The deal surpasses what was negotiated in 2018. It is the first life-of-field benefits agreement ever signed for an offshore oil and gas project in the province — commitments that run for the entirety of the project’s productive life, not just the construction years.

The Business Opportunity: A Province-Wide Supply Chain

Bay du Nord represents the largest supply chain opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador since Hebron, and its local content commitments go further than any previous offshore project. Here is a breakdown of opportunities by sector.

How to Participate: The Procurement Process

This isn’t science fiction. It’s real technology today, and it’s shining a spotlight on something cool and powerful — the way humans and machines can team up to fix the planet.

So What Are Tree-Planting Drones?

Tree-planting drones are special flying robots programmed to drop seeds (in little pods) into soil where forests have been damaged or destroyed. These drones don’t just fly around randomly — they are guided by smart computers and maps that find the best places to plant.

Instead of people planting seedlings by hand, these drones can release thousands of seeds in a single day. They can fly over rough or dangerous ground where humans might struggle, like burned forest hillsides, flood damage zones, or areas too steep to walk.

How Do They Work (In Simple Terms)?

Here’s how the process usually goes:

• Step 1: Scan the Land
  Using aerial images, satellite maps, and sensors, drones map out the terrain. They analyze soil quality, moisture levels, and slope to find where seeds have the best chance of growing.
• Step 2: Load Biodegradable Seed Pods
  Instead of loose seeds, the drones carry biodegradable seed pods — each one packed with nutrients, soil enhancers, and protective coatings that help a seed sprout and take root.
• Step 3: Fly and Drop
  The drones fly along programmed routes and release the seed pods with precision. Some can plant tens of thousands of seeds in a single day, much faster than traditional tree planting.
• Step 4: Nature Takes Over
  Once the pods are in the ground, they break down naturally, and the seeds begin to grow. Over time, saplings emerge and forests begin to regenerate.

Why This Matters in Real Life

1. Faster Reforestation

Traditional tree planting can be slow and expensive. A team of workers might plant a few hundred trees a day. A drone can do thousands in the same time — speeding up recovery after wildfires or mining damage.

2. Hard-to-Reach Areas Become Easier

There are places that are unsafe or almost impossible for people to plant trees — cliffsides, flooded valleys, or thick brush areas. Drones can access these spots without risk.

3. Better Chances of Growth

The seed pods come with built-in nutrients and protective layers that help seeds survive tough conditions. This means higher success rates for new forests — not just more seeds dropped.

4. Lower Long-Term Costs

While the drones themselves aren’t cheap yet, over time they could reduce the money needed for planting and replanting forests. Less cost can mean more trees.

What’s New and Cool About This Tech?

Here’s what makes tree-planting drones exciting:

• AI-powered terrain analysis: Drones use computer vision and smart mapping to choose the best spots for planting, not just random ones.
• High planting speed: A single drone can plant as many as tens of thousands of seed pods in a day — that’s a huge jump from hand-planting.
• Biodegradable seed pods: These aren’t just seeds — each pod gives the seed a better chance to grow by holding moisture and nutrients.
• Works in extreme conditions: Drones can safely fly through smoke, heat, or rugged areas where crews can’t easily go.

This Is Still an Emerging Technology

It’s important to understand that tree-planting drones aren’t yet everywhere. They’re still being tested and improved. Right now, companies and research groups in places like Australia and other parts of the world are working on making them better and more effective.

This means:

• More testing in different environments
• Better drones with longer battery life
• Improved AI decision-making
• Partnerships with governments and conservation groups

So while drones won’t replace humans in all reforestation work, they are a powerful new tool that could play a major role in how we save and rebuild forests in the future.

The Big Picture

Tree-planting drones show how technology and nature can work together. They don’t do the whole job alone — forests still need water, care, and long-term planning — but drones can help give nature a powerful head start.

It’s technology that doesn’t just entertain or connect us — it gives back to the Earth.

And that’s something worth watching.

Sources

AirSeed Technologies – Official website explaining their AI-powered drone planting system and biodegradable seed pods

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC News) – Coverage of large drones planting up to 40,000 seed pods per day

Euronews – Article on Australian drone reforestation startup using seed pods and automation

Create Digital – Report on AI and drone technology in reforestation

Greening Australia – Discussion on drone seeding and ecological restoration planning

#TreePlantingDrones #Reforestation #ClimateInnovation #EmergingTechnology #EnvironmentalTech #SustainableFuture #Biodiversity #CleanTech #GreenTechnology #ClimateAction

Investors Predict a Skyward Surge in Confidence

Investors in Japan, the US, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia are riding the wave of optimism, with a staggering 73% anticipating a growth in public support for eVTOLs over the next three years. Even more captivating, 15% foresee a dramatic surge in confidence as the eVTOL industry gains momentum.

Contrary to skeptics, a mere 6% of private equity, venture capital, and family office investors believe public confidence will decline as the launch of eVTOL services inches closer to reality. Approximately 22% foresee no significant change in public confidence, or they have yet to express an opinion on the matter.

Pilots: The Pinnacle of Public Confidence

Horizon’s research delves into the minds of senior executives managing over $1.787 trillion in assets under management, revealing that 76% of them identify qualified pilots as the linchpin to boosting public confidence. These financial maestros firmly believe that having skilled aviators at the helm is the key to allaying concerns and garnering unwavering trust from potential passengers.

Horizon Aircraft’s Vision: Cavorite X7

At the forefront of this revolution is Horizon Aircraft, the driving force behind the future production of the Cavorite X7 – a manned seven-seat capacity hybrid-electric eVTOL. Unveiled to meet the demands of customers in medevac, business aviation, and commercial cargo sectors, the Cavorite X7 is poised to redefine the eVTOL landscape.

Brandon Robinson, the dynamic CEO of Horizon Aircraft, emphasizes, “Potential customers and passengers need to be confident that eVTOLs will be safe and have business use for investors to support the sector, and the study shows there is growing confidence.”

A Glimpse into the Cavorite X7

The Cavorite X7 boasts a gross weight of approximately 5,500 lbs and a projected useful load of 1,500 lbs. With a maximum speed of 250 miles per hour and an impressive average range of over 500 miles, Horizon envisions this hybrid electric aircraft excelling in medical evacuation, critical supply delivery, disaster relief, and special military missions. The company also believes it’s an ideal candidate for Regional Air Mobility, facilitating the movement of people and cargo within the 50 to 500-mile range.

What sets the Cavorite X7 apart is its innovative hybrid electric power system. Unlike its counterparts, it can recharge its batteries en route in a configuration resembling a traditional aircraft. After a vertical landing and mission completion, the Cavorite X7 is designed to recharge its battery array in under 30 minutes, preparing for its next mission.

Horizon is confident that its unique approach will allow the Cavorite X7 to spend 98% of its mission time in a low-drag configuration similar to traditional aircraft, making it not only safer but also easier to certify than other radical eVTOL designs.

Embracing the Future with Confidence

As Horizon Aircraft continues testing its 50%-scale aircraft to reduce technical risks, the world watches with bated breath as the eVTOL landscape undergoes a transformative shift. Investors, industry experts, and aviation enthusiasts alike are aligning their hopes with the belief that qualified pilots are the catalyst for a confident and secure eVTOL future.

Source:
www.horizonaircraft.com

In a groundbreaking move, Neste Corporation has just introduced Neste Impact, a cutting-edge solution designed to empower businesses in their quest to drastically reduce aviation-related emissions. This innovative initiative, aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), offers a seamless path for businesses to take measurable actions and make significant strides toward sustainability.

The Power of Neste Impact: Turning Climate Targets into Action

Neste Impact revolves around the utilization of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™, a potent tool that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by an impressive 80% over the life cycle of the fuel compared to conventional fossil jet fuel. This allows businesses to transform their climate targets into tangible, measurable actions to curtail emissions associated with air travel and transport.

Neste collaborates closely with businesses to define specific, measurable targets for reducing emissions related to their air travel and transport activities. The strategy involves replacing fossil jet fuel with an equivalent amount of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) purchased from Neste. The purchased SAF is then supplied to a partner airline, with verifiable proof ensuring it is used to replace fossil fuel. After utilization, businesses receive a third-party verified report, providing a credible account of the achieved emissions savings contributing to their sustainability targets.

Addressing Urgency: A Solution for the Climate Crisis

Kristina Öström, Vice President of Marketing, Brand, and Partnerships at Neste, emphasized the urgency for climate action and the increasing demand for transparent solutions. Neste Impact emerges as a beacon in this landscape, offering businesses an easy-to-use solution for verified emission reductions from the world’s leading producer of SAF.

A Gold Standard in Climate Reporting: Aligned with SBTi Aviation Guidance

Neste Impact doesn’t just stop at reducing emissions; it aligns with the Aviation Guidance of the Science Based Targets initiative, recognized as the gold standard in climate reporting. Employing a book-and-claim approach, Neste ensures the SAF is delivered and utilized specifically in the aviation sector to replace fossil jet fuel, adhering to the SBTi Aviation Guidance criteria. The related emission reduction achieved is third-party verified and further validated through the ISCC SAFc registry, bolstering businesses’ credibility when reporting reductions toward Science Targets or similar sustainability goals.

The Fuel of the Future: Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Unlocking Sustainability: The Role of SAF

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) emerges as the key lever in achieving aviation’s emission reduction goals. Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel, the star of the Neste Impact solution, is crafted from sustainably sourced, 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste. This revolutionary fuel offers a more sustainable alternative to conventional, fossil-based jet fuel.

The Numbers Speak: Up to 80% GHG Emission Reduction

When used in neat form (unblended) over the fuel’s life cycle and calculated with established life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, such as the CORSIA methodology, Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel showcases its prowess by reducing GHG emissions by up to 80%. This represents a significant stride towards achieving aviation’s emission reduction goals.

Neste’s Commitment to a Sustainable Future

A Force for Good: Neste’s Ongoing Initiatives

Neste, a pioneer in combating climate change and fostering a circular economy, continues to refine waste, residues, and innovative raw materials into renewable fuels and sustainable feedstock for various applications. As the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, Neste aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030.

Paving the Way: Ambitious Goals for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Neste’s ambition doesn’t end with Neste Impact. The company strives to make its Porvoo oil refinery in Finland the most sustainable in Europe by 2030. Committed to achieving carbon-neutral production by 2035, Neste also aims to reduce the carbon emission intensity of sold products by 50% by 2040. Upholding high standards for biodiversity, human rights, and the supply chain, Neste has consistently earned a place in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies.

A Transformative Solution for a Greener Tomorrow

Neste Impact stands as a testament to Neste Corporation’s commitment to a sustainable future. With the launch of this innovative solution, businesses now have a credible and effective means to reduce their aviation emissions and contribute significantly to global sustainability targets.

Sources:
Neste Corporation
Neste

Unprecedented Purity: A SAF Milestone

What makes this transatlantic flight truly unique is the purity of the SAF used. Containing no added aromatics or impurities, the 100% SAF required no additional treatment or blending logistics. This not only emphasizes the efficiency of the fuel but also enhances its decarbonization benefits. World Energy and Gulfstream have set a new standard, showcasing that sustainable aviation fuel can power flights without compromise.

A Flight of Discovery: Data for Future Sustainability

The data gathered from this historic endurance flight is invaluable. Gulfstream, in collaboration with its key suppliers, will use this information to assess aircraft compatibility with future low-aromatic renewable fuels, especially under challenging conditions such as cold temperatures during extended flight durations. The journey goes beyond the skies, contributing crucial insights for the evolution of sustainable aviation.

Pushing Boundaries: A Commitment to a Greener Tomorrow

Adam Klauber, VP of Sustainability and Digital Supply Chain at World Energy, commends Gulfstream’s dedication, stating, “With this flight, Gulfstream was willing to push the envelope to show what’s possible. They mobilized resources and personnel to demonstrate the future of sustainable aviation fuel.” Gulfstream’s President, Mark Burns, echoes the sentiment, highlighting the company’s commitment to a sustainable future through innovation.

Fuelling Progress: Details of SAF on the G600

The Pratt & Whitney PW 815 engines on the G600 were fueled by 100% Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids (pure neat HEFA). Notably, the SAF used had zero added aromatics, lower sulfur content, and significantly reduced particulates compared to fossil-based jet fuel. The SAF, produced by World Energy, achieved net-zero emissions, reducing the flight life cycle emissions by an impressive 83%. The remaining 17% of residual carbon dioxide and ground transport emissions were offset by an additional SAF supply delivered to Los Angeles International Airport.

A Coalition for Sustainability: Flight Partners

Collaborative Excellence for a Greener Sky

This historic achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of key partners:

World Energy
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.
World Fuel Services
Pratt & Whitney
Honeywell
Safran
Eaton

Together, these companies are not only breaking barriers but are actively shaping a sustainable future for aviation.

In the words of Mark Burns, Gulfstream’s President, “The completion of this world-class flight helps to advance business aviation’s overarching sustainability mission and create positive environmental impacts for future generations.” As the skies open up to a greener tomorrow, the World Energy-Gulfstream partnership stands as a beacon of progress, inspiring the aviation industry toward a sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

The United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund – a way for companies and consumers to come together and increase the supply of sustainable aviation fuel

American Express Global Business Travel, Aramco Ventures, Aviation Capital Group, Bank of America, Boston Consulting Group, Groupe ADP, Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Ventures, will join inaugural fund partners Air Canada, Boeing, GE Aerospace, JPMorgan Chase, and Honeywell.

United customers also have the option to contribute to supplement the airline’s investment in the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund^SM when they book flights. Since the fund launched, more than 60,000 United customers have contributed a total of more than $200,000.

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that, on a lifecycle basis, reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with air travel compared to conventional jet fuel alone. To date, United has invested in the future production of over five billion gallons of SAF – the most of any airline in the world.

“While United can’t decarbonize the airline industry alone, we can use our leadership and credibility in this space to rally others to join us,” said United Airlines Ventures President Michael Leskinen.

“Our new and inaugural participants demonstrate the impressive commitment within aviation and beyond to reduce our carbon footprint and combat the threat of climate change. As companies across the globe are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact from flying, the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund presents a unique opportunity – instead of fighting over the current limited supply of SAF, with our partners, we’re working collaboratively to help scale the SAF industry itself, and to get an equity stake in groundbreaking technology while doing it,” explains Michael Leskinen.

United will continue to recruit corporations across industries to join the fund and will prioritize investment in new technology, advanced fuel sources, and proven producers – all in an effort to help scale the supply of SAF. Partners also have the potential to gain preferential access to environmental attributes associated with United’s future supply of SAF. SAF, which currently must be blended with conventional jet fuel to meet regulatory requirements for use within the aircraft, is being made from used cooking oil and agricultural waste, and, in the future, could be made from other feedstocks including household trash or forest waste. Through the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund, United intends to invest in a variety of SAF feedstocks and technologies. With the right policy incentives to produce SAF, United’s efforts could help build a future of sustainable flight.

The potential of eFuels to decarbonize aviation and maritime shipping is significant, and there are ongoing efforts to accelerate their adoption through targeted policies, such as introducing carbon pricing for shipping and aviation, scaling up the production of low-carbon e-fuel, and regulating the lifecycle emissions intensity of e-fuels.

What are eFuels, and how are they produced?

eFuels, also known as electro fuels, are a class of synthetic fuels that can replace conventionally produced fossil fuels. eFuels combine green hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO₂) to produce eMethanol, which can then be converted to a wide range of sustainable fuels, including eSAF, eGasoline, and eDiesel.

What is SAF – Sustainable Aviation Fuel?

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a type of aviation fuel that is made from sustainable resources such as renewable or waste-derived sources. It is a “drop-in” fuel that can be mixed with any fossil jet fuel to reduce emissions.

SAF meets sustainability criteria and has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of the aviation industry. SAF can be made from renewable sources such as used cooking oil, municipal waste, and woody biomass.

It is a safe and proven fuel that has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of the aviation industry. SAF is a carbon-reduction solution that is available for use in aircraft and helicopters operating today. It is estimated that SAF could contribute around 65% of the reduction in emissions needed by aviation to reach net zero in 2050.

Who’s leading the way in eFuels?

Leigh Abrams is the Senior Business Leader for Emerging Renewable Fuels in the Sustainable Technology Solutions business at Honeywell UOP and is responsible for UOP’s technologies to produce renewable liquid fuels from next-generation feedstocks. The UOP renewable fuels portfolio includes Ecofining^TM, UOP eFining^TM and the UOP ethanol to jet process, as well as technology for biomass conversion into liquid fuels.

Leigh explains, “Honeywell UOP eFining Technology is a groundbreaking technology that converts waste oils, fats, and greases into Honeywell Green Jet Fuel, a drop-in replacement for jet fuel. This technology, which can produce eSAF at a lower cost relative to comparable technologies, is efficient and can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 88% compared to conventional jet fuel¹. The technology is safe because it produces aviation fuel that meets the same specifications as traditional jet fuel.”

How does Honeywell’s UOP eFining technology work?

Honeywell’s UOP eFining is a methanol to jet fuel (MTJ) processing technology that can convert eMethanol to eSAF reliably and at scale. When blended with conventional jet fuel, eSAF is a drop-in replacement fuel that requires no changes to aircraft technology or fuel infrastructure.

Are Sustainable Aviation Fuels Safe?

The safety of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) is regulated by various organizations and agencies.

All jet fuel that is shipped carries a Certificate of Quality showing compliance with ASTM D1655, which is a standard specification for aviation turbine fuels. The FAA Part 139 addresses fire safety standards for fuelling operations, and fuel quality control is inspected by the FAA Flight Standards Division Inspectors.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) also regulates the safety of aviation fuels, including SAF. The ICAO has developed standards and recommended practices for the production, handling, and use of aviation fuels, including SAF.

The U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) supports advances in research, development, and demonstration to overcome barriers to the widespread deployment of low-carbon SAF that meets strict fuel specifications for use in existing airplanes and infrastructure. The safety of SAF is a critical aspect of the aviation industry, and various organizations and agencies work together to ensure that SAF is safe and reliable.

What are the benefits of Honeywell’s UOP eFining technology?

The UOP eFining technology is highly integrated and can process flexible feedstocks using commercially proven processes, resulting in operational reliability, minimized capital expenditures, and low energy intensity. This technology is a transformational opportunity for the aviation market, allowing for the use of readily abundant CO2 to produce SAF.

Who is HIF Global, and what is its role in Honeywell’s new technology?

HIF Global is the world’s leading eFuels company and has signed a commercial agreement for the production of eSAF using Honeywell UOP eFining. HIF expects to deploy the solution at its second commercial-scale eFuels facility in the U.S., which is expected to be the world’s largest eSAF facility, recycling approximately 2 million tons of captured CO₂ to make approximately 11,000 barrels per day of eSAF by 2030.

What are the incentives for the development of sustainable aviation fuels?

The demand for SAF continues to grow, and various incentives, including the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge and ReFuelEU Aviation rules, have been introduced to accelerate the commercialization of technologies like Honeywell UOP eFining to meet the growing demand for SAF. These incentives aim to increase the share of sustainable fuels at EU airports from a minimum of 2% in 2025 to 70% by 2050, with an additional sub-target for eSAF of 1.2% by 2030 and 35% in 2050.

Reduced GHG emissions are based on UOP carbon intensity analysis, derived from a 3rd-party study of methanol production from green hydrogen and CO₂ captured from biomass processing, in comparison to fossil fuels.

Finnair has purchased 750 tons of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ from Neste to reduce the carbon emissions from flights departing from Helsinki Airport in Finland. Sustainable aviation fuel is one of the most important tools for reducing the emissions of air travel in the coming years and is available for all airlines at Helsinki Airport.

Finnair aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, and the use of sustainable aviation fuel is an important tool in this regard. Using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%* over the fuel’s life cycle compared to using fossil jet fuel. The fuel volume now purchased is Finnair’s single largest batch of sustainable aviation fuel purchased to date. The SAF will be delivered by Neste to Helsinki Airport in early 2023. The 750 tons of SAF corresponds to approximately 400 flights between Helsinki and Stockholm using unblended, 100% SAF. Currently, SAF can be used blended up to 50% with conventional fossil jet fuel.

“Finnair celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and reducing emissions from flying is an essential part of a sustainable future. Sustainable aviation fuel will be one of the most important tools for reducing emissions in the coming years. We also involve our customers in this, and a small part of every flight ticket sold goes to the cost of sustainable aviation fuel,” says Eveliina Huurre, Finnair’s SVP, Sustainability. “Reducing emissions from flying requires an extensive toolkit and everyone’s effort. While we are increasing the use of SAF, we will also continue to take all other steps, from reducing the weight of aircraft to optimizing flight routes and increasing fuel efficiency.”

“Finnair was one of the first airlines using our Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. We have been working together for a long time and look forward to supporting Finnair to meet its sustainability targets,” says Jonathan Wood, Vice President of Commercial and Technical Management, Renewable Aviation at Neste. “It is great to see Finnair taking the initiative to voluntarily purchase our SAF as part of their sustainability commitments, and creating awareness among their customers on how to play a role in creating a more sustainable future.”

Sustainable aviation fuel

SAF is a renewable aviation fuel providing a more sustainable alternative to conventional, fossil-based jet fuel. Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced from sustainably sourced, 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste. SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel and works seamlessly with existing aircraft engines and fueling infrastructure. 

Neste in brief

Neste creates solutions for combating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. We refine waste, residues and innovative raw materials into renewable fuels and sustainable feedstock for plastics and other materials. We are the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel and developing chemical recycling to combat the plastic waste challenge. We aim at helping customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with our renewable and circular solutions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030. Our ambition is to make the Porvoo oil refinery in Finland the most sustainable refinery in Europe by 2030. We are introducing renewable and recycled raw materials such as liquefied waste plastic as refinery raw materials. We have committed to reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035, and we will reduce the carbon emission intensity of sold products by 50% by 2040. We also have set high standards for biodiversity, human rights and supply chain. We have consistently been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. In 2022, Neste’s revenue stood at EUR 25.7 billion.

Read more: neste.com 

Finnair in brief

Finnair is a network airline, specializing in connecting passenger and cargo traffic between Asia, North America and Europe. Finnair is one of the oldest operating airlines in the world, celebrating its centenary in 2023. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do – Finnair intends to reach carbon neutrality latest by the end of 2045. Customers have chosen Finnair as the Best Airline in Northern Europe in the Skytrax Awards for 12 times in a row. Finnair is a member of the oneworld alliance. Finnair Plc’s shares are quoted on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange.

SUSTAINABLE RIGHT ACTION

YEG is the first airport in the world to sign Amazon’s Climate Pledge, committing to be carbon neutral by 2040. One way airports are reducing their emissions is by exploring sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), which can reduce the carbon footprint of aviation fuel by up to 80%. In 2018, YEG partnered with Air Canada for a flight from Edmonton to San Francisco that used SAFs, reducing the net emissions by 20%. More recently, YEG supported and hosted KLM Flight 675, which flew non-stop from Amsterdam to Edmonton, setting a record for the longest flight powered by the largest percentage of sustainable aviation fuel.

