WESTERN Australian-based Heliwest has struck a deal with local oil and gas company Roc Oil (WA) to provide service and maintenance crew transfers for its Cliff Head project off the coast of Dongara.
Managing director Alan Bailey and chief executive officer David Grimes started Heliwest 18 years ago.
Mr Grimes said the contract was a major win for the company, which would allow it to expand its operations into the offshore oil and gas sector.
“The move into regular offshore operations is an exciting one for us and sits perfectly within our strategic aims,” he said.
The ROC-developed and operated facility at Cliff Head has been producing oil since May 2006.
Heliwest will operate a BO105LS twin-engine helicopter on the contract and a B212 machine for crew changes when required.
The company is also expanding its operations into Papua New Guinea, with the anticipated completion of a new contract to supply two B212 helicopters to support offshore oil and gas operations for Italian contractor Saipem.
Heliwest now operates six B212 helicopters in Papua New Guinea in a joint venture with helicopter operator Helifix of Port Moresby.
In onshore developments, Heliwest has opened operating bases at Toowoomba and Mt Isa, the first two of planned strategic expansions into Queensland airspace.
Chief pilot Ash Williams said the Mt Isa base also supported the operations of the North Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service, a community-based rescue helicopter operation.
“We have already responded to the dramatic events of the January floods by deploying extra machines and staff to Toowoomba to assist with search and rescue and recovery operations,” Captain Williams said.
Heliwest has also secured two-year contracts with telecommunications operator Digicel for the construction of mobile phone towers in PNG, and a contract with APA Group to conduct aerial gas pipeline surveys in Perth.
