Choppers fuel hopes of new Wick Airport traffic
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THE recent surge in helicopter traffic taking oil industry workers offshore is leading to other energy firms looking to use Wick John O’Groats Airport.
It has been reported that companies are looking at transporting staff from the Caithness airport to oil platforms in the North Sea.
The news comes after it was announced that the far north airport witnessed a 91 per cent rise in passengers last month compared to December 2011.
The figures have been attributed to a surge in helicopter traffic after it became the new temporary staging ground for Chevron UK’s activity in two far north oil fields in November.
The British arm of the American corporation arranged a deal with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) to chopper out to the Alba and Captain fields as the North Sea’s entire Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma fleet remains grounded over the winter due to safety fears.
Due to the success of the contract, it has been reported that discussions are at an early stage regarding other companies using the airport for transporting workers offshore.
Airport consultative committee chairwoman Trudy Morris said conversations are going on in the background and a full update of developments would be given at the next committee meeting in March.
She said the airport is already looking at how it could win similar contracts to capitalise on developments in the energy industry in the far north.
“With regards to the airport marketing itself to the oil industry, this is something that was happening before the Chevron contract,” she said.
“Andrew Bruce at Far North Aviation has been instrumental in bringing helicopters to the airport, alongside HIAL.
“The airport, alongside the agencies and Andrew Bruce, is looking at how it can bring more contracts to Wick John O’Groats, not just in the oil and gas industry but also the renewables to service the offshore wind farms.”
Ms Morris continued: “The airport is well placed to service both these industries, while Scrabster Harbour already plays host to oil and gas service vessels and is looking to develop this business further.
“Its location saves 24 hours sailing time to the west of Shetland fields.
“Alongside this, the location of the airport means operators have less flying time across open water, which in light of the recent accidents is a major selling point.”
Ms Morris added: “The fact Chevron are successfully servicing their current operations from the airport at this time will, I’m sure, make other operators investigate the advantages.
“There are conversations going on in the background and we hope to get a fuller update at the next consultative meeting and Caithness Transport Forum on March 8.”
Figures released by HIAL showed a 91.1 per cent increase in passenger numbers as a result of oil-related helicopter and fixed wing traffic compared to December 2011, with 4537 passengers last month.
Overall for 2012, Wick John O’Groats enjoyed a 5.1 per cent increase to 29,573 passengers, as a result of a significant rise in use of the Edinburgh service.
The increase in oil industry-related traffic helped Wick John O’Groats Airport become the fastest growing airport in the Highlands in December.
Across all 11 airports in the Highlands, there was a passenger increase of 3.1 per cent on the previous year, with 1,283,362 people passing through the gates in 2012.
Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL, said the latest figures are encouraging.
“We are very pleased with our growth record in 2012, particularly given the difficult economic conditions of the past year,” he said.
“There has been a marked growth in oil-related traffic at Sumburgh and Wick John O’Groats, while Inverness has continued to benefit from the success of its Amsterdam service.”