ELECTRIC & HYBRID-ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT

Electric and hybrid-electric aircraft are another way airlines are reducing their carbon footprint. Over 100 electric aircraft designs are in development, and airlines expect to be flying electric planes by the end of the decade. Air Canada has ordered 30 electric aircraft expected to go into service in 2028. YEG and Air Canada signed the first sustainability partnership between an airline and airport to reduce carbon emissions and advance a green and sustainable aviation sector, aiming to reduce the carbon impact of air travel. They are working together to test emerging green technologies at YEG’s Airport City Sustainability Campus, focusing on initiatives such as the electrification of aviation equipment and the development and usage of sustainable aviation fuels, biofuels, and hydrogen.

HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS

Hydrogen fuel cell technology is being developed and tested to power aircraft, and larger regional hydrogen-powered aircraft are expected to be in commercial operation in the mid-2030s. YEG is committed to using its Airport City Sustainability Campus ecosystem to pilot emerging hydrogen technologies. They have signed multiple agreements with global companies to use their airport as a testing location for delivering zero-emission flights, decarbonizing ground operations, developing hydrogen fueling stations, and converting industrial vehicles to hydrogen fuel.

YEG is working with the Edmonton Region Hydrogen HUB to kickstart the region’s hydrogen economy, using Alberta’s natural advantages in clean-hydrogen production. Because of these natural advantages, Alberta airports will have access to some of the cheapest hydrogen products in the world, unlocking opportunities to decarbonize a traditionally hard-to-abate sector.

YEG has had two flights fueled by SAF, one with Air Canada and one with KLM, but more are expected in the near future. When it comes to sustainability in aviation, everyone is a winner, and YEG’s partnership with Air Canada is a step towards reducing the carbon impact of air travel.

YEG is leading the way in sustainable initiatives, from signing the Amazon Climate Pledge to exploring sustainable aviation fuels, electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, and hydrogen fuel cell technology. YEG is committed to reducing the carbon impact of air travel, and its partnership with Air Canada is an example of the collaborative efforts needed to achieve a net-zero aviation industry. Alberta’s natural advantages in clean-hydrogen production will help unlock opportunities to decarbonize the aviation sector and position YEG as a leader in sustainable aviation.

The Urban AirPort is a compact modular structure that can be installed almost anywhere, making it an ideal solution for cities where space is at a premium. The airport features a fully autonomous charging and landing system that can recharge an electric vehicle in just a few minutes. The airport’s design also incorporates a sophisticated air traffic management system that allows multiple aircraft to use the facility at the same time safely.

One of the primary advantages of Urban AirPort is its flexibility. The airport can be easily moved and installed in different locations as needed, providing a quick and affordable solution for cities looking to develop their air transportation infrastructure. The airport’s modular design also means that it can be scaled up or down depending on demand, making it suitable for a range of applications from delivery drones to electric flying taxis.

The new airport will have a range of benefits, including reducing congestion on roads and providing a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation option. The airport will also help to support the growth of the electric vehicle industry by providing a network of charging stations that can be used by a range of vehicles, from electric cars to drones.

The Urban AirPort will be powered by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, making it a truly green infrastructure project. The airport will also incorporate the latest smart technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), to optimize its operations and improve efficiency.

Coventry was chosen as the location for the world’s first new energy airport due to its central location and its strong history of innovation in the transportation industry. The city is home to several leading automotive companies, including Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin, as well as world-class universities and research centers.

The new energy airport is just one of several innovative transportation projects that are being developed in Coventry. The city is also home to the UK’s first 5G-enabled road, which is being used to test autonomous vehicles and connected car technology. These initiatives are part of Coventry’s wider plans to become a smart city and a leader in sustainable transportation.

The Urban Air Port project has already attracted significant interest from investors and potential partners. Hyundai Motor Group has invested in the project and is also working on developing its own electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi. Other companies, including Honeywell and Microsoft, have also expressed an interest in the project and are exploring potential partnerships with Urban Air Port Limited.

The Urban Air Port in Coventry, UK, is set to revolutionize transportation by providing a green, sustainable, and smart airport infrastructure that can be used by a wide range of air vehicles. The airport’s modular design and flexibility make it an ideal solution for cities looking to develop their air transportation infrastructure quickly and affordably. The project is a testament to Coventry’s innovation and commitment to sustainable transportation and is likely to attract significant interest from investors and potential partners.

In an effort to rally businesses and consumers, United launched the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund, a first-of-its-kind investment vehicle designed to support start-ups focused on decarbonizing air travel by accelerating the research, production and technologies associated with sustainable aviation fuel.

The fund starts with more than $100 million in investments from United and its inaugural partners** Air Canada, Boeing, GE Aerospace, JPMorgan Chase, and Honeywell. Through the fund, these and potentially additional corporate participants will invest alongside United in SAF technology and production start-ups identified by United. In the past two years alone, United Airlines Ventures has invested in start-ups such as Cemvita, Dimensional Energy, and NEXT Renewable Fuels.

And in a first among U.S. airlines, anyone who buys a ticket on the United website or app now has the option to contribute to supplement United’s investment in the fund. The first 10,000 people who choose to contribute will each receive 500 MileagePlus Miles as a thank-you.

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that, on a lifecycle basis, reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with air travel compared to conventional jet fuel alone. SAF, which currently must be blended with conventional jet fuel to meet regulatory requirements for use within the aircraft, is being made from used cooking oil and agricultural waste, and, in the future, could be made from other feedstocks including household trash or forest waste. To date, United has invested in the future production of over three billion gallons of SAF – the most of any airline in the world.***

“Solving climate change is doable but it requires hard work and real leadership,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “This fund is unique. It’s not about offsets or things that are just greenwashing. Instead, we’re creating a system that drives investment to build a new industry around sustainable aviation fuel, essentially from scratch. That’s the only way we can actually decarbonize aviation.”

UAV Sustainable Flight Fund

The UAV Sustainable Flight Fund is open to investment by corporations across industries and the fund will prioritize investment in new technology, advanced fuel sources and proven producers, all in an effort to scale the supply of SAF. Partners of the fund also have the potential to gain preferential access to environmental attributes associated with United’s supply of SAF.

Companies interested in joining the fund can visit united.com/ventures.

United has already made investments in or signed purchase agreements with companies using a variety of ingredients and technologies to produce SAF, including feedstocks like ethanol, animal byproducts, forestry and crop waste, and municipal waste, as well as early-stage, promising technologies like synthetic biology and power to liquids. United Airlines Ventures will move selected existing SAF investments to establish the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund portfolio.

Consumer Awareness and Call to Action

United is also educating consumers about their air travel carbon footprint and giving them the option to take action.

Starting today on United.com and the United app, United becomes the first U.S. airline to show customers an estimate of each flight’s carbon footprint in their search. Green shading will indicate a lower-carbon option on a per economy seat passenger basis in a customer’s chosen itinerary. A flight’s carbon footprint is measured in kg CO2e (kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent) and United’s estimates, which could differ from actual flight emissions, are based on aircraft type, flying time, seat capacity and the number of people and cargo on a given flight.

And consumers who book travel through United for travel within or from the U.S. will now see an option to contribute to supplement United’s investment in the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund before check-out. Customers have the choice to contribute $1, $3.50 or $7.00.

The default option for customer contributions is set at $3.50 to illustrate the potential impact of customer action at scale: if the 152 million people who flew on United in 2022 each contributed just $3.50 to the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund, that would be enough to design and build a SAF refinery capable of producing as much as 40 million gallons of alternative fuel annually.

The Federal Government Recognizes the Value of SAF

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act includes the largest governmental climate change investments in U.S. history – a new blender’s tax credit specifically for SAF along with other critical incentives for clean energy and carbon capture – that will help spur an increase in SAF infrastructure and supply while lowering costs for SAF consumers.

The U.S. military currently uses nearly five billion gallons of jet fuel annually and the Department of Defense will use a jet fuel blend containing at least 10% SAF by 2028 because of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

And according to the U.S. Department of Energy, the country’s vast feedstock resources are enough to meet the projected SAF demand of the entire U.S. aviation industry.

United’s Commitment to Net Zero Emissions by 2050

United aims to be 100% green by reducing its GHG emissions by 100% by 2050, without relying on traditional carbon offsets. In addition to the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund, United has launched a SAF purchasing program called the Eco-Skies Alliance and established a venture fund – United Airlines Ventures – to identify and invest in companies and technologies that can decarbonize air travel. These strategic investments include carbon capture, hydrogen-electric engines, electric regional aircraft and air taxis.

About United

United’s shared purpose is “Connecting People. Uniting the World.” From our U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers. United is bringing back our customers’ favorite destinations and adding new ones on its way to becoming the world’s best airline.

For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.

For further information about our environmental impact, review United’s Corporate Responsibility Report and Annual Report on Form 10-K, available at crreport.united.com and ir.united.com.

One of the most important considerations when selecting an airline for business travel is its reputation for reliability. Business travelers typically have tight schedules and cannot afford to be delayed or stranded due to flight cancellations or other disruptions. Therefore, it is important to choose an airline that has a strong track record for on-time performance and customer satisfaction. This information can often be found through online reviews and customer feedback, as well as through industry rankings and awards.

Another important factor to consider is the quality of in-flight services and amenities. Business travelers often need to stay connected while in the air, so access to Wi-Fi and other technology is a key consideration. In addition, airlines that offer comfortable seating, high-quality food and beverages, and other amenities such as in-flight entertainment can help make the travel experience more pleasant and productive for busy professionals.

Finally, pricing and loyalty program offerings are also important factors to consider when choosing an airline for business travel. Many companies have strict travel budgets, so finding an airline that offers competitive pricing and discounts for business travelers can be critical. In addition, loyalty programs that offer perks such as priority boarding, lounge access, and free upgrades can be highly valuable for frequent business travelers who are looking to optimize their travel experience and get the most value for their money.

When choosing an airline for business travel, it is important to consider a range of factors, including reliability, in-flight services, pricing, and loyalty program offerings. By taking the time to research different airlines and carefully weigh the pros and cons of each option, business travelers can make informed decisions that help them stay productive, comfortable, and efficient while on the road.

CANADIAN AIRLINES

Here are the top 10 airlines in Canada, listed in alphabetical order:

1. Air Canada – Air Canada is the largest airline in Canada and the flag carrier of the country. It offers flights to over 200 destinations worldwide and has a large domestic and international network.
   
2. Air Transat – Air Transat is a popular Canadian leisure airline that offers flights to over 60 destinations across the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean.
   
3. Flair Airlines – Flair Airlines is a low-cost airline that offers flights to 19 destinations across Canada, the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
   
4. Porter Airlines – Porter Airlines is a regional airline that offers flights to over 20 destinations in Canada and the United States.
   
5. WestJet – WestJet is a Canadian low-cost airline that offers flights to over 100 destinations in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
   
6. Air North – Air North is a regional airline that offers flights to destinations in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
   
7. Canadian North – Canadian North is a regional airline that offers flights to destinations in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, as well as flights to select cities in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.
   
8. Central Mountain Air – Central Mountain Air is a regional airline that offers flights to destinations in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
   
9. First Air – First Air is a regional airline that offers flights to destinations in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
   
10. Jazz Aviation – Jazz Aviation is a regional airline that operates flights on behalf of Air Canada under the Air Canada Express brand. It offers flights to destinations across Canada and the United States.

USA AIRLINES

Here are the top 10 airlines in the United States, listed in alphabetical order:

1. Alaska Airlines – Alaska Airlines is a major airline that operates flights to over 115 destinations across North America, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
   
2. American Airlines – American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, operating flights to over 350 destinations across the globe, including numerous cities in the United States.
   
3. Delta Air Lines – Delta Air Lines is a major American airline that offers flights to over 300 destinations in 50 countries worldwide.
   
4. Frontier Airlines – Frontier Airlines is a low-cost carrier that offers flights to over 100 destinations in the United States, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
   
5. Hawaiian Airlines – Hawaiian Airlines is the largest airline in Hawaii, offering flights to numerous destinations in the United States, Asia, and the Pacific.
   
6. JetBlue Airways – JetBlue Airways is a low-cost carrier that offers flights to over 100 destinations in the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
   
7. Southwest Airlines – Southwest Airlines is the world’s largest low-cost carrier, operating flights to over 100 destinations across the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
   
8. Spirit Airlines – Spirit Airlines is a low-cost carrier that offers flights to over 80 destinations in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
   
9. United Airlines – United Airlines is a major American airline that offers flights to over 350 destinations worldwide, including numerous cities in the United States.
   
10. Virgin America – Virgin America is a low-cost carrier that offers flights to over 20 destinations in the United States, including major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. However, please note that Virgin America has merged with Alaska Airlines, and its operations are now integrated into the Alaska Airlines brand.

SOURCE: GOOGLE & CHAT OPENAI

From January 2023 onwards, all diesel-powered ground handling vehicles and machinery at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands will be using Neste MY Renewable Diesel™.

There are around 1,900 ground handling vehicles with a diesel engine at Schiphol airport, varying from standard cars, vans, pushback tractors and trucks to more specialized ground support like conveyor belt loaders, pallet or container loaders, catering high lifts, aircraft fuel dispensers, passenger steps and ground power units. 

KLM Equipment Services is the fuel supplier for all vehicles and machinery in Schiphol with a fuel station at the airport as well as three fuel trucks operating seven days a week. Neste MY Renewable Diesel is supplied to KES via Neste’s distribution partner EG Group.

“At the moment, 40% of the motorized equipment at the airport runs on electricity. And that number will increase over the coming years. However, for a number of specialist heavy vehicles, it is a technical challenge to develop a battery with sufficient capacity that can also be charged quickly enough. Using Neste MY Renewable Diesel is therefore a good solution currently,” says Paul Feldbrugge, responsible for the Zero Emission Programme within KES.

“KLM Equipment Services is an existing customer of EG Group in the field of lubricants. Now, this cooperation is further expanded with Neste MY Renewable Diesel. We are very pleased with KES’s choice to use Neste-produced renewable diesel as a solution at the airport ground and that EG Group can contribute to making this happen,” says Rob Wemekamp, B2B Sales Manager, EG Group.

“This is a significant step on the way towards a zero-emission ground operation in 2030. The vehicles for which there are currently no electric or hydrogen alternatives available can run on renewable diesel. Everyone on the airside, where the loads are moved to or from the aircraft, is making use of it, including Aviapartner, dnata, Menzies, Swissport, KLM Ground Services and Viggo. We’re pleased about that. It’s also important that we all continue to expand the number of electric vehicles at Schiphol. We are also going to considerably expand the number of charging stations,” says Denise Pronk, responsible for sustainability at Royal Schiphol Group, operating the Schiphol airport.

“With KLM Equipment Services now starting to use our Neste MY Renewable Diesel for all diesel-powered ground handling vehicles and machinery at the airport, our contribution to Schiphol’s sustainability targets significantly increases. With Neste MY Renewable Diesel, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by as much as 75 to 95%* when emissions over the fuel’s life cycle are compared with fossil diesel. Companies can reduce their climate emissions in an instant by just changing to Neste MY Renewable Diesel,” says Peter Zonneveld, Vice President of Sales Renewable Road Transportation at Neste. “With our renewables production capacity increasing to 5.5 million tons by the end of 2023 and further to 6.8 million tons by the end of 2026, we are well-equipped to help our customers around the world to make the switch to more sustainable solutions,” Peter Zonneveld continues. 

Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ is produced from 100% renewable raw materials. It is a drop-in fuel, the use of which does not require any modifications to existing vehicles or machines, energy systems, or fuel distribution infrastructures. 

Schiphol is one of the airports in Europe in which Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™, a more sustainable alternative to fossil jet fuel, is available. The use of Nestle-produced SAF reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%** over the fuel’s life cycle, compared to using fossil jet fuel.

Neste in brief

Neste creates solutions for combating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. We refine waste, residues and innovative raw materials into renewable fuels and sustainable feedstock for plastics and other materials. We are the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel and developing chemical recycling to combat the plastic waste challenge. We aim at helping customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with our renewable and circular solutions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030. Our ambition is to make the Porvoo oil refinery in Finland the most sustainable refinery in Europe by 2030. We are introducing renewable and recycled raw materials such as liquefied waste plastic as refinery raw materials. We have committed to reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035, and we will reduce the carbon emission intensity of sold products by 50% by 2040. We also have set high standards for biodiversity, human rights and supply chain. We have consistently been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. In 2021, Neste’s revenue stood at EUR 15.1 billion.

Read more: neste.com

KES in brief

KLM Equipment Services is an independent subsidiary of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. We use our expertise and experience in the field of Ground Support Equipment for large and small players in the aviation industry. From our home base at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, we take care of the sale, rental and maintenance of all types of vehicles and equipment.

KLM Equipment Services takes care of the maintenance of equipment that is used during the handling of an aircraft on the ground. GSE is the indispensable link in all logistics processes at an airport. In total, we maintain around 1,500 motorized and 750 non-motorized vehicles from KLM Ground Services, KLM Cargo, KLM Engineering & Maintenance, KLM Catering Services, Martinair and Transavia, among others.

In addition to maintenance, KLM Equipment Services also supplies vehicles with fuel. This is done at the fixed filling station on the G-buffer or with our own tank trucks. KLM Equipment Services’ environmental department is responsible for cleaning up spills of hazardous liquids at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Schiphol in brief

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol welcomed 52.5 million passengers in 2022 and processed 1.4 million tonnes of cargo. With its 313 direct destinations all over the world, Schiphol offers one of the best destination and frequency networks in Europe. This makes Amsterdam Airport Schiphol one of the most important mainports in Europe and one of the two European hubs of Air France-KLM and the SkyTeam alliance. Schiphol is an important contributor to the Dutch and regional economies. 

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is part of the Royal Schiphol Group, an enterprise that operates airports in the Netherlands, conducts international activities and participates in airports abroad. Royal Schiphol Group’s mission is connecting your world.

EG Group in brief

EG Group is a global petrol station and convenience retailer and has a diverse portfolio of more than 6,000 petrol stations in 10 countries across Europe, North America and Australia. EG Group controls the procurement, storage and distribution of fuels and lubricants through its depots and own transportation.

EG Group is a certified distributor of Neste. In doing so, EG Group is supervised by strict audits to ensure the environmental aspects of our operations, product and services. This also allows EG Group to safeguard KLM’s strict regulations. Because EG Group controls the entire supply chain, it provides its customers with the right service, services and advice around CO₂ reduction through the use of HVO100.

Reaching the aviation industry’s ambitious “net zero carbon emissions by 2050” goal, requires different measures to be deployed, including fuel-efficient aircraft technologies, improved operations and ground infrastructures, as well as deployment of sustainable aviation fuel. 

Neste and Airbus recognize that one of the biggest challenges in accelerating SAF use is the ramp-up of SAF production. This collaboration is laying the foundation for Airbus and Neste to explore business opportunities together and jointly promote the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel. The focus will be on the technical development of SAF, fuel approval and testing of current and future production technologies, and investigating how “100% SAF” use can be enabled. 

“Neste is at the forefront of accelerating the aviation sector’s journey to a more sustainable future. That journey requires cooperation across the industry’s value chain. This collaboration with Airbus connects a pioneer in the aerospace industry with a leader in renewable fuels. The combined knowledge and expertise of the companies will help advance the use and availability of SAF as a means of transitioning aviation towards more sustainable energy sources and reducing the climate impact of aviation,” said Thorsten Lange, Executive Vice President, Renewable Aviation at Neste.

“At Airbus, we believe SAF is one of aerospace’s most promising decarbonization solutions that can be used in both in-service aircraft fleets and those of tomorrow. We are proud to partner with Neste and drive forward the development and uptake of SAF, stimulating the creation of a commercially viable market for renewable aviation fuels,” says Julie Kitcher, EVP Communications, Sustainability, and Corporate Affairs, Airbus. “All Airbus aircraft are already certified for flying with up to 50% SAF, and this partnership will be instrumental to reaching certification for 100% SAF by the end of the decade.”

The agreement between Neste and Airbus builds on the cooperation in the ECLIF3 research project, the world’s first in-flight emissions study using 100% SAF on a wide-body commercial passenger aircraft, with Rolls-Royce and German research center DLR. Following the collaboration in the ECLIF3 project, Airbus and Neste will be further working on the technical aspects of the challenge to reach 100% SAF certification.

SAF delivers the performance of conventional jet fuel but with a significantly smaller carbon footprint on a life cycle basis. Using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%* over the fuel’s life cycle compared to using fossil jet fuel. Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced from sustainably sourced 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste. Prior to use, SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel and works seamlessly with existing fueling infrastructure and aircraft engines. 

Neste in brief

Neste creates solutions for combating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. We refine waste, residues, and innovative raw materials into renewable fuels and sustainable feedstock for plastics and other materials. We are the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel and developing chemical recycling to combat the plastic waste challenge. We aim at helping customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with our renewable and circular solutions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030. Our ambition is to make the Porvoo oil refinery in Finland the most sustainable refinery in Europe by 2030. We are introducing renewable and recycled raw materials such as liquefied waste plastic as refinery raw materials. We have committed to reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035, and we will reduce the carbon emission intensity of sold products by 50% by 2040. We also have set high standards for biodiversity, human rights, and supply chain. We have consistently been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. In 2021, Neste’s revenue stood at EUR 15.1 billion.

Read more: neste.com

About Airbus

Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defense, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defense and security and one of the world’s leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide.

Following the announcement of its hydrogen aviation concept back in 2018, H3 Dynamics managed to become a topic at an Oval Office press conference on the very next day and started what is now a global hydrogen aviation movement.

In November 2021, H3 Dynamics completed its first working hydrogen propulsion nacelle prototype. In July 2022, the first distributed pod system took to the skies on a scaled-down aircraft at the “Hub Drones – Systematic” airfield near Paris. The hydrogen flight received clearance from the French civil air authorities (DGAC).

H3 Dynamics’ self-contained nacelle approach addresses technical, safety, and cost challenges hydrogen aircraft developers could face at some point in the future. It achieves this by placing hydrogen and smaller fuel cells across a series of collaborative propulsion nacelles under the wings. A new 2022 study forecasts the global thrust nacelle market to reach $7 Billion by 2030 and highlights H3 Dynamics’ hydrogen solution as a key new opportunity in the sector.

Other, higher-visibility hydrogen aircraft proponents will fly larger size aircraft much sooner – but they will do so by converting existing aircraft using fuel cells sourced from the automotive world – and storing large amounts of gas or liquid hydrogen inside the main fuselage.

“Not only is safety our first priority, but we don’t want hydrogen competing for revenue-generating airfreight and passenger space,” said Taras Wankewycz, Founder/CEO of H3 Dynamics. Distributing small systems solves technical headaches, such as thermal management, and increases safety through multiple redundancies.

H3 Dynamics’ 25kg test aircraft is already a breakthrough – with an electric flight range of up to 900km on liquid hydrogen or 350km on pressurized hydrogen. Its externalized nacelle design also frees up 30L of fuselage volume with no hydrogen nor any powertrain elements inside. H3 Dynamics’ hydrogen propulsion nacelles could potentially become a “snap-on” retrofit for battery-powered unmanned eVTOL or fixed-wing cargo drones.

Preparing for the arrival of much longer duration unmanned hydrogen flights – H3 Dynamics started to work on airspace safety with world-leading air traffic control companies. It has been building experience with high-volume enterprise data services being deployed in smart cities such as Singapore, and gradually coupling these with drone-agnostic charging stations.

