karratha base, while an
AW139 comes in to land.CHC