2 minute read
ONSLOW BASE: FLYING START TO SANTOS CONTRACT
by PHI
By Jayde Turner, Commercial Coordinator, Perth—PHI International
In February, Australian Energy Company Santos Selected PHI International to provide helicopter services to support the next phase of its oil drilling campaign, known as the Van Gogh Infill Development Project.
The contract called for a new base to be set up in Western Australia, from which we could fly workers and freight in two Sikorsky S92s to the project site located approximately 65 nautical miles offshore.
Originally, Exmouth was earmarked as the location of PHI’s new base. But with COVID-19 restricting travel overseas, the small resort town had become a mecca for Western Australians looking for a beach getaway close by, and visitors had snapped up all the available accommodation.
Other options had to be explored. Onslow – a small coastal town with a population of about 850, only 61nm from the project site and with accommodation readily available – was to be the home of our new base.
Specifically Onslow airport was the location of our new base, situated a short 3km drive from the town centre. Before its recent makeover, the facility was little more than a large shed capable of housing two Sikorsky S92’s. Built five years ago by the Shire of Ashburton, the space was intended to house an offshore aviation company long-term but when that didn’t transpire, it sat empty and unused.
As soon as PHI was awarded the contract, our teams across Australia and New Zealand sprang into action, recruiting additional personnel and working closely with the Shire of Ashburton to establish a fully compliant operational hangar facility and base that met the high standard required for our operations in a month.
It was a massive achievement that all our teams should be proud of. Our client Santos has been very complimentary of our efforts, recognising the long hours and hard work we put in to complete the project.
Being a small town, Onslow is filled with friendly people who have been exceptionally welcoming, making it easy for our team to settle in and feel part of the community. By way of repaying their kindness, in June we opened our hangar doors and invited the local community to an open day where they had a chance to check out our new facility and get up close with one of our S92s, as well as enjoy a sausage sizzle and refreshments.
Our Onslow base may be PHI’s smallest in Australia with a team of only nine, but what we lack in numbers, we make up for in enthusiasm!
Passengers about to board our first flight on behalf of Santos.
WHAT WE DO IN ONSLOW
Our helicopter departs daily from Onslow flying west to Learmonth Airport, where Santos’ outbound passengers board the flight to the Valaris MS-1 on location some 52nm offshore. The aircraft then returns to Learmonth, unloading the inbound passengers, before flying back to base in Onslow.
Along with a passenger transfer helicopter, PHI also provides Santos a Limited Search and Rescue (LIMSAR) helicopter, covering day SAR and Medevac services, which is made ready for activation within 60 minutes’ notice during daylight hours.
Our contract commenced on the 10th of May 2021, with a first flight conducted for Santos on the same day.
Our S92s looking great outside our hangar.
Getting ready to welcome the Onslow community at our base.
Bird’s-eye view of our Onslow operation.