By starting at the lower-end boundary of regulatory and certification efforts, H3 Dynamics doesn’t need to wait until 2035 to begin its commercial journey. “We all need to learn today with small commercial applications and gradually increase aircraft size over time together with all stakeholders – most importantly, the regulators.”

Now H3 Dynamics is already preparing its next steps.

It is exploring liquid hydrogen integration as part of a joint development with ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse launched in 2019. The objective is a historical and symbolic Atlantic crossing on hydrogen electric propulsion in the coming two years.

And with airfield experiments feeding its digital twin capability for hydrogen aircraft design, H3 Dynamics is now working on a next-generation platform powered by 6 independent hydrogen-electric nacelle systems. The aircraft will feature fast refueling and will be used as a test bed for H3 Dynamics hydrogen-electric propulsion technology moving forward.

About H3 Dynamics: www.h3dynamics.com

H3 Dynamics is on a long-term mission to decarbonize aviation with a unique technology solution around distributed hydrogen-electric propulsion, as well as ground refueling solutions. While the commercial opportunities around passenger-scale hydrogen aviation continue to mature, the company is implementing an incremental product and services roadmap that solves safety, technical, and regulatory challenges starting small and simple, adding scale and complexity over time. The company currently has 95 employees and serves clients globally from its 3 regional headquarters in Toulouse, Austin, and Singapore. H3 Dynamics is a member of the Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation under the European Commission, the Lufthansa Cleantech Hub, the Paris Advanced Air Mobility Alliance, and the Aerospace Valley in Toulouse.

Bryan Sherbacow, President and CEO of Alder Fuels, commented, “The initial stage of the AGC process is technology neutral, which allows us to pursue a range of providers to further our mission. BTG Bioliquids’ technology has been chosen for this phase for the pioneering site for Alder Greencrude production, which will be located in the U.S. Southeast. BTG Bioliquids and our existing strategic partnership with Honeywell UOP play an essential de-risking role, which enables rapid and global commercial scale. We look forward to providing more details on our first site selection in the coming months.”

The initial step in the fuel production process is the conversion of sustainable biomass residues into fast pyrolysis bio-oil. As one of the world’s leading fast pyrolysis technology providers, BTG Bioliquids develops production plants through their engineering, procurement, and construction partner, TechnipEnergies. These plants aim to convert non-food, diverse, and sustainable biomass sources into fast pyrolysis bio-oil that can help to displace our reliance on fossil fuels.

Alder’s patented process uniquely upgrades fast pyrolysis oil into AGC that can then be converted into drop-in ready SAF and chemicals using existing bio and petroleum refinery infrastructure. Developed in close partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, AGC can achieve greenhouse gas reductions of over 80 percent compared to fossil-based jet fuel, flexing to carbon negative depending on the feedstock used. Honeywell UOP, one of the world’s leading technology suppliers to the global refining industry, has strategically partnered with Alder Fuels to facilitate mechanical design and commercialization and to guarantee their proprietary process.

Gerhard Muggen, Managing Director of BTG Bioliquids, commented, “BTG Bioliquids is proud that Alder Fuels has chosen our proprietary technology enabling them to become the leading supplier of SAF in the world. We are confident that our fast pyrolysis technology will support Alder Fuels in achieving their ambitious business goals and are looking forward to a fruitful collaboration.”

The Alder Fuels site is scheduled to start full-scale commercial production in 2024 and fast pyrolysis bio-oil conversion testing of Alder’s feedstock has been completed at both BTG pilot and demonstration scale plants in the Netherlands.

About BTG Bioliquids:

BTG Bioliquids is a technology provider and product leader in the field of fast pyrolysis explicitly made from biomass residues. It is our goal to make fast pyrolysis technology a worldwide success and support our customers in valorizing biomass residues. At the moment, three customers are operating a commercial-scale fast pyrolysis BTG Bioliquids plant, Empyro in the Netherlands, Green Fuel Nordic in Finland, and Pyrocell in Sweden. BTG Bioliquids plants are delivered turnkey in cooperation with our partners TechnipEnergies and Zeton. We replace fossil fuels!

For more information on BTG Bioliquids please visit www.btg-bioliquids.com

About Alder Fuels:

Alder Fuels is helping to power the global clean energy transformation and race to net zero through the conversion of sustainable biomass into low-carbon to carbon-negative Alder Greencrude (AGC). This green crude can then be converted into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), other low-carbon fuels, and chemicals using existing global refinery equipment and infrastructure. Bryan Sherbacow, Alder Fuels President & CEO, has a proven record for the development and commercial deployment of novel technology, including the world’s first refinery designed to produce renewable jet and military-grade fuels. Alder Fuels partners with Honeywell UOP, United Ventures, AvFuel, Boeing, the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, the Department of Energy, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

For more information, visit http://www.alderfuels.com/

Fully committed to reducing its environmental impact, the Air France-KLM Group aims to reduce its CO₂emissions per passenger/km by 30% by 2030 compared to 2019 – a target which has been submitted to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Its decarbonization trajectory includes the incorporation of 10% SAF by 2030, alongside fleet renewal and eco-piloting. The contract with Neste, part of the first set of long-term supply agreements, constitutes a further step for the Group to achieve its 10% SAF incorporation targets.

“Neste is fully committed to helping the aviation industry achieve its 2050 net-zero carbon emissions target, and sustainable aviation fuel will play a central role in that effort. Today’s announcement, which marks a significant next step forward in our cooperation with Air France-KLM Group, underscores how we continue to support companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Neste aims to help customers cut emissions by at least 20 million tons of CO2e annually by 2030 with our renewable and circular solutions,” says Matti Lehmus, President and CEO of Neste.

“This landmark partnership with Neste is an important and concrete step towards the decarbonization of our operations. This contract embodies our long-term commitment to the development of SAF’s production capabilities around the world, to the benefit of the industry as a whole,” said Fatima Gloria de Soussa, Director of Sustainability, Air France-KLM Group.

The agreement builds on SAF supply to the Air France-KLM Group which started in 2019 but the two companies have been working together for several years with KLM being one of the first airlines using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

“As the world’s leading producer of SAF, we are helping the aviation industry to work towards a more sustainable future, already today. This long-term collaboration with Air France-KLM shows how we work together in several areas. By the end of next year, Neste will have an annual SAF production capacity of 1.5 million tons, ready to support the Air France-KLM Group and other airlines in Europe and across the globe,” says Thorsten Lange, Executive Vice President, Renewable Aviation at Neste.

Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is an available solution today. As a drop-in fuel, it can be used with existing aircraft engines and airport fuel infrastructure, requiring no new investment. Neste MY SAF is produced from 100% sustainably-sourced, renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste.

Neste in brief

Neste (NESTE) creates solutions for combating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. We refine waste, residues, and innovative raw materials into renewable fuels and sustainable feedstock for plastics and other materials. We are the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel and developing chemical recycling to combat the plastic waste challenge. We aim at helping customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with our renewable and circular solutions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030. Our ambition is to make the Porvoo oil refinery in Finland the most sustainable refinery in Europe by 2030. We are introducing renewable and recycled raw materials such as liquefied waste plastic as refinery raw materials. We have committed to reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035, and we will reduce the carbon emission intensity of sold products by 50% by 2040. We also have set high standards for biodiversity, human rights, and supply chain. We have consistently been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. In 2021, Neste’s revenue stood at EUR 15.1 billion.

Read more: neste.com

About Air France-KLM

A global player with a strong European base, the Air France-KLM Group’s main areas of business are passenger transport, cargo transport, and aeronautical maintenance.
Air France-KLM is a leading airline Group in terms of international traffic on departure from Europe. It offers its customers access to a worldwide network, covering over 310 destinations thanks to Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Transavia, mainly from its hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

Its Flying Blue frequent flyer program is one of the leaders in Europe with over 17 million members.

Together with its partners Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic, Air France-KLM operates the most significant transatlantic joint venture, with more than 340 daily flights in 2019.
Air France-KLM is also a member of the SkyTeam, the alliance dedicated to providing passengers with a more seamless travel experience at every step of their journey with 18 member airlines working together across an extensive global network.

Recognized for 18 years as an industry leader in sustainable development, the Air France-KLM Group is determined to accelerate the transition to more sustainable aviation. Since 2003, the Air France-KLM Group has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact. The aim is to significantly contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals in connection with the Group’s activities.

airfranceklm.com

For safe and reliable drone delivery to reach scale, carriers must be part of a wider network of supporting elements – an ecosystem – delivering to devices, like Dronedek smart mailboxes, that can securely receive and store those deliveries, says Dronedek’s CEO and Founder Dan O’Toole.

“We’ve been very impressed with A2Z Drone Delivery over the last few years,” he said. “Partnerships like these are key to building the robust infrastructure needed for the future of delivery and commerce.”

A 2020 Virginia Tech survey of consumers in Christiansburg, Va., where Alphabet’s Wing subsidiary conducted the nation’s most advanced residential drone delivery trial, revealed that 87 percent favored drone delivery.

“The markets are showing that consumers want their orders as fast and cheap as possible, regardless of who’s bringing it to them,” said O’Toole. “Nothing will be gained if these goods are stolen, damaged, or inaccurately delivered.”

Both Dronedek and A2Z Drone Delivery is focused on addressing consumer concerns of security, convenience, and reliability.

“As drone delivery becomes part of mainstream logistics operations, it is imperative that service providers prioritize consumer safety in all operations. We are excited that our tethered drone delivery system will be integrated with the Dronedek smart mailbox,” said Aaron Zhang, CEO of A2Z Drone Delivery. “Our Rapid Delivery System enables payloads to be deposited from altitude, keeping spinning propellers away from people and property, mitigating intrusive rotor noise, and assuaging privacy concerns about drones near private residences.”

Dronedek showcased its disruptive technology last August in Lawrence, Ind. The A2Z Drone Delivery tethered system was used to deliver food from local restaurants, including McDonald’s and Culver’s, and the world’s first deliveries of USPS First-Class mail were made to Dronedek smart mailboxes. 

In addition to improving the experiences for businesses and consumers, a robust delivery ecosystem offers significant environmental and economic impacts. An August 2022 Carnegie-Mellon University study showed autonomous delivery services use 94% less energy than traditional delivery services. The global autonomous last-mile delivery market is expected to grow from $14.13 billion in 2021 to $47.69 billion in 2026, per Research and Markets’ Autonomous Last Mile Delivery Global Market Report 2022.

About Dronedek:

Dronedek is one of the first companies in the world to focus on package security for traditional and autonomous delivery methods. Designed to accept drone or robotic delivery, the Dronedek mailbox also accepts traditional First-Class mail delivery and is destined to become an everyday utility service like power or water.

Learn more and invest in the delivery ecosystem of the future at startengine.com/dronedek or visit www.dronedek.com.

About A2Z Drone Delivery, Inc.:

A2Z Drone Delivery, Inc. develops innovative solutions to enable safe, accurate, and low-noise drone deliveries. Focused on last-mile UAV delivery systems, A2Z Drone Delivery is creating platforms capable of pushing drone delivery into the mainstream of logistics operations. Based in Los Angeles, C.A., A2Z Drone Delivery originated as a drone delivery project at Brown University in 2016 and now serves customers around the world who are leveraging its technology for a diverse array of applications.

For more information visit: https://www.a2zdronedelivery.com/.

The agreement would make Enviva an exclusive supplier of up to 750,000 metric tons per year of sustainably sourced woody biomass to Alder’s first Alder Greencrude (AGC) production facility, soon to be under construction in the southeastern United States. The supply of sustainably sourced woody biomass feedstock by Enviva is expected to commence in 2024, which will meet rigorous sustainability criteria, subject to independent, third-party audits and certifications. 

Backed by Honeywell UOP, United Ventures, AvFuel, Boeing, U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, AGC can be refined using existing infrastructure into low-carbon to carbon-negative SAF that matches petroleum-based equivalents on specification and performance. 

Bryan Sherbacow, Alder Fuels’ President & CEO, commented, “Decarbonization of our entire economy is driving massive demand for the next generation of sustainably sourced renewable fuels. The size of the market for our product is equal to the petroleum market it replaces. With AGC technology, the challenge of meeting this demand is no longer industry willpower or commercial interest; it is having ready access to diverse, highly accredited, and sustainably produced sources of biomass. Today’s announcement brings us one step closer towards achieving that aim while benefiting the communities in which we operate.” 

The announcement represents a major milestone in the rapid acceleration and scaling up of low-carbon transportation fuels with the potential to fundamentally change the future of flying and other modes of transport over time. In March 2021, major U.S. airlines committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which was reinforced by an announcement in October 2021 by the world’s airlines and aviation community. Recognizing the scaling up of SAF is critical to meeting such aggressive climate goals, the White House launched the “SAF Grand Challenge,” with goals to have 3 billion gallons of SAF produced in the U.S. by 2030 and augment to 35 billion gallons by 2050. The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law amplifies the U.S. commitment to SAF by providing tax credits for every gallon of SAF produced based on lifecycle greenhouse gas emission reduction percentages. Further, the IRA extends and modifies the tax credit for the production of renewable energy from biomass and other technologies. 

Europe is pursuing similar policy initiatives such as ReFuelEU, with the European Parliament voting in support of draft rules to require SAF to account for at least 85 percent of European Union (EU) aviation fuel by 2050. Similarly, the United Kingdom announced the introduction of a SAF mandate, requiring at least 10 percent of jet fuel to be produced sustainably by 2030. 

Major U.S. airlines have been seeking opportunities to collaborate with other industries to deliver commercial solutions to sustainable aviation at scale, with such initiatives accelerating over the past two years as they individually, and collectively, committed to becoming carbon neutral. In fact, United Airlines has already committed to purchasing 1.5 billion gallons of SAF from Alder Fuels when produced to the airline’s requirements. United Airlines’ commitment represents purchasing more than twice as much SAF as the rest of the world’s airlines combined.

“Abundant sustainable biomass conversion to energy-dense, drop-in liquid fuels is essential to accelerating the current global transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Thomas Meth, President of Enviva. “This joint effort between Enviva and Alder Fuels enables the sourcing of sustainable wood fiber and industry-leading technology to deliver the feedstock flexibility and commercialization of SAF needed to achieve jet fuel decarbonization at scale.” 

All woody biomass feedstock supplied by Enviva to Alder Fuels will continue to adhere to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard, the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive’s requirements, as well as Enviva’s industry-leading Responsible Sourcing Policy. In addition, Enviva and Alder Fuels have committed to collaborating to gain sustainability certification under the internationally renowned Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials standard. These guidelines and conditions are further supported by Enviva’s industry-leading Track & Trace® program that provides detailed, verifiable, and independently audited data about the sustainability of Enviva’s sourcing activities and the journey its feedstocks take from the forest tract to the production plant to customers around the globe.

About Alder Fuels

Alder Fuels is powering the global clean energy transformation and race to net zero through the conversion of natural biomass into low-carbon to carbon-negative Alder Greencrude (AGC). This green crude can then be converted into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), other low-carbon fuels, and chemicals using existing global refinery equipment and infrastructure. Bryan Sherbacow, Alder Fuels President & CEO, has a proven record for the development and commercial deployment of novel technology, including the world’s first refinery designed to produce renewable jet and military-grade fuels. Alder Fuels is backed by Honeywell UOP, United Ventures, AvFuel, Boeing, the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). For more information, visit http://www.alderfuels.com/

About Enviva

Enviva Inc. is the world’s largest producer of industrial wood pellets, a renewable and sustainable energy source produced by aggregating a natural resource, wood fiber, and processing it into a transportable form, wood pellets. Enviva owns and operates ten plants with a combined production capacity of approximately 6.2 million metric tons per year in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi, and is constructing its 11th plant, which will be located in Epes, Alabama. Enviva sells most of its wood pellets through long-term, take-or-pay off-take contracts with creditworthy customers in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Japan, helping to accelerate the energy transition and to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like steel, cement, lime, chemicals, and aviation fuels. Enviva exports its wood pellets to global markets through its deep-water marine terminals at the Port of Chesapeake, Virginia, the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina, and the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and from third-party deep-water marine terminals in Savannah, Georgia, Mobile, Alabama, and Panama City, Florida. 

To learn more about Enviva please visit our website at www.envivabiomass.com.

The presence of the two aircraft also introduced a new livery at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten.

The new livery displayed on the plane flying from Montpellier Airport, France (MPL) and Sharjah International Airport – United Arab Emirates (SHJ) is called the “Ribbon” livery. 

Named the “Ribbon” livery because the livery resembles a ribbon that covers the tail and part of the fuselage with three colors, namely red, blue and green, which can be interpreted as diversity and freedom of expression. 

The three colors on the livery are also the colors of Pertamina’s identity as the parent company of Pelita Air. 

Acting Daily Tasks (PTH) President Director of PT Pelita Air Service Muhammad S. Fauzani said the arrival of Pelita Air’s Airbus A320 aircraft today is a historic moment as well as a new milestone for the company which previously focused on charter flight services.

The arrival of these two aircraft also shows the readiness of Pelita Air which is developing its flight services to scheduled commercial flight services. 

“Currently, Pelita Air is still in the process of certifying the Airbus 320 aircraft, which is ongoing in order to open scheduled flights and we hope that it will be operational in the near future,” said Muhammad S. Fauzani. 

Muhammad S. Fauzani also expressed his gratitude for the excellent cooperation and coordination support from regulators, airport managers, air traffic controllers, the crew on duty, and various other parties who have helped smooth the plane’s arrival process according to the specified time.

“Pelita Air also thanks to the management of the parent company, namely Pertamina, for supporting Pelita Air’s business expansion efforts into scheduled commercial flight services,” added Muhammad S. Fauzani.

PT Pertamina (Persero) Vice President Corporate Communications, Fajriyah Usman explained as a shareholder, Pertamina encourages Pelita Air Service to improve its performance through various business steps in order to develop air transportation through regular services that will support connectivity between regions of Indonesia. 

“Pertamina supports the Pelita Air Service corporate action so that it continues to grow with the best performance,” said Fajriyah.

It is hoped that this new chapter of Pelita Air can make a major contribution to the Indonesian aviation industry and give a new color to the Indonesian aviation ecosystem with the motto ‘Pelita Air, enlightens your journey’.

Source and Image: www.pelita-air.com

Neste in brief

Neste creates solutions for combating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. We refine waste, residues, and innovative raw materials into renewable fuels and sustainable feedstock for plastics and other materials. We are the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel and developing chemical recycling to combat the plastic waste challenge. We aim at helping customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with our renewable and circular solutions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030. Our ambition is to make the Porvoo oil refinery in Finland the most sustainable refinery in Europe by 2030. We are introducing renewable and recycled raw materials such as liquefied waste plastic as refinery raw materials. We have committed to reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035, and we will reduce the carbon emission intensity of sold products by 50% by 2040. We also have set high standards for biodiversity, human rights, and the supply chain. We have consistently been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. In 2021, Neste’s revenue stood at EUR 15.1 billion. Read more: neste.com

DHL – The logistics company for the world

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air, and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 380,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences, and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility, and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”. DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 81 billion euros in 2021. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero-emissions logistics by 2050.

Leveraging expertise in flight data, Aviation Software solutions from GE Digital work together to address key areas of airline operations that impact the ability to achieve peak environmental efficiency – from fuel usage and carbon emissions, to airspace efficiency, predictive maintenance, records digitization, and pilot insight.

“Emirates recognizes that environmental responsibility is core to our long-term business success,” said Capt. Hassan AlHammadi, Emirates’ Divisional Senior VP – Flight Operations. “Operating modern and fuel efficient aircraft has been central to our business model since the airline’s inception. We are fully engaged in an ongoing investment to reducing our environmental impact and these solutions will help us to achieve our goals. We want to empower our pilots with state-of-the-art tools and technology to help them operate flights in a safe and efficient way.”

Fuel Insight is a fuel consumption and emissions reduction solution that works by understanding real data from the aircraft and airline. This software utilizes GE Digital’s powerful aviation data and analytics platform to merge flight data with flight plans and uncover valuable insight to help increase aircraft fuel efficiency and reduce waste. Fuel Insight gives operators actionable intelligence at multiple levels allowing analysts to drill down from macro trends to understand issues on a per-flight level.

Designed by pilots, for pilots, FlightPulse provides access to data. The Preflight module provides aggregated data from across the operation for more informed fuel decisions and departure briefings. The Postflight module, which Emirates already has in use with their pilots, provides secure access to data from a pilot’s individual flight history, allowing them to analyze their own operation of the aircraft in relation to their peers and self-discover areas to optimize operations and efficiency. In just one year using FlightPulse, one global airline was able to avoid 5.71M kg carbon emissions which is equal to taking 1,241 passenger cars off the road¹.

As part of the airline’s FlightPulse implementation, Emirates will be the first GE Digital customer to adopt the software’s new animation capabilities designed to provide pilots with operational review of their flights with high-fidelity real-world data-driven displays. This new module to FlightPulse will be powered by Applied Informatics and Research Inc.’s FAS software system.

“At GE Digital, we feel a responsibility to make our world better for future generations, and that includes ensuring that our customers are empowered to reduce the impact of their technology and environmental footprint within their operations,” said Andrew Coleman, General Manager of GE Digital’s Aviation Software business. “Sustainability is core to the future of the aviation industry, net zero by 2050 is the target, and while new technologies are the key to achieving that in the long term, we cannot afford to wait until then. We have the data and solutions that can help the industry make strides toward net zero today, by leveraging data that already exists. We are excited to see this crucial topic gain the attention it deserves. Our innovative technology is ready to address its challenges as we continue to invent the future of flight.”

Read more at GE Digital

Source & Images: GE Digital

The successful SAF delivery is part of this pilot project at DFW—the second busiest airport in the world—demonstrating the commercial and technical viability of SAF, while showcasing the potential to close the circularity loop at the airport by providing raw material for the production of renewable fuels. 

“The introduction of sustainable aviation fuel to DFW Airport marks a major milestone in our effort to reduce our sector’s overall carbon footprint. We recognize our future success depends on our ability to protect our natural resources, and we are committed to continuing to serve as an industry leader in sustainable practices.” said Robert Horton, vice president of environmental affairs at DFW Airport.

The circularity project is a great example of cooperation to upcycle and reuse valuable waste materials across the value chain. It begins at the airport, where Neste, via its subsidiary Mahoney Environmental, collects used cooking oil from more than 200 concessionaires who prepare and serve food to airport customers. Neste converts this waste material into renewable fuels, which replace fossil fuel use in the global transport system. 

To complete the circle, Avfuel safely supplied a demonstrative load of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ to DFW Corporate Aviation, the airport’s full-service fixed-base operator (FBO), for its business aviation customers. The 8,000-gallon (approx. 24 metric tons) demonstrative load of SAF reduces carbon emissions by 19 metric tons*—a reduction that could grow significantly if more SAF enters the airport’s fuel pool. Neste’s SAF, in neat form and over the life cycle reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%** compared to fossil jet fuel.

Overall, DFW expects the pilot circular economy program could deliver the same climate benefit as reducing the emissions from 70 passenger vehicles to zero over the course of the year. 

DFW, Avfuel and Neste will continue to explore opportunities to bring more SAF to the airport. This could potentially include making the fuel available to commercial and cargo airlines. DFW’s goal is to become a net-zero operation by 2030, and it views SAF as an essential component of enabling its partners to achieve their emissions reduction goals.

“Together we’re charting a bold new flight path that shows airports how they can achieve their climate goals faster and ultimately enable flight operators, businesses and passengers to fly with a smaller carbon footprint. We’re able to do this because all parts of the SAF value chain came together—the airport, the fuel supplier and the producer. And, most importantly, all the partners involved are committed to creating a sustainable future for air travel and fighting climate change.” said Chris Cooper, Neste’s vice president of renewable aviation in North America.

Keith Sawyer, Avfuel’s manager of alternative fuels, said, “Avfuel is proud to have supported DFW and Neste in realizing this momentous occasion. DFW and Neste have laid an excellent foundation for sustainability and provide a shining example of how organizations can work together to increase sustainability and promote renewability. The Avfuel team is honored to have played a role in demonstrating that SAF is available for use now and circular solutions are feasible through industry collaboration.”

Neste in brief

Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates solutions for combating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. We refine waste, residues and innovative raw materials into renewable fuels and sustainable feedstock for plastics and other materials.

We are the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, developing chemical recycling to combat the plastic waste challenge. We aim at helping customers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with our renewable and circular solutions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030. As a technologically advanced refiner of high-quality oil products with a commitment to reach carbon-neutral production by 2035, we are also introducing renewable and recycled raw materials such as waste plastic as refinery raw materials.

We have consistently been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. In 2020, Neste’s revenue stood at EUR 11.8 billion, with 94% of the company’s comparable operating profit coming from renewable products. Read more: neste.com

About Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport is one of the most frequently visited superhub airports in the world. Centered between owner cities Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW Airport also serves as a major job generator for the North Texas region by connecting people through business and leisure travel.  

About Avfuel Corporation

Avfuel provides fuel and services—including sustainable fuel and initiatives—to the global aviation industry and is the leading independent supplier in the United States. Established as a supply and logistics company more than 45 years ago, Avfuel is core competent in every aspect that surrounds the delivery of fuel—from refinery to wingtip. Avfuel combines global access with personalized service throughout a fueling network of more than 3,000 locations worldwide and 650+ Avfuel-branded FBOs. Our 100% dedication to aviation demonstrates our passion and commitment to a global community that prospers on the movement of goods and services around the world.

Source(s) and Image(s): Neste, Aufuel, Phoot by Dallas Airport

The result was a whole new E-World that ultimately will make us more versatile, globalized, and resilient.

When people stopped flying planes and the world pretty much shut down, people had to implement new business models for marketing, sales, hiring, investor relations, PR, supply/vendors and processes, partnerships, and more.

This new E-world means harnessing zoom and teams platforms and ensuring online meetings are connected and professional even if you were meeting from your bedroom.

While we now start to get back to a ‘new normal’ and travel becomes more available, the power of E-business will forever play a role in how we expand and grow from here forward.

See it as an opportunity rather than a problem.

Six E-Sales Opportunities To Grow Your Company In The New Digital World

If you want to sell a product or position your company for an important bid, how are you going to accomplish your goals in Covid times?  

When we are working from home, using zoom, or dealing with outside distractions, how can we succeed? Those are the challenges of the day. It is a new challenge, to find ways to keep ourselves and our clients connected, online.

Believe it or not, with creativity and engagement, we can have an effective E-Work environment that can out-perform old sales models.

1. Think about it, less travel, more meetings, less cost, more communication. It adds up. Business is nothing more than a network of conversations. People who organize meetings effectively, stack meetings, and create an E-Flow work environment will win the game of the E-work world.
   
2. Building great relationships that create trust and rapport is still the foundation of any relationship. Having clients get to know, like, and trust you is key; so, the rules have not changed. Building rapport still means a professional appearance online and an appropriate zoom background. It means good communication, understanding your client, finding common ground, discovering needs, sharing experiences, matching mannerisms and speech, future pacing, and finding solutions. 
   
3. Quickly adapting to this new E-World means recreating the outside world inside the computer world. It means finding new ways to connect and get personal with relationships so that there is a strong foundation of trust established online.
   
4. Computer advances and algorithms have taken over the laborious job of research and client acquisition. Business development costs came down, workflows became more efficient, and sales grow from there. 
   
5. The E-world will expedite globalization, and before we know it, doing business anywhere in the world at any time will be an affordable proposition. Global commerce is emerging, and the opportunities are truly endless.
   
6. We must look into the future and see where nations will unite in common goals. Languages will merge, and borders and boundaries will fall away. Free markets will be the foundation of the global playing field of business as we grow exponentially with E-Business automation and processes.

PAAS – PUBLISHING AS A SERVICE

As publishers of a global energy magazine, The OGM served clients around the globe ensuring suppliers and energy companies got their message to the right market.

Publisher Tina Olivero says, “During the pandemic it became apparent that tradeshows and flying to meetings was not an option for us or our clients. E-meetings became the norm and suddenly, the world got much smaller. Client contact became easier, faster, and automated. Computer advances and algorithms took over the laborious job of research and client acquisition. Business development costs came down, workflows became more efficient, and sales took off for us. That would not have happened, except for the pandemic. Long story short, there’s a silver lining in everything, when we are willing to embrace the challenges, we then reap the rewards.”

PaaS is a client solution that searches out potential clients, matches content with buyer and seller and creates an automated lead generation system. Where traditional advertising could be hit and miss at times, PaaS connects those interested, with those selling and the computer algorithm does all the work of bringing them together. As a result, expanding into new markets is now affordable. Finding your exact right client is now easier. All of this is because of the new E-Work environment and computer AI.

Visionary Tina Olivero says, “The E-world will expedite globalization and before we know it, doing business anywhere in the world at any time, will be an affordable proposition. Global commerce is emerging, and the opportunities are truly endless.”

WHAT INDUSTRY SAYS

Ryan Burrowes, CEO of Warehouse Transport Group and head of Canada/Guyna operations said, “As a CEO of a growing logistics and investment company, I was in dire need of new digital technology to take my business online. We needed a marketing and sales enhancement solution and a way to scale. I found everything and more with Tina and TheOGM Agency team. Having lived all over the world, Tina is a visionary who sees things from a global perspective.

Our operations have a foothold in Guyana, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. So Tina and her team are a perfect fit for us. The OGM’s new digital business development solutions are strategic and sustainable for the new world order where everyone is doing business on Zoom.

The OGM digital tools come with algorithms and automation that provide us with a flow of never-ending, high-level opportunities to quote on new work. Not just any work but leads with key decision-makers for our business. That is invaluable. The OGM is a platform with new digital tools that we all need in a business in this day and age. This new digital game is entirely different and capitalizing on that makes for really exciting times. Tina and her team have gone over and above our contractual agreement and, honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s the people we want to work with. Already, I consider her a part of our family, for now, and for the future.”

Ryan Burrowes CEO, Warehouse Transport Group Canada-Guyana – WarehouseTransport.ca

PICK THE RIGHT PARTNERS

There are many companies out there that are trying to adapt online. For energy companies choosing the right partners who have extensive experience in the energy industry is key.

Tina Olivero says, “The most important part of outreach and communication right now is content. You have to partner with key marketing and sales people who speak “energy”. Otherwise you are trying to bring your clients into your world, with someone who does not understand your business and most importantly, doesn’t understand what your clients need. That’s a one way ticket to no success.

Aligining with The OGM as 30-year publishers of energy content, coupled with our digital media agency, makes The OGM a premium choice. When you have that level of business competence, communication is easy. Adapting with new digital processes and creating automations has to be routed in powerful words, which create powerful actions, which create powerful results. It’s that simple. These are truly incredible times. Reach out and lets what we can create.

www.TheOGM.com

About the Author Tina Olivero

Tina Olivero is a conscious entrepreneur, managing a publishing company – TheOGM.com, a digital media firm – DigitalCollateral.ca and a new Sales Engine company – TheOGM.ca. She has 30 years in the marketing and sales business in the energy sector. She is committed to energy and sustainable development with her Our Great Minds. This innovative magazine shares the great minds and collective intelligence that are combating climate change and eradicating carbon emissions. 

As the next step in enhancing the Ecofining process technology offering, Wood’s technology will be integrated to use the byproducts of the UOP Ecofining process technology to produce renewable hydrogen, reducing lifecycle GHG emissions a further 10% when compared to the total GHG emissions produced by conventional petroleum jet fuel. The renewable hydrogen is then injected back into the Honeywell Ecofining process to remove feed impurities and create a cleaner burning renewable fuel. The carbon dioxide (CO₂) that is generated from the production of the hydrogen can be captured and routed for permanent underground sequestration using the Honeywell H₂ Solutions technology suite, further reducing lifecycle GHG emissions an additional 10% when compared to the total GHG emissions produced by conventional petroleum jet fuel. The combination of technologies results in an aviation fuel that is effectively carbon neutral compared to petroleum fuels. 

Ben Owens, vice president and general manager of Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions says, “The combination of these technologies from Honeywell and Wood greatly reduces fossil carbon dioxide emissions compared to traditional fuels by using byproducts to provide hydrogen for the Ecofining process. As a result, a renewable fuels refinery can be essentially self-sustaining in hydrogen production while reducing the carbon intensity of the renewable fuels to very low levels.”

“Wood has a rich history of collaborating on technology developments with Honeywell and together we are now producing solutions for the production of carbon-neutral renewable fuels. This solution utilizes our long-established experience in hydrogen plant technology to help fuel producers reduce operating costs while meeting sustainability goals with proven, reliable and efficient technologies,” said Andy Hemingway, President, Energy, Optimization, and Innovation, at Wood.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other federal government agencies worked together to introduce the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge with a goal to produce 3 billion gallons per year of sustainable aviation fuel by 2030 in the U.S. If those 3 billion gallons of SAF were produced using Honeywell’s comprehensive package of technologies, it could result in the equivalent of 34 million metric tons of cumulative carbon dioxide avoided per year, depending on the oil and fat feedstock mix used. The UOP Ecofining process has been used for commercial production of sustainable aviation fuel since 2016 by World Energy in California. The facility remains the only 100% renewable jet fuel unit in the world. The Ecofining technology is used in most 100%-biofeed units producing renewable diesel and all the licensed renewable jet fuel production in the world today.

Honeywell UOP currently has licensed 22 Ecofining units in nine countries around the world, processing 12 different types of renewable feedstocks. Wood is a FTSE 250 company and a global leader in engineering and consultancy across energy and the built environment, helping to unlock solutions to some of the world’s most critical challenges.The company provides consulting, projects, and operations solutions in more than 60 countries, employing around 40,000 people. Wood is a pioneer in hydrogen production technology with an experience list of more than 120 hydrogen and synthesis gas plants worldwide. 

Wood’s hydrogen technology, based on their unique Terrace Wall™ reforming furnace, has been selected for more than 120 hydrogen and synthesis gas plants worldwide. Honeywell UOP is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. Honeywell UOP is part of Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell Process Solutions, a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, chemical and other industries. 

Source and Photos: Honeywell and Wood

“We are delighted to have acquired what is already a market-leading company in IMServ. The company has been at the cutting edge of  metering technology for twenty years and the team members are genuine pioneers in the sector. Steve and his skilled management team are hungry for growth; they take a hands-on  approach in the business and are supported by an experienced and knowledgeable 500-strong  workforce. We’re really looking forward to working closely with IMServ and enabling its next stage of growth,” said Thomas Sikorski, Co-Founder of Bluewater.

IMServ is a leading provider of electricity metering services (both installation and  management of smart and advanced meters), data services(smart and advanced meters data  analysis and management) and visualization services. At the business’ core is a range of  specialist electricity metering technologies, along with highly accurate energy data collection  services. This is presented to suppliers and end-users in a seamless, intuitive online data  management analysis and reporting platform. 

IMServ is now one of the UK’s largest independent energy data management providers, and  is enabling the decentralisation of power generation and digitalisation of the electricity  market. 

Steve Brown, Managing Director of IMServ, said, “Bluewater is the perfect partner for  IMServ. Their energy transition expertise and financial strength will allow us to take  advantage of the huge growth potential arising from energy transition. In addition, with  capital to deploy, we are now looking at several acquisition options to drive our expansion in the UK and other European markets.” 

Its technology today is managing more than 25% of all the electricity that goes through the  National Grid. The company has gone from strength to strength as smart meters have  become a fundamental platform to deliver data that helps reduce carbon emissions.  

IMServ will continue to be led by Managing Director Steve Brown, allowing the company to  transition seamlessly and to continue offering best-in-class service to customers (including  energy suppliers and end-users), employees, and other stakeholders. 

Steve and the IMServ leadership team were attracted to Bluewater’s deep sector knowledge,  supportive financial and business mindset, and the private equity firm’s drive to embrace the energy transition. Bluewater’s tried and tested approach to enabling rapid growth is a perfect  fit with IMServ’s own ambitious growth strategy, which has responded to government mandated demand for smart metering and more efficient management of energy use. 

The IMServ strategy sees significant growth opportunities in several areas in the UK and  internationally: the expanding data settlement market to support the needs of the flexible  energy transition; organic growth through increased uptake of smart meters in the  commercial and domestic electricity markets; and potential mergers and acquisitions  nationally and overseas, with announcements of this kind expected within the next six  months.  

About IMServ 

IMServ is one of the UK’s leading Energy Data Collection and Meter Operations service providers and  is an award-winning pioneer of metering and data collection services for the electricity, gas, and water  sectors. IMServ is headquartered in Milton Keynes, UK, and has expanding operations in the  Netherlands. 

Through the government-mandated smart meter rollout IMServ is playing a central role in the energy  transition, making energy usage more efficient while helping to cut emissions. 

In 2019, IMServ became the first non-domestic metering business to become a user of DCC services  in the Other User (OU) role for smart meters.

About Bluewater 

Bluewater is a specialist international private equity firm focused on the middle-market energy  sector. Their experienced investment and operating professionals drive value creation as they  manage $2.5billion of investment across a portfolio of 22 companies. Today, Bluewater has a prime  focus on projects or technologies that contribute to the energy transition agenda and works to a  diversified investment strategy based on the principles of sustainability and close working  partnerships with best-in-class management teams. Bluewater has a strong focus on ESG and is a  signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.

Source and photos: Bluewater & IMServ

The partnership will bring additional product development to Draganfly’s current and future pipeline in addition to re-imagining the future of innovation for drone technologies. 

Inspired by Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, Woz ED provides a personalized approach to nurturing an engineering mindset through hands-on projects. 

Woz ED is a model for incorporating the engineering process in the K-12 classroom and accelerating the path to employment for students who choose drones as a career. Students start with an introduction to aviation in Kindergarten and transition to physics of flight and flight skills in middle school. Students may choose elective courses in the Junior and Senior year to enroll in a drone course where students learn the engineering behind a drone, as well as earn their certification. The certification will make the students employable as they leave high school. 

The Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International projected more than 100,000 new jobs in unmanned aircraft by 2025. 

Draganfly will be the exclusive provider of drones as part of the Woz ED qualified for flight curriculum under their STEM programs. Students will gain hands-on experience piloting, and spotting for drone missions, design, and building for drone systems. Draganfly will also help develop further curriculum, career path development and field training for Woz ED students. 

“Having an industry leader like Draganfly as a partner will give our kids the opportunity to learn from the best with real life experience and expertise,” said Steve Wozniak, Co-founder of Apple Inc.

“The military, energy, entertainment, real estate, agriculture, delivery, emergency response and construction sectors have embraced the power and the potential of drone technology, and NASA just landed Ingenuity on Mars! The industry-leading expertise Draganfly brings to this partnership amplifies our offerings in both curriculum and hardware as we expose young people to these booming career opportunities,” said Karen Young, CEO of Woz ED.

“It has been said that Steve Wozniak designed Apple’s first products, the Apple I and II because they didn’t exist and he wanted to use them,” said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. “We are incredibly honored to be working with Steve and the team at Woz ED because of their bold, disruptive innovation and way of approaching challenges with technology.” 

About WOZ ED

WOZ ED is a personalized approach to instill a tech-based mindset in schoolchildren. The STEAM modules cultivated by Woz ED are designed to be instrumental in the development of students towards an architecture, engineering, or technology-based career. Woz ED learners dream, design, engineer, test, improve, and create through artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, data analysis, mobile development, cybersecurity, coding, robotics, drones, 3-D printing, and engineering. Learn more at https://WozED.com/. 

About Draganfly

Draganfly Inc. (CSE: DFLY; OTCQB: DFLYF; FSE: 3U8) is the creator of quality, cutting-edge drone solutions, software, and AI systems that revolutionize the way organizations can do business and service their stakeholders. Recognized as being at the forefront of technology for over 22 years, Draganfly is an award-winning industry-leader serving the public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections, security, mapping, and surveying markets. Draganfly is a company driven by passion, ingenuity, and the need to provide efficient solutions and first-class services to its customers around the world with the goal of saving time, money, and lives. 

For more information on Draganfly, please visit us at www.draganfly.com.

Astro Aerospace, a global leader in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aerial vehicles and drones, announced today that it has entered a binding agreement to acquire Horizon Aircraft Inc. (“Horizon”), creator of the world’s first eVTOL that flies exactly like a conventional aircraft for the majority of its mission. The transaction is expected to close on or before the beginning of 2^nd Quarter pending customary closing conditions.

Astro, a pioneer in the eVTOL market, has developed one of the market’s safest and most efficient eVTOLs in the world. In 2018, the Company’s drone, ‘Elroy’, was one of the first to seamlessly fly with humans on board. Astro continually defies traditional aviation design and the acquisition of Horizon will only push the Company further, with the ability to reach greater heights working in tandem with Horizon’s exceptional team.

Horizon, a Canadian company trailblazing in the global aerospace industry, has developed the prototype Cavorite X5, an eVTOL travelling up to an estimated speed of 450 km/h with a 500 kilometre range and a five passenger capacity. The vehicle has been designed to have reduced hydrocarbon emissions, and built for operational realities including bad weather, traffic avoidance, and low-time pilots. Its patented fan-in-wing patent enables the Cavorite to be the world’s first eVTOL that can fly the majority of its mission exactly like a normal aircraft.

Horizon co-founders Brandon and Brian Robinson are aerospace revolutionaries applying their excellence in Mechanical Engineering to change the way we approach travel. Son Brandon Robinson, Horizon’s Chief Executive Officer, is a Mechanical Engineer, a CF-18 Fighter Pilot Top Gun graduate, and holds an MBA with more than $400 million in projects overseen. Brandon has a strong drive to think and ‘create-outside-the-box’, a skill passed down by his father. Brian, Horizon’s Chief Technology Officer, is also a Mechanical Engineer, beginning his innovation journey long before Horizon’s existence. Building aircraft from the age of 14, Brian’s previous aerospace engineering company saw much success as it developed numerous first-of-its-kind innovations. This eventually led to designing a revolutionary new eVTOL prototype, long before the market took off.

Today, the Robinson duo is steering Horizon’s team through this pivotal transaction with Astro, whose well-established reputation, growth trajectory and pool of dedicated investors in the public market presents a transformational opportunity. Brandon commented, “My father and I have long admired the unprecedented advances Astro has achieved in the aerospace sector. Astro is a pioneer in the industry, and its work has remained incredibly relevant amongst the rise of eVTOL popularity. Horizon could not be happier to join forces with such an influential company who will contribute its high-calibre expertise to bring our design to market.”

The eVTOL aircraft market size is projected to reach $87.64 billion by 2026, and the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market is estimated to surpass $1 trillion in the next decade. Astro’s strong foundation in the industry, now paired with Horizon’s ground breaking design and Mechanical Engineering expertise, presents an advantageous opportunity for the combined entity to bring its designs quickly to market.

“The acquisition of Horizon will allow the visions of both Horizon and Astro to align, creating a powerful force in the eVTOL market,” said Astro CEO Bruce Bent. “Astro shareholders can soon anticipate exponential growth as we enter this next chapter as an even greater player in the aerospace industry.”

About Astro Aerospace

Astro Aerospace is the developer of the world’s most advanced, autonomous, short haul, eVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aerial vehicles.

Our mission is to make self-flying unmanned and manned vehicles available to anyone, at anytime, from anywhere, and to turn this new and exciting aircraft into a mainstream mode of transportation.

Our vision is “Flight Made Easy”.

Visit www.flyastro.com for more information.

About Horizon Aircraft Inc.

Horizon Aircraft is an advanced aerospace engineering company that has developed the world’s first eVTOL that can fly the majority of its mission exactly like a normal aircraft. This has resulted in industry-leading speed, range, and operational utility.

Our unique designs place the mission first and prioritize safety, performance, and utility. Our Cavorite X5 eVTOL will enter the market quickly, and will service a broad spectrum of early use-cases that will generate revenue immediately.

Our mission is to produce an eVTOL for real-world applications that provides a safe, efficient and sustainable mode of aerial transport.

Visit www.horizonaircraft.com for more information.

As a full line manufacturer of honing tools, abrasive nylon brushes, deburring brushes, automotive brushes, power brushes, twisted-in-wire brushes and the Flex-Hone® Tool, they stand ready to assist clients in finding the best solution for finishing needs.

BRM can help with finishing and deburring. The Flex-Hone® tool, also known as ball hones or the ball cylinder hone, is great for deburring, edge blending and surface finishing, while the tube brushes and other twisted-in-wire brushes are the perfect solutions for cleaning soot and carbon deposits from pipes and other metal components.

BRM: Large Diameter Flex-Hone

APPLICATION IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

In the oil and gas industry things break down. Industry challenges include: failing to perform ongoing maintenance on equipment can have severe consequences including reducing equipment service life, causing unplanned shutdowns and degrading performance.  Ongoing maintenance is required to remove rust, corrosion and other accumulated material from the inside diameter (ID) of valves, pumps, piping, diesel engines, motors, natural gas compressors, flow meters and other large bore equipment.  Often, this maintenance work is performed in the field under harsh conditions. 

Large diameter Flex-Hone tools are the ideal solution because they can be run with virtually any rotating spindle, are self-centring, self-aligning to the bore and self-compensating for wear.

The Flex-Hone tool is a resilient, flexible honing tool with a soft cutting action that provides a superior surface finish with a non-direction or crosshatched pattern. Whether it’s deburring a hole or blending an edge, removing corrosion or machining marks, using the tool results in increased product performance and longer product life. The Flex-Hone is designed for a variety of automotive, hydraulic, pneumatic and industrial applications in standard sizes as large as 36.”

^{In Norway, state-owned oil projects often have upwards of 60% ownership in their oil and gas projects. This model of investment in the energy industry has served them well. Norway is now sitting pretty with the largest nest egg in the world; A sovereign wealth fund with over US$1 trillion in assets, including 1.3% of global stocks and shares. In May 2018 Norway’s fund was worth about $195,000 per Norwegian citizen. It also holds portfolios of real estate and fixed-income investments. Newfoundland should do precisely that.}

^{The trillion-dollar Government Pension Fund that Norway has created, pushes for more transparency and focuses on doing the right thing. It shuns individual companies and entire sectors like tobacco peddlers, and nuclear weapons makers because it’s the right thing to do. They operate from a higher good. They can afford to. That is a smart oil and gas strategy and societal formula. One we can all aspire to!}

^{Newfoundland, through Nalcor Energy, has marginal ownership in producing oil projects, ranging from 4.9% to 10% equity shares. This model promotes jobs and short-term needs but loses on the long term investment growth and security model, that Norway has been so successful in achieving.}

^{Oil and gas production in the Norwegian Continental Shelf comes from 107 identified fields with 85 fields currently in production. Comparatively, Offshore Newfoundland has four oil-producing fields. It’s time to catch up!}

^{This year and the next Newfoundland will have upwards of six aggressive drilling players offshore, with an estimated 80+ wells to be drilled. Not only is our drilling/find ratio high, at one in five wells, but we also have unprecedented exploration happening like never before. One significant find and we are on a fast track to future projects and the same opportunities as that of the North Sea.}

^{But before we go any further, we need to be oil asset owners and managers.  Canada should be smart enough to realize that oil and gas is the catalyst to new energy both from a monetary and infrastructure perspective.} 

^{Clearly, the smartest thing we can do with oil and gas is own our projects and use oil and gas to build new sustainable energy infrastructure. Oil and gas is the foundation of new energy coming on stream and given world demand it’s not going to be one energy source or the other; it’s going to be an energy mix of resources for the next 40-50 years. Those are the facts.}

^{It’s time for Canada to invest in our offshore projects and create investment successes like that of Norway. Why not? We have a proven infrastructure, the perfect investment climate, and unprecedented world-class opportunity offshore Newfoundland.}

^{If Canada doesn’t get the perspective right when it comes to oil and gas, perhaps it would be right for Newfoundland to join Norway.  In a time of globalization, aligning with the world’s energy giant and masterful investment strategist just might be the ultimate solution for our kids here in Newfoundland and Labrador. Having said all that, it looks like the next 2 to 5 years will see the most prolific growth in the industry to date, offshore Newfoundland.}

^{I often wonder what would happen if Newfoundland left Canada and joined Norway.  I imagine a different future. Aligning with the Norwegian model of developing our oil and gas, fishery and tourism sectors would allow Newfoundland to flourish as Norway’s has.}

^{That idea would entirely change Newfoundland history.}

Gas alert, gas alert! Those are words you hope you never hear. Hazards left unchecked put people in danger. Your best chain of defence against unimaginable outcomes and explosions is to ensure that gas detection and monitoring is well thought out and executed in your organization.

Are you prepared?

Poisonous gas puts people at risk. Are you prepared?

WHO USES GAS DETECTORS?

At an industrial facility, on oil rigs, in manufacturing facilities, processing units, and throughout the firefighting sector, gas detection has become common place as a foundation of safety! And with good reason, our team’s safety depends on a working environment gas monitoring is a priority and sensors that alert you to the presence of gas leaks are readily available. 

Gas detection and monitoring devices can be found in industrial plants, refineries, manufacturing plants, fumigation facilities, paper pulp mills, aircraft and shipbuilding facilities, hazmat operations, waste-water treatment facilities, vehicles manufacturers, distilleries, indoor air testing and even in our homes.  Applications are varied and wide.

PORTABLE GAS DETECTORS

Portable detectors are used to monitor the atmosphere around workers on the job and are either hand-held or worn on clothing or on a belt/harness for convenience sake. These gas detectors transmit warnings via audible and visible signals, such as alarms and flashing lights, when dangerous levels of gas vapours are detected and they may be monitored at another location especially in the case of remote gas monitoring.

FIXED GAS DETECTORS

Fixed type gas detectors may be used for detection of one or more gas types and are generally mounted near the process area of a plant or control room, or an area to be protected, such as a residential bedroom. Industrial sensors are usually installed on fixed type mild steel structure and a cable connects the detectors to a SCADA system for continuous monitoring.

HOW DO GAS DETECTORS WORK?

Gas detection equipment is used to detect a gas leak or other emissions and can interface with a control system so a process can be automatically shut down. A gas detector can sound an alarm to operators in the area where the leak is occurring, giving workers the opportunity to leave safely. There are many gases that can be harmful and it’s your job to understand those hazards and mitigate them if you play a role in your companies safety regime.

HOW DO GAS DETECTORS WORK?

Gas leak detection is the process of identifying potentially hazardous gas leaks by sensors and alarms that alert people when a dangerous gas has been detected. Exposure to toxic gases can also occur in operations such as painting, fumigation, fuel filling, construction, excavation of contaminated soils, landfill operations, entering confined spaces, so it is important to ensure the right type of gas detectors are used with the right application.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GAS DETECTORS?

Common sensors include combustible gas sensors, photoionization detectors, infrared point sensors, ultrasonic sensors, electrochemical gas sensors, and semiconductor sensors. More recently, infrared imaging sensors have come into use.

CEO, Lee Parmiter of EnviroMed Detection Services in St. John’s, Newfoundland says, “At the end of the day, we want to ensure people to come home safe to their families. Gas monitoring is essential, and gas leaks must be detected so that hazardous environments are eliminated.  Gas detectors can be used to detect combustible, flammable and toxic gases, and oxygen depletion so they are essential in the infrastructure of most industrial companies and any business really that has processing facilities.”

WHAT IS GAS LEAK DETECTION ALL ABOUT?

Gas leak detection is the process of identifying potentially hazardous gas leaks by sensors. These sensors usually employ an audible alarm to alert people when a dangerous gas has been detected.  Today technology is so advanced that systems not only alert to a gas leak but also alert incidences and failures in systems.  We have vastly advanced the gas detection world with the advancement of new tracking and monitoring devices.

Gas leak detection is essential in your facility.

HOW TO SELECT YOUR GAS DETECTOR

How to select the gas detector primarily depends on your operation, and it’s functions. You will want to consider what systems will ensure the safety of workers and help your company save time and money.

Lee Parimeter says, “There are several models with constantly evolving technologies are available on the market. It is therefore essential to understand the available features and options to make an informed decision.  Understanding the systems that are out there and ensuring your system is right for your facility is key.”

SELECTING THE RIGHT SYSTEM
5 KEY POINTS FOR GAS DETECTION & MONITORING THAT YOU MUST KNOW

According to Don Galman of Honeywell Analytics, selecting the right gas detection considers the following, “There are many gas detection products on the market that might appear to be the same, but a closer inspection of specification, functionality, and features reveals major differences in what products can do and the potential value they can offer. Similarly, individual applications are also unique in their respective designs, needs and processes undertaken.

1. DO A RISK ASSESSMENT

Before beginning to consider gas detection equipment, a risk assessment needs to be conducted. Any company employing staff should conduct risk assessments to identify potential hazards, and these can include potential gas, vapour or Oxygen deficiency risks. If gas hazards are identified, gas detection is applicable as a risk reduction method.

2. IDENTIFY YOUR PRIME OBJECTIVE

Depending on the processes being undertaken and the gases being detected, remote or off-site alarm notification plus event data logging/reporting may also be required for Health and Safety management records. Another factor impacting on the need for enhanced reporting functions might be regulatory compliance or a condition of insurance.

3. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Having identified the primary objective, the suitable equipment is selected by asking a number of key questions. These fall into three broad categories:

• The gases to be detected and where they may come from

• The location and environmental conditions where detection is to take place

• The ease of use for operators and routine servicing personnel

Identify the gases to be detected and where they may come from

The risk assessment should identify the gases to be detected; however, experienced gas detection equipment manufacturers and their approved distributors are often able to help in this process, based on their experience of similar applications. However, it is important to remember that it is the end user’s responsibility to identify all potential hazards.

It is also essential to identify the potential source of a gas release as this helps determine the number and location of detectors required for a fixed gas detection system.

4. CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT

The performance, accuracy, and reliability of any gas detection equipment will be affected by the environmental conditions it is subjected to. Temperature, humidity and pressure levels at the location all have a direct bearing on the type of equipment that should be selected. Additional factors such as potential variations resulting from a production process itself, diurnal/nocturnal fluctuations and seasonal changes may also affect the type of device which is suitable.

5. UNDERSTAND THE PRODUCT

The next area of consideration relates to additional product functionality. Aspects like wiring configuration are important, especially when retrofitting into an existing application. If the apparatus is being integrated into a separate safety system, certain communication protocols may also be required such as HART®, Lonworks or Modbus®.

Consideration will also need to be given regarding the requirement for local displays on transmitter units, and local configuration of the unit and gas displays may also be a useful addition.

MEASURE EASE OF USE AND MAINTAINABILITY

Routine maintenance is another important consideration. Some gases and vapours can be detected with a number of different sensing technologies, e.g., Hydrocarbon gases with catalytic beads or Non-dispersive Infrared NDIR. Catalytic beads do not provide fail-to-safety operation and therefore can require a high frequency of routine maintenance; however, NDIR based solutions tend to have a higher initial purchase price but may require less routine maintenance. In-house resource to undertake such routine maintenance needs to be identified, and in the absence of such a resource, budgeting for third-party maintenance is an important factor in selecting the right equipment.”

ENVIROMED DETECTION SYSTEMS

EnviroMed Detection Services, located in St. John’s Newfoundland has been serving the industrial based businesses in the region for 30 + years. EnivroMed is a safety/environmental instrumentation company specializing in the sale, installation, and servicing of life-saving detection instrumentation. As an ISO 9001:2008-certified, a full-service laboratory, EnviroMed offers repairs, N.I.S.T. traceable calibrations, maintenance, service and training on most of the equipment it provides today.

In addition to its specialization in gas detection equipment, EnviroMed also sells, rents and leases a wide variety of products in the areas of Gas Detectors, Water, Soil & Noise Monitors, Ambient Air, Indoor Air Quality, Meteorology, and other specialty areas related to safety/environmental instrumentation.

EnviroMed’s expertise and instrumentation inventory assist in providing an additional three-month labor warranty on most equipment purchased, refurbished, or calibrated at its facility. All installations, stationary or portable, must meet our quality assurance/quality control program, verified by a preventative maintenance schedule. Working closely with our clients, EnviroMed continues meeting today’s environmental challenges while understanding industry’s regional and economic requirements.

CEO, Lee Parmiter says, “The complexities of choosing, installing and maintaining gas detectors can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created a full-service detection and monitoring company that ensures we support our customers in the best possible way.  We work every day to ensure that people onsite, in confined spaces and requiring a high level of protection, get what they need.

The Blackline G7 Gas Detection Safety Monitor reports back to your head monitoring office. The Blackline G7 is state-of-the-art technology and is Ideal for remote location monitoring.

DON’T FEEL UP TO THE JOB OF SELECTING YOUR GAS DETECTOR?

For many people not directly involved in the gas detection and monitoring sector of their industry, the whole process can be overwhelming. Lee Parmiter says, “EnviroMed Detection Systems, with their gas detection consulting specialization, take the headache out of assessing and implementing your safety worksite systems. Are you bump testing? Did everything calibrate and is it up to date? Know who’s safe and not safe on site? Does your team know how your systems work and are they compliant right now, in the field today? Can I locate a person in the field in real time if something goes wrong? These are the safety questions that EnviroMed will take care of you.”

With the EnviroMed locally serviced and supported wireless real-time monitoring system, sensor deterioration and other unit shortfalls are relayed in real-time through the customer’s choice of media and with an established protocol to its operators and supervisors for appropriate recall and the avoidance of false alarms creating unnecessary downtime expense in operations.  Lee says, Our products are new state-of-the-art systems that are fit for the times, for example, EnviroMed G7 Gas Detection Tracking and Monitoring System covers all the bases of your situation. In my 35+ years of using, servicing and promoting safety in gas detection applications, this system hits a ‘grand slam home run’!

For more information go to www.EnviroMed.ca

YES, I WOULD LIKE A FREE CONSULT WITH ENVIROMED ABOUT MY GAS DETECTION AND MONITORING SYSTEM

[contact-form-7]

Dr. Ciaran O’Shea, a co-founder of AOMS, has acted as the Director of Occupational Health and Medicine providing Governance for all medical operations while his wife and owner, Laura O’Shea, overseeing day to day operations until their son Liam took over the day to day operations. Dr. O’Shea said, “We are proud of the clients that we have in this region and are honoured that they continue to seek our services and advice. We work hard with our clients every day to maintain our title as a Best in Class in Oil and Gas service provider.”

Having safe, healthy workers is key to any oil and gas company or contractor, and therefore the treatment of offshore workers medically has to be thorough and diverse. The vision for AOMS is to provide medical solutions that embrace a full range of physiotherapy and occupational services utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and advanced therapies.

Liam O’Shea, Chief Executive Officer of AOMS, explains their offerings, “We have an established network of designated physicians across the island of Newfoundland and in Labrador, and in other provinces throughout Canada, as well as abroad. AOMS physicians perform pre-employment medicals and independent medical assessments on behalf of our oil and gas clients. We are extremely excited about the expansion of our business to include our new Rehabilitation Suite. Our services now include outpatient physiotherapy services and occupational rehabilitation services. We feel that the introduction of physiotherapy and occupational rehabilitation services in collaboration with the occupational physician management will greatly enhance the currently available models in the Province. Our model will also serve the public, and the Occupational physician will collaborate with the treating GP whenever possible to engage all primary health care providers and get the patient back to work/full fitness expeditiously and safely. The true collaboration between occupational physician, third party care practitioners and treating GP’s should be the model from our perspective here at AOMS. Finally, AOMS also will be offering tele-health solutions to any individuals that are in remote environments or rural areas across the island, but this is a conversation that our Physio and Occ Rehab clinic team will have with you!”

Rehabilitation Clinic
Treatment of Orthopaedic conditions including: Low Back Pain, neck pain, whiplash, post-surgical rehabilitation, osteoarthritis, sciatica, tennis elbow, sport-related injury, overuse injury, plantar fasciitis, jumpers knee, Achilles tendonitis, general strength, and conditioning programs.

New Clinic Services & Equipment
Occupational Rehabilitation:
AOMS is now offering a full suite of Occupational Rehabilitation services including Functional Capacity Evaluations, Targeted Functional Evaluations, Work Site Occupational Rehabilitation, Work Station Reviews, Adjudication Assessments, Physical Demands Analysis, and the Progressive Goal Attainment Program for the treatment of pain-related disability.

Specialized Equipment:

TDX spinal mechanical traction: a specialized mechanical traction device offering the latest technology in spinal traction to assist with back pain, herniated discs, spinal movement disorders and other disorders of the spine.

Shockwave Therapy:
AOMS has acquired a Shockwave Medical Device from Shockwave Canada that has been shown through peer-reviewed scientific studies to improve clinical outcomes for the following conditions significantly: Achilles tendonitis, tendonitis of the elbow, wrist, and hand, plantar fasciitis, patella tendonitis, rotator cuff tendonitis, calcific tendonitis of the shoulder and frozen shoulder. Clinical improvements typically seen in shockwave treatment include decreased recovery time, reduced pain, decreased movement loss, decreased the lost time from employment and sporting activities and decreased time delay for return to full function. Tendonitis, one of the common on-the-job complaints.

More information on AOMS services

I thought a lot about that and realized that discontent comes from the disparity between where we are and where we can be. It’s that uncomfortable edge that has an annoying call that just won’t quit. There’s a reason for it. When it comes to Newfoundland’s offshore oil exploration and production rate, there is that same level of discontent. A disparity between where we are and where we could be.

Most other oil nations of the world have far surpassed our drilling success in the same amount of time.  Places like Norway and Abu Dhabi are booming and have their own investment funds which will secure their future. It took a national mindset with state-owned oil companies to get there. Underdeveloped countries like Guyana are setting out at a record pace. Check out Guyana

What’s stopping us?

Back in 1992 when John Crosbie, Cabot Martin, and other esteemed business community members, took the bull by the horns they invited the federal government to invest in our first offshore oil project, Hibernia. The federal government became a critical partner to ensure the project went ahead. That one move alone, ultimately became the catalyst for our offshore industry as it exists today. Government driven, that was entrepreneurial minded. We need more of that.

The Hibernia oil platform looked like it was never going to happen in the early 1990s when project stakeholder, Gulf,  pulled out of the project. At the time, the Canadian government had already offered $2.7 billion in loan guarantees and grants and then went on to further take an equity stake in the project. It proved to be an undeniably profitable move. The government still owns its stake in the Hibernia project and has done so for twenty years. In 2017, the government garnished $75 million in profit. The overall project picture is positive for the nation with $1.8-billion in dividends garnished since oil started flowing in 1997 which is an average of about $100-million a year. Investing in further offshore projects simply makes good business sense.

Fast forward to today. While I’m really proud of our four world-class oil-producing projects, I am also discontent with the disparity between our resource potential and our resource output. I’ve seen other oil regions of the world far surpass our drilling and finding ratio’s offshore. Not because we don’t have oil. We do. We are 1.5 times the size of the North Sea. And by all indicators have just as much oil, or more.

Newfoundland could have been as lucrative as the North Sea.  So why aren’t we?  Some say it’s political. Others say it’s regulatory issues.  Some say it’s the cost of labour and unions. Everyone has an opinion as to why we aren’t there yet. But where do those opinions get us? They get us a whole pile of reasons and justifications as to  “why not” and don’t really advance us. What we really need is the team that will make it happen regardless of the challenges.  The answer to our success is having people make it happen. Those who are willing to go beyond the status quo, like John Crosbie did, all those years ago, and make the “damn thing” happen. Get the job done.

That’s the attitude and leadership we need to drive exploration and drilling offshore. We need to get the federal and provincial government to step in like we did so many years ago and built our own oil exploration programs. Offering seismic data for other companies to become stronger, profitable and global in our region is one thing. Exploring and producing ourselves is another. We could be the “owners” of our own drill bits. And friggin’ well, why not?

Oil exploration is the key to oil industry growth in the region.

Oil Potential: The difference between a ‘have’ and ‘have-not’ province.

We have accumulated 60 years of data offshore, identified 650 leads and prospects and analyzed 112 offshore wells. All that data is available on the Nalcor Ness system designed to inform, educate and attract investors. Lets use that important information and invest in ourselves.

We have 20+ basins offshore Newfoundland and Labrador with very strong oil indicators. We could be so much further ahead. The conversation that it’s still “early days” doesn’t feel so good when we look at the North Sea having drilled 6000 + wells in about the same amount of time. Compared to the North Sea, offshore Newfoundland is 1.5 times bigger and we have drilled less than 200 wells offshore Newfoundland. 

With 20 + basins, does it mean that we could potentially be 20 times the offshore industry we have now? I feel it right down to my fog-filled bones; the answer is yes. Imagine 20 oil-producing basins with 3 or 4 oil projects producing in each one. An industry 20 times that of what it is today. Now that’s a game worth playing.

In this part of the world, we build castles in the sea. Giant concrete castles that bring oil to the surface. The greatest technological advances in the world happened here. The greatest minds are here. We don’t need the transfer of technology from other regions any longer. We are the technology.

With all that potential the only difference between being a “have” and a “have not” province is the decision and leadership to do so.  Shag the deficit, lets rise above all that and be profitable as a province and a nation, with energy.

Offshore Newfoundland: Nalcor Energy has identified 20+ basins. Graphic: Nalcor Energy

Invest in ourselves

Why are we waiting for other companies to invest offshore Newfoundland when we should be putting much more skin in the game and further investing in ourselves. That’s what entrepreneurs do; they take a huge, massive leap of faith and jump. That’s what the Feds did with Hibernia, and it worked to the tune of $billions in royalties for Canada and Newfoundland. That’s what Danny Williams was doing when he was in office creating equity for the province in our own projects. Thanks to the foresight of the Mulrooney government all those years ago, that initial federal investment paid off in spades. All indicators suggest that when it comes to oil and gas, investing in ourselves works. Newfoundland and Labrador has enjoyed yearly royalty returns of as much as $2.8 billion from the offshore oil industry. Imagine what that figure could be if we owned majority shares in our projects. All indicators point to one thing “do it yourself”.

That’s what Norway did with Statoil (STATE OIL). Today, it is a national oil company of stellar, record performance. Statoil was formed by the 2007 merger of Statoil with the oil and gas division of Norsk Hydro. As of 2017, the Government of Norway is the largest shareholder with 67% of the shares, while the rest is public stock. The ownership interest is managed by the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Newly named Equinor, Statoil has evolved with a new brand and identity that embraces the new energy era. “The world is changing, and so is Statoil. The biggest transition our modern-day energy systems have ever seen is underway, and we aim to be at the forefront of this development. Our strategy remains firm. The name Equinor reflects ongoing changes and supports the always safe, high value and low carbon strategy we outlined last year,” says chair of the board in Statoil, Jon Erik Reinhardsen.

We can wait for the oil price to be right, we can wait for other companies to explore but it’s slow going bye’s. Slow as molasses, and it costs us our potential and global advantage. When I think about the 40,000+ Canadians who lost their jobs because of the oil price drop, you quickly realize that we have not secured our own future in Canada. We have not created a scenario of success regardless of market trends and outside influences. Provincially, we have not created the “no fail” solution for our offshore industry. Why haven’t we, when clearly the best insurance we have, is in developing our own resources ‘with’ our own resources?

Focus on what ‘can’ be done

We know that we have 25.5 billion barrels of oil and 20.6 trillion cubic feet of gas potential. Let’s get the stuff out of the seabed now because there is no promise of tomorrow. Let’s find that oil and double, triple or quadruple our current discoveries. We need to be like pirates going for the gold. Driven beyond driven. Not only does it take the tremendous seismic work that Nalcor did, to make oil and gas happen at the rate it should, but it also takes us having the guts to put our money where our mouth is and invest in ourselves, explore for oil ourselves, find oil ourselves. Forget fighting over Muskrat Falls project overruns. Focus on what ‘can be done’. It’s the fastest route to success.

Five years is the window of opportunity that we have for oil and gas exploration and infrastructure development before things dramatically change. Things like world oil demand in developing countries, world oil markets changing, pipeline access and security, established shipping lanes to market, global trade alliances, developing oil nations, the emergence of new energy and exponential technological advances will all impact our ability to succeed with oil and gas. We have five years to become the ‘owners of our destiny’. I’m afraid the 2030 plan may be a little too late.

Oil exploration and production have a lot of moving variables. We have to be strategic and laser sharp focused like the oil companies and get in there and make it happen. You have to ask yourself, are we going to act and be globally competitive and overcome oil market variables or are we going to sit around fighting with each other about policies and procedures and environmental agendas of nay-sayers. Do we have time for that?

We need to be a ‘hotbed’ of oil discoveries in this regions because success breeds success. We could have the entire world’s eyes on us as we show the world how to succeed with our resources. That’s exactly what Norway did with oil and gas and their fishery. That’s what Silicone Valley did with Technology. That’s what Dubai did with real estate. It’s a business play, and we can be in that game.

If we are not leaders, we will be followers

If we are not leaders, we will be followers, and we will feel the “direct impact of being a follower” and all the angst and loss that comes with it. Money loss, taxes loss, medical system loss, lifestyle loss, job loss, pension security loss, health, and wellbeing loss. We already saw it happen with the oil price drop and it wasn’t pretty. Imagine if we lose our oil foothold globally as the number three oil resource-rich nation in the world. We won’t be talking about oil environmental policy then, because we’ll be busy fighting for a job to pay the rent.

It seems like the federal focus is on new energy which is great and will provide us with a sustainable future. But people who work in the energy business know that new energy won’t happen without oil and gas. Oil and gas is the bridge to new energy. You can’t have one without the other. Oil and gas is the foundation of everything else we do. Oil is the one resource that makes every other industry work. Think of transport. Think plastics. 

With an idealistic view, as honorable as it may have seemed at the time, Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, had the vision of a zero-free carbon city until they realized it wasn’t possible without oil and gas. Let global experiences be our teacher.

The entrepreneurial mindset

When I started The OGM magazine six years before we had any oil in this province, I had no resources, no money, and no experience. But I created something from nothing. All guts as they say. No major credit to me because I’m not the only one. The majority of businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador are small to medium-sized companies who all did the exact same thing. We, as Newfoundlanders are bullish for business. We are hearty people, full of guts and determination. We had to be, we came from the fishery. That level of stamina and our “make it happen” attitude is our greatest resource.

I am now 55 years of age and have lived my life through the eyes of the oil and gas industry. I am informed and experienced enough to know that we aren’t even close to where we could be as an oil and gas nation and as a new energy provider. I want to be proactive and secure our future and the future of our companies and families. This is the place where the new energy mix arises. Where oil and gas will remain the leader in energy consumption overall. It is a time of exponential technological advancement. It is a time to strategically make it happen. It’s now or never.  It’s bull by the horns.

Sources, Graphics and Pictures:
ExxonMobil, Equinor, Nalcor Energy, Masdar, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

___________________________________________________________________________

STORIES OFFER PERSPECTIVES AND INFLUENCE

If you would like to create content for the new digital era please let us know.
We will get your message to the market.

TINA OLIVERO: Publisher & Content Strategist for clients worldwide.

To gain more insight into digital media support and training please contact:
tinaolivero@theogm.com.

Tina Olivero

Little did he know at the time, that his love of sports and adventure would lead to his destiny as the President of one of Canada’s most innovative up-and-coming companies, Adventure Lights. There’s something about Tim Ford. He’s got ‘that thing’. You know what I’m talking about. That thing that hits you in your belly and has your intuition whisper quietly, “This guy has it figured out. He is going to build an empire and make a huge impact in the world.”Already a financial success and retired in his mid-thirties, Tim was searching for a new avenue to pursue. He found his passions in skiing and sailing, often found himself in remote and secluded locations, often alone. On solo adventures, one couldn’t help but think, “What if something went wrong and I wasn’t able to be found?”

That’s when the light came on.

A fascinating story

It all started when Tim created lights for an expeditionary Adventure Race Team. That team raced across northern Africa in an elite sailing event. The team was made up of Military Special Operations personnel who could envision the direct applications of the lights to their line of work in the military. And so the story goes…

The seed of Tim’s vision grew into a great Canadian Maple Tree. Today the branches of Tim’s vision are far reaching into areas that need light the most. Areas like search and rescue, military operations, law enforcement, public safety, industrial safety, outdoor recreational adventures and nautical adventures. Adventure Lights products are a necessary complement to any adventurous activity and are essential to well being and security in most tactical, industrial and adventurous situations.

Adventure Lights Inc.

There’s nothing like having the right tool in your greatest time of need. That’s what Adventure Lights products have become. Tim says, “Adventure Lights Inc. is a Canadian company whose products are recognized for their extreme durability and outstanding performance. Our trademark, “Extreme Products for Extreme Conditions®” is part of our mission statement – to make versatile and unique products that can be consistently relied upon to deliver outstanding performance.”

The team of Adventure Lights Inc. is comprised of experts in portable lighting product design, electronic and mechanical engineering, molding, manufacturing, financial management, and marketing. They deliver Adventure Lights products to the world in all it’s various markets.

Where do Adventure Lights fit into your operation?

Imagine being able to set down your chopper in a remote location where there were no lights set up previously. That’s the type of versatility that portable lights provide. These products are critical to military operations as well as oil and gas operations in terms of safety regimes. Being on the job can be dangerous. From low light situations to bad weather, Adventure Lights products will assist people in being seen. In some cases, that makes the difference between life and death. Adventure Lights products help protect industrial companies’ employees from accidents and injury with an excellent array of safety products designed to meet the rugged standards of industrial business in all its many forms, from confined space to remote locations and emergency situations. Bad weather is often experienced in offshore oil operations, and Adventure Lights products assist with being seen in the most extreme conditions. Because they are waterproof and shockproof, these lights are durable in extreme conditions and help prevent certain accidents, as well as increase the likelihood of people being found if lost at sea during an accident.

The global product line of lights offered by Adventure Lights is now vast, selling to naval, land and sea, air, mining, oil and gas, forestry, outdoor sports sectors and more. You will find Adventure lights on: Canadian Forces Navy and Army life jackets, Canadian and US life rafts and retrofits, submarine escape suit lights, pilot ejection seat emergency lights, US Navy Navair emergency location lights for pilot ejection seats, France’s military and first response for man-portable landing zones for aircraft and helicopters, and many more applications.

What’s next?

In 2018/19 Adventure Lights Inc. are finalizing man overboard lights and smart beacon technology that meet entirely new levels of safety with technical automation. In 2019, the ‘Smart Beacon Platform” will be augmented for real-time location applications New incoming technology for Adventure Lights products also includes damage control systems for ships as well as armored circuits for very low temperature, high-pressure situations.that also require advanced security. It is clear that as users of Adventure Lights products continue to find new applications, the company continues to expand its portfolio.

Adventure lights and you

Where do you need more light in your organization? If something went wrong, where would you need light the most? If you looked out at night during operations, could you easily identify your people and their functions? These are the questions of the day and Adventure Lights has answers.

“It is time to reimagine the traditional trade show and focus on education and training for the energy industry,” says Wes Scott, President and CEO of EventWorx Corporation, which purchased the Show from dmg events in 2017.

Scott says exhibitors want to see more of the right people attending, and the right attendees want access to more education, training, live demonstrations and networking options.  “We have spent a lot of time talking to exhibitors and attendees, to help us shape a new focus to a more grass-roots approach,” says Scott.

“A lot of business still needs to be done face-face – large contracts in the energy sector are built on relationships and fostered by face-face interactions. We look forward to generating a refreshed platform for both companies and individuals to get together to find innovative supply chain solutions.”

Like the industry it supports, the upcoming Atlantic Canada Petroleum Show is evolving to include clean technologies, renewables and environmental technologies.  For the first time in the Show’s history, for example, the Newfoundland & Labrador Environmental Industry Association will be hosting a new clean technology pavilion.

Kieran Hanley, Executive Director of the Newfoundland & Labrador Environmental Industry Association, (NEIA), says the association’s new clean technology pavilion will include members with environmental, clean and renewable technologies. NEIA is celebrating its 25th year in 2018.

 “What we want to do through participation in the Show is to start telling the story about the connection between cleantech and oil and gas, and continue to build that story and encourage others to really get involved and explore opportunities in that space,” says Hanley.

 The pavilion is important as it begins to shift the Show from primarily an offshore oil and gas event, towards becoming Canada’s east coast premier all-energy event.

 “We’re a not-for-profit association of businesses that are involved in the development of cleantech and the growth of the green economy here in Newfoundland & Labrador,” says Hanley.  “The Government of Canada is now aggressively supporting clean technology, environmental sustainability. Newer studies have shown that if Canada is to gain a competitive advantage in the clean technology business it’s likely going to be related to our natural resource sectors,” says Hanley.  “NEIA sees a real opportunity for Atlantic Canada to leverage its expertise in ocean industries and ocean technology to really become competitive globally in the clean technology space. And of course, from a Newfoundland & Labrador perspective…we see a great opportunity to really become leaders on a global scale in terms of how clean technology can apply to oil and gas.”

Curtis Jerrom, President of DHVI (Downhole Video & Intervention), is a long-time supporter of Atlantic Canada Petroleum Show. DHVI, a Calgary-based company supplies the oil and gas sector in Canada with downhole video camera and calliper inspection services for leak detection, fishing assistance, fluid entry surveys and mechanical failures.

Jerrom has been exhibiting at the show for 12 years.   “One of the things I like about Newfoundland it’s a different type of oilfield environment. They’re down-to-earth people. They’re easy to talk to. They still do business the old way. They like to do meetings face-to-face,” says Jerrom, adding the Show is a great place for him to get exposure for his company. “We’re bringing new technology. By the time we get to that Show, we’ll have our latest and greatest camera sitting in that Show for the first time.”

The Show is proudly held in conjunction with the Newfoundland & Labrador Oil & Gas Industries Association’s (Noia) annual conference.

“People don’t want to just come and walk the aisles – they don’t have time for that,” says Scott. “They need solutions to their challenges and have questions answered.  Atlantic Canada Petroleum Show will allow for that real connection and collaboration.”

Atlantic Canada Petroleum Show will attract 125 exhibiting companies and over 2,000 attendees. Fresh content on the Show floor includes the “Meet the Experts” Series – a parade of experts on a variety of different topics across the supply chain, which allows attendees to get questions answered during scheduled meet-ups. Live, interactive demonstrations and ample networking events will add more value to the Show experience. Networking experiences include the VIP Industry Reception with live entertainment, food and refreshing cocktails from the Martini Ice Bar; The Fish and Chips Day on the Show Floor on June 21, and Craft Beer Tasting to close out the last two hours of the Show on June 21.

The Mont Sainte-Marguerite (MSM) wind farm in Quebec, has installed technology which has been in use across much of Europe for many years and greatly reduces the environmental impact of light pollution from the warning lights on local residents. The aviation warning lights have to be very bright so that they can be seen by aircraft from several kilometres away. However, in very clear atmospheric conditions (no low cloud, no fog or rain) these lights can have their brightness reduced, down to as little as 10% output, without compromising their effectiveness. Conversely, in foggy or poor visibility conditions, the lights’ brightness can be turned up to the maximum output to ensure that they can be seen.

The Biral visibility sensors are mounted on the top of the turbines and monitor the atmospheric conditions in real-time. They then adjust the lights’ brightness depending upon these atmospheric conditions and thereby reduce any light pollution caused to a minimum.

Biral sensors have been used across Europe for several years in this application and are a standard fit for most of the world’s largest turbine manufacturers.

Biral is the manufacturer of the VPF and SWS Visibility and Present Weather sensors which are used worldwide. The renowned VPF range of visibility and present weather sensors are the most durable on the market, with a proven track record of more than 20 years, and are designed for use in safety-critical applications.

Biral VPF sensors are used to automate visibility and present weather measurements in a wide range of applications, providing improved safety and reduced costs. They are well known for their high durability, reliability and accuracy. A VPF sensor will provide many years of problem-free operation requiring minimal attention and use Forward Scatter Meter (FSM) technology to calculate the Meteorological Optical Range (MOR).

The SWS sensor series was introduced in 2009 and shares much of the advanced technology used in the VPF range. With a powder coated, all-metal enclosure, the sensors are proven to be reliable for extended periods of operation. All SWS series visibility and present weather sensors meet ICAO and WMO requirements for use in national meteorological networks as well as aviation applications such as RVR and AWOS systems.

The use of drones for inspections enables remote live on-screen object inspection, which can result in the elimination of the use of costly and risky access equipment such as scaffolding and cherry pickers, and in the instance of external inspections resource intensive rope access teams. This technology used in this way in turn then offers additional substantial benefits to shipowners and managers such as; reduction in the time to carry out a survey, minimising of risk, as well as cost savings.

The collaboration extends the services of RIMS to allow for inspections across the marine and offshore industry as they are now able to service inspections for assets including ship hulls, mobile offshore structures and cranes.

David Knukkel, CEO of RIMS: “Corporation with DDC offers us a new service which we can extend to our customers. Collectively we not only have the best equipment and skills to execute a top-class inspection, but we have all safety systems and permits in place to ensure full compliance with all regulations (legal and customer specific), enabling us to act quickly on market demands. Having such a partnership in place means that we can offer a quick and efficient service for all our customers’ inspection needs.”

Feye de Zwart, CEO of DDC: “We are a fully certified drone operator and currently the only company allowed to carry out inspection flights in the Controlled Traffic Regions (CTR) around airports. A large area of the Rotterdam harbour is located in this CTR . So being able to expand our service through the partnership with RIMS means that we can really offer added value to our customers, providing a trusted, reliable, quick and all-encompassing service.”

Forging of new partnership allows RIMS to offer full drone package service to shipowners

About RIMS

RIMS are a global project and maintenance consultancy to help revolutionise maintenance strategies with smart drones and robotic. RIMS’ high tech expertise in combination with smart asset management solutions means customers benefit from much safer, more sustainable and cost-efficient surveying and maintenance solutions. RIMS have successfully achieved class approval with; ABS, Bureau Veritas, Korean Register, Lloyd’s Register and RINA.

About DDC

Dutch Drone Company (DDC) was founded with the goal to provide the industry with solutions for faster and safer inspections. DDC offers a wide variety of services with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and is certified to operate in the Controlled Traffic Regions (CTR zones) around airports in the Netherlands.

Publisher and CEO, Tina Olivero says, “Creating a globa publication that bridges to readers and buyers around the globe is what we do.  Perhaps our client wants to attract investors or garnish new hires from around the world, we pride ourselves in finding creative ways to make that happen. We love the challenge of using new programmatic technology and algorithms to bridge the gap between the seeker and the solution. It’s a creative process that bridges the business development gap for our clients. I’m hoping in the not too distant future there won’t be any such thing as marketing, just ‘direct to sale’. That would make life alot easier for everyone. We have the solution that’s the closest thing to it!”

The OGM network spans over .5 million viewers online and has special print distribution for exhibitions and subscribers. It’s world class presentation puts it in a league unto itself. It’s credible, positive and always focused on connecting and uniting the industry.  The game of business takes a tribe of committed and dedicated people and The OGM has the privilege of working with those people every day.

Take a video adventure through some of The OGM’s great brands and realize just how many companies entrust their message with The OGM.

Ask us about programmatic solutions where we can reach people who searched for your product or services by broadcasting out to over 2000 other magazines, thereby reaching 1-2 MILLION viewers in a month! The results are simply the most cost effective in comparison to any other medium on earth. Programmatic solutions are the future folks, so learn everything you can about it.

LEARN ABOUT PROGRAMMATIC NATIVE CONTENT
Find out more on programmatic native content right here:

SEE PROGRAMMATIC IN ACTION
See how our clients used programmatic native content to fill up their CAD training program with strategic content, a multi-media mix, and a lead generator.

HERE’S WHAT OUR CLIENT HAD TO SAY:
“Rounding up students for our CAD training was a real challenge and to be hones, we were getting nowhere. After several months of spending huge sums on traditional advertising, in came Tina Olivero from The OGM who completely revamped our marketing approach. It felt a bit like Gordon Ramsey Boot Camp. But coming out the other side, we began to see real results. The problem flipped to being overwhelmed by responses!  The winning formula Tina developed combined targetted social media with sponsored content. In simple terms, our internal team managed the social media messaging which included a link to the OGM article with a call to action. The key her was the combined effects of targeted social media messaging reinforced by the OGM article which was effectively a third-party recommendation. Three months on and we’re still up there on google with a constant stream of inquiries from around the globe. The world is suddenly much smaller!”  Gareth Owen – Partner and General Manager, Metroworth & North Atlantic Technical.

Enjoy the ride!

Tina Olivero

GREAT BRANDS IN THE OGM

YES! I WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE MY BUSINESS GOALS WITH THE OGM. Please contact me.

Tracking and Responding

Technology has allowed our workplaces, remote locations and hazardous environments to be much safer. New detection, tracking and responding devices are taking over the scene and allowing us to feel much better about our workspaces and goals of zero incidences on the job. Technology is now working where it matters most – safety. With safety alerts, monitoring, tracking and full transparent communication, workplaces are now connected and much safer.  Knowing who’s on your site, where people are, how they are, where evacuation needs to take place, real-time response, remote area access, real-time incidence response, and following leading indicators of “near misses”, are all possible with the new state-of-the-art G7 Blackline system.

Lee Parmiter, CEO of EnviroMed Detection Services says, “Technology mitigates risk. It’s that simple. New advances in detection and response are so effective these days that we reduce human error dramatically. For example, the Blackline G7, which is a real-time, state-of-the-art, electronic gas detection unit is far outperforming what humans can do in much less time. Detection and reporting are replacing human reporting. Extensive gas detection training is no longer necessary. These day’s people have full access and communication in difficult places, remote locations and hazardous regions. This is the future of safety”

The G7 tracks workers and their performance and positioning. For example, if a worker trips, falls and goes down a G7 alert is triggered, transmitted and help is on the way within seconds. It’s all automated and immediate.

The G7 is breaking new ground through no motion detection, fall detection, missed check in’s, gas detection and just about anything you can think of on the job. It provides operator tracking, real-time tracking and communication, remote communication, third-party communication, in-house monitoring with two-way voice communications and on-the-spot Reporting. The system itself takes care of data logging so that follow-up and paperwork becomes a thing of the past.

Think Ahead

The G7 excels in proactive safety protocols. It provides an SOS Pull-Station Emergency feature for on the job emergency situations. It also allows for gas detection monitoring and “PREDETERMINED” maintenance execution which mitigates the possibility of accidents in the future.

Lee says, “offshore or on land this G7 devise works via satellite or cellular, allowing a full scope and range of communication, tracking and detection. We are extremely proud to be supplying such an advanced system to the industry because at the end of the day, our goal is the same goal as our clients – zero incidence.  We sleep at night knowing that the technology we provide keeps people safe.”

Would you like to know about the upcoming Blackline G7 device for your company?

Let us know how to reach you and we will have an ENVIROMED representative contact you.

____________________________________________________________________________

[contact-form-7]

____________________________________________________________________________

Publisher & Content Strategist

Tina Olivero is the Publisher and Content Strategist for clients around the globe through TheOGM.com and The OGM magazine.

With a passion for progress and a sustainable high tech future, tina combines digital strategies into a conversation that builds your business.

SPEAK TO TINA:  
To gain more insight into how content can support your business goals please contact:
tinaolivero@theogm.com

In the cold, Atlantic waters offshore Newfoundland, 34 miles east-southeast of St. John’s, Newfoundland, 17 people lost their lives. One survived.

Although weather conditions that day were reported as good, a Mayday call was issued after the aircraft reported zero oil pressure in the main gearbox at 9:40 a.m. Newfoundland time.

Flight 491 attempted to return to St. John’s but went down at 9:48 a.m. 25 minutes later it was spotted at sea but sank in 584 ft of water. Only one fortunate soul of the eighteen people aboard survived the sinking, although another managed to exit the aircraft. Escape from a ditched helicopter is difficult at the best of times, even when it has landed gently, let alone spinning out in the 32 degrees F, cold Atlantic ocean.

Robert Decker of St. John’s, was found as the only survivor of the crash and was flown to hospital at St. John’s in critical but stable condition with fractures and with salt water in his lungs. The Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Forces, Provincial Airlines planes and surface vessels continued to search the area for additional survivors, to no avail.

Pilot Matthew William Thomas Davis, 34, of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador and First Officer Tim Lanouette, 48, of Comox, British Columbia both died in the accident. Of the fifteen passengers killed in the accident, thirteen were from Newfoundland and Labrador while one each was from Nova Scotia and British Columbia. The sole surviving passenger is Robert Decker.

In a previous CBC interview, Robert Decker said, “I think it was probably luck, I was young, healthy and fit when this happened. Maybe the way I braced against the seat helped. Also, I stayed calm and didn’t panic. Many people know I’m a sailor. Many times I’ve been thrown overboard. I think it may have helped me escape. I was lucky. I was near a window. It sank port-side down. I was on the starboard side. It could have been someone else who survived instead of me. It was a very long ascent to the surface. I could see it was getting brighter and brighter. I got to the surface and I thought, ‘I survived a helicopter crash.’ I was alarmed that this had happened.”

On March 12, the day of the fatal crash, we are reminded of safety protocols and the cost of human and mechanical error, calling for safety first above all.

We remember these brave unfortunate ones and send the families of these souls our prayers and healing wishes.

Thomas Anwyll, 46, Langley, British Columbia.
Peter Breen, 55, St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Gary Corbett, 46, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland.
Matthew William Thomas Davis, 34, St. John’s, Pilot of the helicopter.
Wade Drake, 42, Fortune, Newfoundland.
Wade Duggan, 32, Witless Bay, Newfoundland.
Corey Eddy, 32, of Paradise, formerly of Sibley’s Cove, Newfoundland.
Keith Escott, 39, St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Colin Henley, 38, St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Tim Lanouette, 48, Comox, B.C., First officer on the helicopter.
Allison Maher, 26, Mount Pearl, formerly of Aquaforte, Newfoundland.
Ken MacRae, 47, Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
Gregory Wayne Morris, 39, Outer Cove, Newfoundland.
Derrick Mullowney, 51, Bay Bulls, Newfoundland.
Burch Nash, 44, Fortune, Newfoundland.
John Pelley, 41, Deer Lake, Newfoundland.
Paul Pike, 49, Shearstown. Nova Scotia.

Drones operating offshore

How it works

Imagine being able to fly over a remote location and immediately see its potential for a real estate development project by mapping the terrain with exact precision.
Imagine capturing the full width, scope, and scale of an iceberg headed straight for your oil rig giving you all the information you need to change its course. Imagine using LiDAR information to help identify potential mineral deposits. Imagine assessing an environmental crisis by seeing it from a unique vantage point and being able to mitigate damages as a result.  Imagine the freedom of being able to evaluate operations on a rig that would be otherwise daunting to humans because of variables like height and location.
Imagine being able to monitor pipelines with unprecedented accuracy. (See Video here)
Imagine building an oil platform, GBS or topsides, and having drone photo-progress and LiDAR reports on a regular basis that optimize efficiencies of operation.
It’s now all possible…

LiDAR Landscape Image

Drones with LiDAR

Mapping, measuring, manipulating and modifying, that’s what the “light inventors” had in mind when they created LiDAR for drones.

LiDAR on drones is a new technology that uses a laser light scanner to replicate the landscape that it measures. A laser scanner attached to a drone (or UAV) uses light pulses to observe, measure, picture and reproduce a scene. This is the fundamental principle behind LiDAR, but the applications are truly limitless.

Quickly being adopted by world leaders in oil and gas and engineering sectors, drones equipped with LiDAR have become one of the “next best things” for harnessing efficiencies and reducing projects costs all the while addressing safety measures at an entirely new level.

With Drones and LiDAR, the oil and gas industry can fly over an iceberg and measure with accuracy its height and full composition making it super easy to track, move or assess the best course of action to take with that iceberg. Because Drones are Unmanned, projects are less risky, more profitable and safer.

LiDAR can support global projects such as the construction of the West White Rose gravity base structure. This advanced technology would permit site location analysis, project development efficiencies, identify possible safety hazards, advance progress and processes, be an essential tool in situational monitoring, support asset management, enhance environmental assessment, as well as offer a critical vantage point for safety.

The applications of LiDAR are unlimited, and it depends on the ingenuity and creativity of a team to adapt the technology to its highest function and user-ability. Engineering teams who seek to architect, build and execute projects will utilize LiDAR in new and unique ways, ultimately saving time, money and lives.

RPM brings LiDAR to Newfoundland & Labrador

For the first time in history, unmanned aerial LiDAR will become airborne in Newfoundland, with the use of Drones. The brainchild of visionaries Claudette Hickey and Brian Lundrigan, owners of RMP Aerial Services, have adopted the LiDAR technology in the province. It is “the next best thing,” happening to large-scale construction and oil and gas projects.

LIDAR Technology in action

Brian says, “Drones and their payloads are becoming so incredibly advanced that they can support the construction and operation of offshore platforms more effectively and efficiently than before. ”

Brian proudly described a drone’s purpose offshore, “This past summer we completed our first mission of placing a GPS tracker on icebergs offshore.  With the assistance of John Olivero and Rick Stanley of the Ocean Quest team, we were able to use our drones to position GPS trackers on the iceberg which allowed us to track that iceberg with phenomenal accuracy. We expect drone advances in the offshore to continue to improve and we predict they will be the foundation of operations in the coming years”.

RPM Aerial Services tracking icebergs

Claudette Hickey has dedicated her life to her company RPM.  She’s committed to the advancement of this technology in our province and says, “We can define a Drone as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) combined with a ground control station. With applications far-reaching this technology has now proven itself a profitable solution for exploration and production in the oil and gas sector. We are extremely excited to work with the energy and construction industries to optimize project efficiencies.  Some of the immediate applications we see with Drones include; assisting in offshore oil process efficiencies, asset monitoring, and maintenance, procedural efficiencies, iceberg tracking, elevating operation and production results, environmental integrity and assessment, safety regimes and reducing costs overall.”

Claudette says, “We envision the application for our drones to be in some leading industry sectors including; oil and gas, real estate, construction, and property restoration. LiDAR is so new that we haven’t even begun to understand the full capabilities of its applications in those sectors, but we are excited to discover them.  Our core focus will be to provide Aerial Services for companies requiring high-end UAV services and to work on larger projects that want to save on project expenditures with the use of our drones and LiDAR.”

The drone hovering over a construction site used for video surveillance and industrial inspection.

READ MORE ABOUT DRONES:
The OGM reports on the UK Guidelines for use of Drones.
Canadian UAVs and Lockheed Martin CDL Systems completed the first BVLOS pipeline, well site and power line inspections using the Lockheed Martin Indago 2 at the UAV Testing Facility in Foremost, Alberta

RPM AERIAL INC.:
For more information on Drones and LiDAR in Atlantic Canada, please go to www.rpmaerialinc.ca

Cyberhawk played a key role in the drafting of the ‘Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Management Standards and Guidelines’, which were produced by Oil & Gas UK in conjunction with a working group. As well as Cyberhawk, this group included duty holders who have used UAS, industry and aviation safety experts and a limited number of additional UAS operators.

Cyberhawk was the first company to operate UAS in the North Sea back in early 2012, and has been one of the most significant contributors to the development of the guidelines.

Company founder Malcolm Connolly, the only person in the working group with first-hand experience of operating UAS offshore, said: “The creation of these guidelines marks a step-change for the offshore inspection industry and reflects the fact that the vast majority of oil and gas operators, both offshore as well as onshore, are now using UAS. This has driven the need for an industry-specific set of standards.

“The UK offshore sector already boasts stringent safety and operating standards for other areas of aviation. The introduction of these guidelines marks an important milestone within the sector and a recognition that adoption of UAS technology will continue to grow with a clearer set of guidelines to work to.

“Training and competency play a key role in the new guidelines, as does the reliability of equipment being used and the track record and experience of the UAS operator in question. These guidelines significantly exceed the current minimum requirements set out by the UK CAA for general commercial UAS operations, which is a crucial factor in allowing the continued use of drones to improve the offshore inspection industry.”

“We are particularly pleased that Oil & Gas UK sought to involve the UAS operators themselves, which we believe has made a fundamental impact when compared with other industry specific UAS guidelines which have been produced elsewhere.”

With much success and accolades, Cyberhawk has had the good fortune to be recognized at both the 2012 and the 2016 Oil & Gas UK Awards, where its UAS inspection solutions were named winners of the SME Business Innovation and Efficiency category.

Health, safety, and environment director at Oil & Gas UK, Mick Borwell, said: “[UAS] technology is particularly attractive for its use in improving safety. For example, sending unmanned aircraft instead of people into confined spaces to conduct inspections reduces risk, and is also effective and efficient.”

Borwell said, “The guidelines have evolved from lessons learned in recent years and provide information about best practice, procedures and the certification needed to be compliant with UAS regulations. They are an important piece of work addressing the application of a new technology to the offshore environment which will help to ensure operations in the North Sea remain as safe as they can be.”

THE OGM SAFETY RESULTS AWARD WINNER:
Techmation Electric & Controls Ltd.

Techmation Electric & Controls Ltd. provides a complete range of electrical and instrumentation services throughout Western Canada. Techmation is committed to achieving stellar performance and giving value to their customers while providing a safe and stimulating work environment for all employees. They achieve this by delivering on the highest standards of construction, maintenance, and workmanship.

Derek Polsfut, President of Techmation, says, “We’ve built up a strong safety culture by empowering all of our personnel, from our senior management, front line supervision, to all of our field techs to actively participate in all of our safety programs. Effective communication is an integral part of our safety culture. Most incidents are due in part, to high-risk behaviours, so our goal is to create a safety culture where our employees feel empowered, and comfortable sharing safety-related feedback with their coworkers.”

Dan Hataway, Corporate HSE Manager, says, “Providing a safe and challenging team-work environment where we can partner up with our employees and clients is imperative. We learn and grow as a team, to fulfil our responsibilities to our communities and the protection of the environment, maintaining our focus on perpetual improvements and innovation of products, services, and related technologies.”

There are key factors that attribute to the organizational success that Techmation has achieved with safety. One of those keys is that they have developed an interdependent culture. Techmation has teams of employees that take ownership for safety and assume responsibility for themselves and others. A second key factor is that Techmation has matured their interdependent safety culture and performance is truly sustainable, with incident and injury rates approaching zero. The staff are educated and empowered to take action in any matters related to health, safety, environment, quality or service.

Dan Hathaway says, “Our staff does not accept low standards or at-risk behaviours. Techmation’s management understands that improvement happens as team and that zero incidents are truly an attainable goal. Techmation’s culture builds teams that support and challenge each other. Techmation overall realises significant organizational benefits from having such a mature safety culture. It allows us to produce high-quality products and services, obtain greater productivity, and be an industry-leading safety performance provider as we grow.”

Techmation Electric & Controls Ltd. has engineered safety into all operations within the business. In doing so, they have achieved significant safety results. A Total Recordable Incident Frequency (TRIF) rate of 0.29 for 2016 and 0.36 rolling 12 months is industry leading. With absolute safety commitment from all 1000+ employees in the organization Techmation Electric & Controls has been recognized over the last three years for the following additional safety awards:

2015 Silver Finalist in Canada’s Safest Employer – Best Health and Safety Culture amongst all Industries

2015 Canada’s Best Managed – Gold Standard Award

2015 Cenovus Safety and Environmental Stewardship Award

2014 Gold Standard Winner for Canada’s Safest Employer in the Oil and Gas Industry

2014 Partnerships in Injury Reduction

2014 Best Managed Requalification Award

2014 Saskatchewan Certificate of Achievement

2013 Partnerships in Injury Reduction

2013 Best Managed Requalification Award

2013 Partnerships in Injury Reduction

2013 ITA Certificate of Recognition

Now they can add The OGM SAFETY RESULTS Award to their list of great successes. Congratulations to the Techmation team. You have set the bar for all of us, and we look forward to having an energy industry that attains and maintains results like this.

THE OGM SAFETY RECORD AWARD WINNER:
STEP ENERGY SERVICES

STEP ENERGY SERVICES

Too often safety is sacrificed to satisfy the demands of clients, operations, or management, putting employees in potentially risky or dangerous situations but not at STEP Energy Services Ltd. (STEP). STEP’s business is rooted in four core values; safety, trust, execution, and possibilities. These are the values that provide strong cultural and behavioural foundations for its professionals. By purposeful design, safety sits at the forefront of their operations.

SAFETY RECORD

On Thursday, August 11, 2016, STEP logged 365 days without a recordable incident, bringing its 12-month rolling Total Recordable Incident Frequency (TRIF) to zero.

“A year ago we set out a goal to be at a zero TRIF,” said Steve Glanville, chief operating officer. “Today I am proud to say that with the collective mindset of ‘Goal Zero’ we accomplished just that, and together we will celebrate this very meaningful milestone.”

“As our first and most important core value, safety is a priority in and out of the field for the protection and benefit of both STEP’s professionals and clients. A zero-TRIF score is not often reached by industry, let alone a company that has experienced tremendous growth and recruitment in a short period of time. This record accomplishment is an endorsement of STEP’s laser-beam focus on its culture of safety.”

STEP also recognizes the “Goal Zero” success its US team has accomplished. Field operations started May 2015 and since then, the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) has remained 0.00 throughout with no reportable injuries.

SAFETY INNOVATION

STEP has integrated a rigorous auditing process to ensure it complies with industry standards and is the contractor of choice in the deep horizontal well market. External third-party audits and internal assessments are conducted to ensure that regulations and legislated standards are met. These audits also serve as a tool to continuously improve its safety programs.

STEP’s HSE policies comply with the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program, ISNetworld, and other legislated requirements in Western Canada. In December 2015, STEP achieved its three-year Certificate of Recognition Health and Safety Program audit endorsement for Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan operations with an audit score of 96%.

“Receiving this score is a testament to the discipline Chris Kirby, director of HSE, and his team maintain within our systems and processes,” says Regan Davis, CEO. “It is their tireless efforts which ensure every professional in our organization has the knowledge and support to achieve these exceptional outcomes”.

CULTURE OF SAFETY

STEP believes safety is no accident. Its dedication to the safety of its professionals is apparent in the field, office and home: professionals have the right and are encouraged to say no to any unsafe practice, and are reminded this includes their personal safety at home. STEP builds this culture by honing in on its core values at every stage of the hiring, onboarding, training, and development process. Professionals are continuously reminded of the role the core values play in their roles; professionals are to watch out for themselves and the safety of one another. A commitment to a strong safety culture provides a safe work environment that rewards safe practices and promotes success.

ASAP: ALWAYS SAFE, ALWAYS PROFESSIONAL

This year, STEP launched an internal safety campaign to its professionals and their families; Always Safe, Always Professional (ASAP). The acronym, which is commonly used to imply urgency and immediacy, is a purposeful reminder for STEP professionals to take a moment and stay safety minded, always. Whether it’s at home or at work, on the lake or on the road, STEP wants its professionals and their families to always keep safety at the forefront.

SAFETY AWARDS

TOP SAFETY CULTURE AWARD

STEP’s outstanding commitment to safety, professional excellence, and core values has been recognized by the Top Safety Culture Awards for both 2014 and 2015. The Top Safety Cultures™ awards program is intended to promote safer workplaces and enhanced organizational cultures for employees, their family members, and their communities across Canada. STEP scored higher than the industry average in every category: Employee Feedback, Safety Practices, and Safety Incidents, again solidifying STEP as a leader in safety in the workplace.

OGM SAFETY AWARD – SAFETY RECORD

STEP is proud to add the OGM SAFETY RESULTS Award to its list of prestigious safety acknowledgements. STEP thanks the OGM for its recognition and congratulates its fellow 2016 category recipients. STEP would also like to thank its entire team of office and field professionals for their dedication to a safe work environment; your commitment to safe practices, policies, procedures, and keeping a watchful eye on fellow coworkers is admirable and at a level the entire industry can look up to. Thank you!

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, STEP Energy Services Ltd. is a privately owned, technically focused, oilfield service company providing specialized pressure pumping services to the deep, horizontal well market in Western Canada, and the Eagle Ford Shale Play and Permian Basin in Texas.

THE OGM SAFETY INNOVATION AWARD WINNER:
CROSBIE SALAMIS LTD.

Crosbie Salamis Limited (CSL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Crosbie Group Limited, a 5th generation family-owned business with head offices located in St. John’s, NL. Established in 1995, CSL provides fabric maintenance and related services to the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore oil and gas industry. CSL employs in excess of 275 offshore personnel in various trades and approximately 40 onshore employees to support our clients’ needs. CSL has developed an innovative, comprehensive, and Certificate of Recognition (COR) certified safety program over the last 19 years. CSL’s program is consistently evolving and continuously improving to ensure it is aligned with current industry safety trends and best practices.

CSL employs in excess of 275 offshore personnel in various trades and approximately 40 onshore employees to support our clients’ needs. CSL has developed an innovative, comprehensive, and Certificate of Recognition (COR) certified safety program over the last 19 years. CSL’s program is consistently evolving and continuously improving to ensure it is aligned with current industry safety trends and best practices.

CSL Safety Awareness Campaign Each year, CSL develops a company safety theme and campaign. This year the theme is “Think S.M.A.R.T, before you S.T.A.R.T.” An injury and accident-free workplace is the goal – employees at every level of the organization, both offshore and onshore, are accountable for safety and for participating in CSL safety initiatives. CSL communicates company safety messages clearly, and outlines objectives for frontline managers and supervisors in a dynamic and educational manner. This year, CSL’s ‘START SMART’ campaign includes Rotating Safety Focuses (6 week duration), Visible Materials (banners, posters, t-shirts and hard hat decals), and Monthly Safety Focus Objectives.

CSL Heliport Visit Program Also unique to CSL is its Heliport Visit Program in which CSL Management, HSEQ and Operations team’s representatives make weekly leadership visits to the Heliport, 52 weeks a year. One of the primary goals of these visits is to motivate and encourage offshore workers to work safely, while also developing and nurturing relationships between onshore and offshore personnel. The visits provide for management and staff to have face-to-face, interactive conversations with our offshore personnel on important issues, including but not limited to safety, scopes of work, etc. while gaining insight into workers’ concerns and knowledge. This program has proven to be very rewarding for everyone involved, and has grown to become a key enabler of staff engagement, and demonstrates a philosophy of actively caring for all workers. CSL recognizes the importance of cultivating a strong safety culture and is continuously working with its employees, sub-contractors, and clients to improve the health and safety performance of its operations. The goal is, and always will be an injury and accident free workplace. CSL strive to accomplish their goals through continuous safety and loss control efforts. They have achieved a company TRIF of 0.36, across all offshore installations, through the continuous improvement and advancement of our suite of safety programs and initiatives, affecting the lives of all workers, onshore and offshore. CSL is a safety leader in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore oil and gas industry and an innovator in programs and initiatives that make the difference.

The goal is, and always will be an injury and accident-free workplace. CSL strive to accomplish their goals through continuous safety and loss control efforts. They have achieved a company TRIF of 0.36, across all offshore installations, through the continuous improvement and advancement of our suite of safety programs and initiatives, affecting the lives of all workers, onshore and offshore. CSL is a safety leader in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore oil and gas industry and an innovator in programs and initiatives that make the difference.

THE OGM SAFETY RECORD AWARD WINNER:
OPERATING IN A HARSH ENVIRONMENT COUGAR HELICOPTERS LTD.

Cougar Helicopters has been providing transportation to the oil and gas industry since 1990. Headquartered in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, the company currently operates a fleet of eight Sikorsky S92 aircraft. Cougar’s business of offshore helicopter transportation, medevac services and search & rescue (SAR) operations is conducted in the midst of some of the world’s most consistently challenging harsh environments. On an annual basis, Cougar safely completes approximately 8,000 flying hours representing 2600 trips offshore to move approximately 45,000 passengers to their place of employment and return trip home.

The Cougar Helicopters management and workforce team is steadfast in its unwavering commitment to excellence in service delivery and operational safety. Will Jacobs, Safety & Quality Manager said: “We recognize that in order to achieve our performance and safety goals, we can never assume that success is assured by simply having a safety program guided and executed by a series of policy and procedures manuals with a belief that if you follow the written word all will be okay”. Working with the understanding that safety performance is paramount and you do not always get a second chance to do it right, compels Cougar Helicopters to ensure that safety management is always its first priority, it is never ad hoc and is executed using a professional, comprehensive, actively managed yet workable Safety Management System (SMS).

Unlike most organizations where the management team is charged with the responsibility of keeping its workforce safe, Cougar Helicopters also has the responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of its travelling passengers. To achieve its safety goals, Cougar management recognizes the importance of a strong safety culture to underpin all facets of the SMS. Cougar’s managers and supervisors are accountable for providing a performance focused environment underscored by uncompromised safety leadership in all areas of work and operations – every shift of every work day. Through company and industry best practices, the application of a sound risk management program by a trained and experienced workforce delivers the required strong safety performance.

Safety performance at Cougar involves the integration of several traditional safety management tools and techniques with new and innovative technologies such as the onboard Sikorsky S-92 Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) and Helicopter Flight Data Monitoring (HFDM). With HUMS downloads carried out after every flight, Cougar Helicopters is at the forefront of aircraft monitoring with installed technologies that allow us to continuously track and assess system health and complete preventative maintenance that ensures that the aircraft are operating at optimum performance. The HFDM allows us to review our daily performance with a critical eye to ensure that company safety standards and standard operating procedures are adhered to at all times. A commercial airline standard in North America, Cougar was the first rotary wing operator to implement a Transport Canada Type B co-authority flight dispatch system, thereby providing another layer of safety in its operations.

While Cougar has used flight simulators since its inception, in recent years, the company has implemented a more intense SIM training program for all its flight crew by conducting offshore installation landing and take-off training at night in a simulator up to four times per year. This by far surpasses the industry requirement of once annually. JJ Gerber, Operations Service Manager said: “It is our belief that regular simulator training exposure enhances skill, provides the opportunity to correct minor issues prior to them becoming bigger issues and keeps all pilots closer to the ideal standard operating procedures”. Safety forms the core of the company’s Mission Statement: In support of current ventures, and while continuously seeking new business opportunities, Cougar Helicopters Inc. adheres to the highest principles of safety and efficiency, exceeding industry standards and expectations for the safe transportation of passengers and the conduct of search and rescue operations.

Hank Williams, Cougar’s Chief Operating Officer told OGM “Our high level of safety performance reflects a strong team effort involving each and every employee at Cougar Helicopters. Working within a safety management system, Cougar has fostered a safety culture that reflects a set of enduring values and attitudes regarding safety – this is shared by every team member at every level of our organization.”

Funded by HMDC and RDC, this flight training centre features the first civilian Level D helicopter simulator with night vision in Canada. The simulator provides unprecedented realism for offshore facilities and local weather conditions offering efficiencies, cost savings and optimal training for helicopter personnel working in the region.

HMDC

Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) is the operator of the Hibernia field which began petroleum production offshore Newfoundland and Labrador in November 1997 and they have a vested interest in helicopter operations efficiency, safety and effectiveness in the region and has invested in the project proving their commitment to helicopter operations offshore Newfoundland.

HMDC helicopter service provider Cougar Helicopters has started training its pilots at the centre. “Cougar Helicopters has very high flight crew training standards for our offshore oil & gas and SAR operations and our pilots train multiple times annually to maintain that standard. This simulator provides training for our low visibility and offshore approaches and simulates turbulence and icing conditions accurately to match the conditions in which we operate,” said Hank Williams, Chief Operating Officer of Cougar Helicopters. “A training centre right here in the province provides more efficient scheduling of training, less travelling and therefore less fatigue for our flight crews.”

CAE

CAE is a global leader in the delivery of training for civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. CAE designs industry’s training solutions, anchored by the knowledge and expertise of our 8,000 employees, our world-leading simulation technologies and a track record of service and technology innovation spanning seven decades.  CAE has a global presence with 160 sites and training locations in more than 35 countries, including their joint venture operations, and the world’s largest installed base of flight simulators.

Each year, CAE trains more than 120,000 civil and defence crew members, as well as thousands of healthcare professionals. “CAE is proud to offer the highest quality flight and mission training to offshore and search and rescue crews in the province, including Cougar Helicopters. We also look forward to the research and development projects aimed at making helicopter training more efficient and safe,” said Nick Leontidis, CAE Group President, Civil Aviation Training Solutions, at the opening-of-the-facility event. “Through this partnership with the Research & Development Corporation, we will develop local R&D expertise to support the needs of the Newfoundland and Labrador oil and gas industry.”   

RDC

“RDC is excited to partner with CAE to enhance R&D capabilities in this industry,” said Mark Ploughman, Acting Chief Executive Officer of RDC. “CAE is a recognized global leader in training and with the completion of this new facility, together we are enabling research that will further enhance transportation safety and efficiencies for aircrew and personnel working in Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore industry.”

“This training and R&D centre creates local jobs, builds local expertise, and supports local research that is specifically designed for our regional environment and our offshore needs,” said Len Coughlan of HMDC. “Having this facility in the region increases the level of research related to helicopter operations, which will contribute to improved operations and flight safety.”

_____________________________________________________________________

Tina Olivero

Would you appreciate knowing more about how strategic content can vastly support your communications, marketing or sales?

Fill out this request and we will have a product & service expert get in touch with you.
[contact-form-7]

from Trinity College, a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in combustion from Stanford University (yes, it is rocket science!) and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon, Audrey is the perfect candidate to be involved in the most fascinating aviation industry in the world – helicopters.

Her educational background coupled with her ambitious nature has propelled Audrey through the ranks at United Technologies Company (UTC), the parent company to Sikorsky.

Audrey started her career designing fuel nozzles and fuel nozzle guides in the combustion section of the engine for Pratt & Whitney, a sister company to Sikorsky. While with Pratt & Whitney, she spent a year in Poland to start up a tube manufacturing facility. There she learned that leading an organization can be a challenge that requires persistence and adaptability. Working abroad required her to navigate the landscape of leadership in a different country with a foreign culture and language.

“I had a great experience moving the operation that I was running from East Hartford, Connecticut to Rzeszow, Poland.  My challenge included a mixture of not knowing the language or the culture. I tried to run the business as I ran it in the United States,” said Audrey. “If we fell behind schedule we would work overtime and weekends, but I learned quickly that this was not an option.”

The labor structure in Poland did not include overtime or weekend hours. After spending three months trying to get the employees to change their ways, she realized she would have to adjust to get the job done in the time that she had with the resources that were given to her.

“Quickly we all put our strategies together and achieved on-time delivery.  This taught me a great deal about myself and my leadership skills.  I learned that I had to adapt to the situation rather than automatically go with what worked in the past in other places. I should observe carefully prior to presenting my ideas and to always remember that what works in one organization might not work in another.  This lesson has proven very valuable to me in my nearly 20-year career.”

After a year in Poland, Audrey headed to UTC Corporate where she was able to utilize her international experience to help develop a supply chain in Eastern Europe.

“It was during my corporate years when I was exposed to Sikorsky Aircraft and became enamored with the helicopter business,” Audrey said. “I left Corporate to run a back-shop at Sikorsky and was quickly moved to run the final assembly and flight operations of the UH-60M Black Hawk, HH-60M Medevac, MH-60R Romeo Naval Hawk and MH-60S SEAHAWK helicopters.”

The famous Black Hawk helicopter ignited a passion for Audrey.

“The experience working with the Black Hawk was almost indescribable. I ran an operation of 2,000 hourly and salary employees, the most impressive and professional group of people I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with,” explained Audrey. “That passion and professionalism was contagious. I enjoyed spending my time on the shop floor interacting with and learning from those employees, gathering ideas on how to improve things from the people who know the components and the assembly processes better than anyone. I especially enjoyed interacting with the military, the ultimate customers, who would come in for a tour and share stories of how these ‘machines’ saved their lives.”

With Audrey’s extensive education in business she naturally moved to the commercial side of the company.

“I run the S-92 Program, which is a very busy business these days. The S-92 helicopter delivers to the Off Shore Oil, VIP, ultility and Search and Rescue sectors. It is my job to interact with the customers to learn what we can do to improve the helicopter to better meet their needs,” Audrey said. “I have the opportunity to fly all over the world to meet with the end users. I am in charge of a large budget to turn these suggestions into reality and make the best helicopter for its mission. I then interact with the very smart men and women of Sikorsky Aircraft who turn these ideas into products to roll out to the customers.”

Audrey provides development and execution leadership, and is responsible for establishing and meeting all financial, schedule, and technical requirements. Her roles include annual investment planning and execution of all program funded initiatives and contract efforts. In addition, she drives efforts to capture new business, keeps her customer base sold, and identifies Bid & Proposal (B&P) and capital budget needs.

The top priority in manufacturing helicopters is safety – safety of the employees building the helicopters and the safety of the product for the end user.

“Sikorsky helicopters are designed using the highest standards for flaw tolerance and flight safety,” Audrey explained. “Sikorsky invests millions of dollars every year to improve the product with safety as the priority. There are several inputs to Sikorsky’s policies and procedures. Some examples of the major influences come from the Joint Operators Review, a collaboration between Bristow, Avincis and CHC Helicopter, The Helicopter Safety Steering Group, and the Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group.”

What makes people succeed is different for everyone. Audrey shares her winning formula: “I have been very lucky in my experience and have always been encouraged throughout my career.  I have tried never to shy away from the fire, and I feel that my tenacity, open-mindedness and positive outlook are the foundation for any success I achieve.”

To learn more about the S-92 program for Sikorsky Aircraft visit: www.sikorsky.com

As an example where timing has been crucial, air freight has been used for a Deep Water Exploration Vessel on the other side of the world. This may include a dedicated Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft for multiple heavy helicopters,  or, for small or medium helicopters, a Boeing 747 Freighter supplied by airlines like Cathay Pacific, Emirates Airline or Cargolux as examples.

Juerg Boschung, Head of Helicopter Shipping Division for PANALPINA remarks that, in addition to using first class air carriers weekly for their precious helicopters, Panalpina also operates two of their own controlled Boeing 747-800 freighters.”

Small helicopters like the AS350, Bell 407s, and Jetrangers are often dismantled and shipped in closed, 40-foot containers. Medium sized helicopters like Bell 412s and AS365s can fit onto a 40 foot flat-rack container. Larger helicopters like Sikorsky 92s, EC225s, or AgustaWestland 139s are often mobilized on RORO vessels. While the shipping time is longer at sea, the costs are usually equally lower.

Kurt Kapota, Branch Manager of Helicopter International Shipping Services remarked, “one of the most critical elements in this niche shipping trade is asset risk limitation and a high touch on the many documents required.” The latter is more critical today as we are drilling in new green fields across the world where governments and other supporting infrastructure are relatively new to the oil and gas Industry. Considering that a rotor blade of a Sikorsky S92 is over $450 K USD and penalties for not being on site or unserviceable can be as high as $50K a day, helicopter operators and OEMs use highly qualified shippers.

Bristow Helicopters Australia moves their aircraft across the globe often. “This is both logistically challenging and expensive as each shipment is different, but the same detailed planning and use of MOC’s and Risk Assessments to ensure the aircraft arrive on time and undamaged,” said  Neil Seabrook Engineering Manager.

Frequently mobilizing and demobilizing across the world, helicopters are chasing Deep Water Drill Ships, FPSO’s, and Seismic operations to that next project. With the deepwater capital expenditure (Capex) expected to surge in 2016, it can be forecasted that specialty oil and gas helicopters will not remain idle long before they are mobilized by air, sea, or land.

Mini-camp communities now feature facilities accommodating aircraft in approximately the 150-passenger class. In Alberta, there are more than 180 airports with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) designation, many operated by the major Oil & Gas companies.

Skills shortages exist in Western Canada. Competition will escalate as provinces and companies compete for these resources. The “benefits” factor for workers beyond compensation becomes vitally important, like maximizing time off. Consequently, most workers now Fly in/Fly out. FIFO is the buzzword in most job advertisements sourcing technical and academic remote workers.

One of the latest Tar Sands operations to recently achieve “First Oil” in Alberta was Imperial Oil with their Kearl Project now producing approximately110,000 BBL/D (barrel per day) with forecasts to mirror the production in phase 2 (Kearl Expansion). In this construction phase alone, Imperial has 5,000 remote workers on site per day. At the nearby ConocoPhillips construction site, this is a similar work model.

Scheduled carriers like WestJet and Air Canada  have identified the value by bypassing their own hubs to fly to oil and gas markets. The airlines recently announced direct flights from Toronto, Vancouver, and Kelowna to Fort McMurray. While the evidence is not definitive, there are reportedly over 5,000 migrating workers just in Kelowna alone.

“In our charter models, we strive to transport workers as quickly as possible and therefore base a Boeing 737 aircraft in St. John’s, NL.” says Hart Mailandt, Director, Business Development of North Cariboo Air. This saves valuable time for travel, improves the worker’s family time, and saves the customer money.

“Our research indicated that oil and gas clients wanted new aircrafts that were more reliable, had lower noise and GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, and could fly non-stop across Canada.” said Darcy Morgan, Chief Commercial Officer of ENERJET who launched the B737-700 NG in 2008.

“Increasing the efficiency of all resources is key,” explains Mailandt, “time is money so our charter customers want to maximize time on tools.” Aviators must deliver workers on the job site as quickly as possible.

Established carriers such as Porter declared in 2013 that they plan to enter Western Canada with the Bombardier Q400 and the CS 100 aircraft. Additionally, upstart carrier JETLINES also announced in 2013 that they plan to use a fleet of Airbus A319/320 to fly from Vancouver to several secondary markets.

The new business segment that is “traveling for work” has higher expectations. Oil and gas customers that use guidelines such as OPG (Oil and gas Producers) also expect best in class principles from aircraft technology, safety, and comfort. In 2013, Sunwest Aviation christened their new facilities at Calgary International Airport. Clearly accommodating customer evolution, it features approximately 600 parking stalls, leather lounge seating, valet car service, robust check-in, and fresh Starbucks coffee.

The airport in Fort McMurray adjusting to high passenger movement, has scheduled major improvements from runways to a new International Facility in June 2014. 2013 passenger counts soared to 1.2 million from 958,000 in the previous year.

The Northwest Regional Airport (Terrace/Kitimat) is also reacting to the development in the region. “The forecast of huge investments by Oil & Gas companies in the region and our passenger forecasts at 200 to 500 a day motivate us to get the airport ready.” remarks Carmen Hendry, Airport Manager. In 2013, the airport handled 177,600 passengers, a 28% increase over 2012.

The constant state of improvement in the science of workforce logistics has helped manage the shortage of workers in mega projects around the country. Aviation, from environmental applications to providing affordable transportation, has also supported the principle of maintaining our fragile social fabric from First Nations lands to small communities across Canada.

It boasts a full stand-up cabin, which is essentially uncommon in this size of aircraft. The craft’s cabin is sixty-nine inches tall and seventy-three inches wide, the largest in its class. As gorgeous as the spacious interior is, the exterior is as singular. The configuration of the three wings (located at the forefront of the cockpit is not a canard, but indeed a third wing), and rear-facing turboprop engines open up the fuselage and extend the space available to the cabin and dampens the engine-noise experienced in the plane’s interior.

John M. Bingham, president and CEO of Piaggio America, Inc., explains, “The design of the aircraft ensures serenity on board for the occupants as the engines are set to the rear of the aircraft with the props pointing backwards so the cabin is whisper quiet.”

The Avanti II is capable of achieving a top speed of 463 miles per hour (402 knots).

Equally incredible is its fuel performance, operating at up to forty percent less than that of mid-size jets, yet the P. 180 does not compromise speed or range and offers low-operating costs. With its standard fuel capacity, the plane can accomplish a range of 1470 nautical miles. Piaggio Aero has recently announced that extended range fuel tanks are now an option on the Avanti II, facilitating a longer range of 1700 nautical miles.

This fun turboprop has appealed to many because of its versatility and panache and, of course, for its speed. The P. 180 Avanti II is the fastest turboprop in the world.

Capable of holding a crew of two and up to nine passengers, the aircraft is not only popular with forward-thinking private owners, but with air transport and small regional air carriers as well.

What is on the horizon for Piaggio Aero and the P. 180 Avanti II? Bingham, looking to the future, explains, “We are constantly looking to improve the already excellent industry-leading design of the aircraft, and it will naturally evolve and improve in terms of product offering and improvements for many years to come.”

This mandate is what customers and industry expect from Sikorsky Aircraft, a global leader in helicopters. This focus has increased business and the company’s competitiveness, and raised the bar of standards. Energy and environmental issues are often major considerations as part of the competitive bidding process.

Sikorsky maintains a sharp focus on worker safety in all areas, especially ergonomics. In fact, Sikorsky is working with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union Local to invest in ergonomic improvements.

So far, the system has proven its value. The company determined that each ergonomic improvement costs about $30,000 but saves an average of $130,000. In addition, workers’ compensation costs are down, despite the fact that the company has grown and at a time when medical costs are escalating.

At Sikorsky, the push for efficiency and clean technology comes from inside the company, too. About half of the 6,600 people at the Stratford, Conn., headquarters and factory are engineers and scientists. For them, reducing our carbon footprint, using energy efficiently, and pioneering sustainability practices are core principles. Advancement in all aspects is their objective.

Sikorsky’s highest priority is safety. That includes the safety of our products, our workplace, our processes, and our industry. Integration of safety into design not only changes the process but also the products. In 2010, Sikorsky received the Aerospace Industries Association Award for Worker Safety Excellence. Further investments in other ergonomics programs, fall protection programs, and elimination of risks and standards have become part of Sikorsky’s culture. This priority forms the foundation of the company’s mission statement:

“We pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere… every time™.”

The AW189 helicopter by AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is intended to fill a market niche between intermediate helicopters, such as its successful intermediate AW139 and heavy helicopters. This new class of helicopter with 16 to 18 seats represents a major investment in the offshore helicopters and has the range required to reach deep-water platforms and drilling rigs, but at a much lower cost than the larger 10-ton class machines.

Development of the AW189 has made steady progress toward certification and is expected to achieve this target on schedule in the coming months. The AW189 was launched at the Paris Air Show in June 2011, with the first prototype making its maiden flight in December 2011 ahead of schedule, followed by the sixth prototype, which conducted its own maiden flight in May 2013. Collectively, the six aircraft have now logged more than 1000 flight hours, confirming how significant this investment is by AgustaWestland.

In a typical offshore configuration, the AW189 will be able to transport 12 passengers to a radius of 200 nautical miles, 16 passengers to a radius of 140 nautical miles, and 18 passengers to a radius of 110 nautical miles, including full return fuel plus 10 percent reserves.

The AW189 is not just about performance: its safety features include the first-ever 50-minute “run dry” capable main gear box—20 minutes more than the current certification standards, giving the AW189 a leg up on both performance and safety.

Launch customers for the AW189 include major offshore operators such as Bristow Helicopters, Gulf Helicopters, ERA, Bel Air, Bond Helicopters, Weststar Aviation Services, and Azerbaijan Airlines.

The heli is compliant with Shell’s “7/7=1” helicopter safety strategy and the latest amendments of Certification Specifications/Federal Aviation Regulations Part 29; it adheres to the requirements of Performance Class 1 (or enhanced Performance Class 2) and complies to health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS), traffic collision avoidance systems (TCAS), enhanced ground proximity warning systems (EGPWS), and helicopter flight data monitoring (HFDM). The program also advocates the use of full-flight simulators (FFS) for training; a Level D FFS for the AW189 is in development and will be available soon after type certification. Several large fleet customers have already bought into this unique concept in the helicopter field by placing orders for two or all three models in the family.

AgustaWestland currently has more than 80 firm orders and options for the AW189, and is projecting opportunities for around 600 aircraft over the next 20-year period. This is a relatively conservative estimate given the success of the AW139, which was introduced in 2003 and now has a global fleet of more than 550, with a backlog of more than 200, of which 35 percent are for the oil and gas market.

These two models, together with the 4.5 ton class AW169 (to be certified in 2014), will constitute the AgustaWestland family concept of new generation helicopters. These three models are based on the same design philosophy and share several commonalities and modularity solutions in terms of components, mission capabilities, plus the latest certification and safety standards (FAR Part 29). They have advanced avionics and cockpit look and feel, with a similar approach to maintenance and training. The family concept approach allows maximized effectiveness in helicopter fleet management for operators, introducing at least two out of three types from the family. This excitement translates into a 40 percent reduction in training time for a pilot-type rating from one model to another across the family, with up to 20 percent common parts, and up to 30 percent common maintenance tools and ground support equipment. In summary, an unparalleled versatility and availability rates with operating cost reductions are the results.

A closer look at the efforts of the Texas-based air carrier Southwest Airlines (airline code: WN) reveals a robust and thriving corporate sustainability focus that has existed from the infancy of the airline. Their “green” practices include a supplier diversity program (green procurement survey) and a renewable energy program, as well as employing eco-friendly products and materials, using the Green Plane—a flying laboratory in use since 2009—and utilizing chemical management. Southwest was recognized by the EPA for their standard of green conduct with a rank of 37 on the agency’s Fortune 500 Green Power Partners in 2011. Marilee McInnis, senior manager of Culture & Communications for Southwest, notes that the airline, “began a more formal focus on sustainability in 2007, when we formed the Green Team to put a green filter on business decisions and began reporting on our efforts—first with an Environmental Stewardship for 2007, a CSR report for 2008, and then an integrated report on the triple bottom line, following GRI guidelines for 2009.”

These programs and initiatives may sound lofty to someone who doesn’t work for the company, so a closer look at some of the action items of these efforts reveals a tight focus on reducing fuel consumption, not only of being more fuel-efficient, but also of sending less emissions into the atmosphere. Southwest relies on the use of electric ground support equipment at many of their stations, routinely washes jet engines to ensure cleaner operations along with fuel and emissions efficiency, and, at the gate, WN aircraft are plugged into electricity instead of running engines to provide heat, air, and lights. Additionally, McInnis said, “Southwest employs a modern fleet, including the 737-800 carrier of the lighter, more sustainable Evolve cabin interior, and is the launch customer for the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft beginning in 2017.”

On the other side of the globe in Dubai, UAE, Emirates Airline (airline code: EK) supports the sustainability position that the “biggest difference an airline can make to the environment is in which aircraft it helps design, buy, and fly.” The average age of the Emirates fleet is approximately six years, and the airline makes a practice of purchasing fuel-efficient, more aerodynamic and lighter-constructed aircraft, such as the Airbus A380 Superjumbo. According to the airline’s website, Andrew Parker, senior vice president of Public and Environmental Affairs for Emirates, said the air carrier, “has over 200 new aircraft on order from Boeing and Airbus that will carry more people—using less fuel, creating fewer emissions, and making less noise.”

The airline credits an emphasis on more keenly planned flight paths around the globe for their savings of an annual three million kilos of fuel and ten million kilos of carbon dioxide. EK, in a move similar to Southwest, employs staff members that routinely conduct focused reviews of airliners to determine where lighter materials can be used on board to increase the fuel efficiency of their fleet. Emirates’ employees aren’t only focused on fuel efficiency, but via the airline’s “Environment” program are concentrating on how every single aspect of their day-to-day operations, in and out of the office, affect the environment.

Southwest and Emirates airlines recognize that environmental sustainability is a company-wide mindset, an effort that begins the moment an employee is hired and continues with each generation of new hires. McInnis succinctly shared, “Southwest has always been innovative, and that will continue into our next 40 years. Not every business or company can be sustainable in the same way—it has to fit with corporate objectives and make sense for the business. Efficiency is at the heart of our sustainability and environmental commitment, and there are many ways to do that.”

Keep a close eye on these sustainability leaders; they’re committed to achieving the utmost in efficiency, conservation, and environmental sensitivity.

We offer ­customized ­programs for our ­commercial and ­military ­customers,” says Steve ­Bohlman, director of Global Services and ­Support at ­Sikorsky ­Aerospace Services (SAS), the ­after­market division of ­Sikorsky ­Aircraft. “Popular with our commercial ­customers are the ­Total ­Assurance Program (TAP), the Power ­Assurance Program (PAP), and the ­Performance Based ­Logistics (PBL) ­programs for our military operators. In fact, we ­manage one of the Navy’s most ­successful PBL ­programs—ensuring ­optimal ­performance and mission readiness for the Navy’s H-60 fleet.” Bohlman goes on to say, “­Regardless of mission requirements, ­Sikorsky offers ­experience and expertise in fleet ­support that is tailored to each customer’s specific needs. International militaries can choose between programs such as TAP and PBL or a hybrid of the two. These programs incentivize the OEM to achieve higher parts availability; all have proven very popular and, most important, demonstrated results.”

The TAP and PAP maintenance assurance programs have been specifically developed in response to customers’ requirements to ­operate the fleet within a fixed, known ­budget, reducing the risks of ­extraordinary unplanned costs. Sikorsky’s TAP program covers up to 98 percent of the cost of parts ­replacement including airframe, drive train, ­gearboxes, ­avionics, and consumable parts. The ­program also covers component ­overhaul and ­repair, as well as corrective and ­preventive ­maintenance. A key enabler for TAP ­program performance is the ­analytics work ­performed at Sikorsky’s Fleet ­Management ­Operations Center (FMOC). Using fleet-wide ­operational and maintenance data, the FMOC ­applies ­proprietary algorithms, ­toolsets, and ­technologies to build custom fleet profiles—providing accurate forecasting of component demand and operational costs.

Contributing to improved aircraft ­performance as well as enhanced resale value, the TAP ­program provides customers with OEM ­approved parts manufactured to the ­latest drawings—backed by Sikorsky’s stringent quality system and worldwide ­distribution ­network. The program includes manual ­revision services, supply of parts required to comply with mandatory service ­bulletins, and access to a parts management tool—Rotorlink. Optional services include: (1) Sikorsky’s HELOTRAC 2X™—a ­maintenance ­management program which records, ­manages, and reports essential information for enhanced fleet ­management operations; (2) transportation costs for both inbound and outbound parts shipment; and (3) spare parts consignment—allowing customers to store parts at their own facilities.

Similar to TAP, the PAP is geared toward ­operators who wish to take advantage of the assurance program, but choose to limit the coverage to the major drive train ­components. PAP covers the repair overhaul of main, intermediate, and tail gear boxes. With a 90 percent enrollment rate among S-76® operators, PAP is now being developed for S-92® customers.

The TAP and PAP programs are uniquely ­configured to meet the needs of worldwide commercial and military operators of S-76, S-92, and S-70 helicopter platforms. Sikorsky works one-on-one with each customer before the aircraft sale and performs a complete analysis of fleet and mission profiles. Factors such as aircraft location, mission, utilization, and contract period have an important role in determining the price-per-flight hour rate of TAP and PAP. By using a rigorous method of calculating the hourly rate and working ­closely with each operator to define their unique needs and requirements, SAS helps each customer make the best decision on ­securing the optimal support and service solution.

More than 100 S-76 operators have ­chosen one of Sikorsky’s assurance programs. In ­missions ranging from VIP to offshore oil, ­airline transport to EMS, TAP and PAP ­customers benefit from ease of budgeting, including planning and forecasting. Also, customers benefit from improved operations, including capability of detailed planning of overhauls and guaranteed parts availability in the shortest time.

In fact, existing TAP and PAP customers ­recommend Sikorsky assurance programs to other operators. Approximately 98 percent of S-92 fleet flying hours are enrolled in TAP. A one-stop solution, the S-92 TAP includes the cost per hour engine support program from General Electric. This translates into cost ­savings for customers who only need to contract with SAS instead of two different manufacturers. Operators have the advantage of the state-of-the-art technology available on the aircraft, such as the Health and Usage Monitoring system, applying the best in class fleet management processes and leveraging the OEM experience—Sikorsky is redefining support.

The programs have proven so popular that one of the largest operators of the S-92 ­helicopter for offshore oil, The Bristow Group, recently announced the 10-year renewal of its current standing TAP contract for its fleet of S-92 helicopters. The deal is valued at $840 million.

Concludes Sikorsky’s Bohlman: “Both TAP and PAP, in conjunction with our Fleet ­Management Operations Center ­technology, have ­demonstrated the capability of ­simplifying the management of material l­ogistics by ­avoiding uncertainty associated with ­unpredicted and unbudgeted material costs. Expect these ­programs to gain greater traction in the ­coming years.”

Contrary to popular belief, flight by private jet is not only for the elite. Although private jets have developed the stigma of luxury in the past, business aviation is quickly becoming the only way to travel as many energy companies need to fly in and out of remote locations.

With much of today’s energy industry working in remote locations and with a growing need to transport employees and management, Ian Darnley, director of Business Development with Sunwest Aviation Ltd., is meeting that demand.

Darnley says, “The energy industry as we know it in western Canada would not exist without business aviation, as all sectors of oil and gas industry utilize this service. We are supporting the full range of activity, from initial survey as a potential investment location to construction to full-production workforce transportation. The demand is vast and all-encompassing. It’s a fascinating job because the industry has to move management, exploration, construction and production personnel to and from remote locations daily and in growing numbers.”

In the air charter business in Alberta, the majority of aircraft, are commuter and airliner type aircraft being operated by commercial charter companies and private operators. Business jets more commonly associated with private aviation cannot always carry the loads or access the smaller runways. Darnley says, “The solution is to have a diverse fleet of aircraft of all types that can meet the full range of needs that customers require often at short notice.”

Darnley explains their customized western Canadian solution. He says, “Most of the flying is conducted between the major population centers of the South such as Calgary and Edmonton, and more northern exploration and production sites in northeastern Alberta (oil sands) and northeastern BC (gas). There are dozens of site airfields all over this region, which are utilized for this work. Although many energy industry people do use commercial airlines to fly to Ft. McMurray and then travel over land to their work sites, customized charter into these sites is a necessity. The majority of flights are within North America, however it is common for Sunwest to conduct a number of trans-oceanic jet charter trips per year. With a fleet that can go anywhere in the world, Sunwest’s longest range jets can travel with 12 passengers nonstop from Calgary to continental Europe.”

For the majority of private aircraft users, charter continues to be the most flexible and cost-effective travel option. It is not a case of traveler “preference” as much as an economic necessity. The costs associated with extra time needed to travel by airline and then roadway far outweigh the efficiency benefits of moving people in and out of the job site directly and on a schedule that matches their production needs.

The main advantages of these types of trips are the access it provides to smaller airports and the ability to access multiple locations in a short period of time versus airline travel. Avoiding large commercial airline terminals and having the aircraft on your schedule versus the other way around makes flying private aircraft the new standard of efficiency—and it’s a lot more fun!

News releases on September 4, 2012, announced that Bristow Group Inc. was to purchase a minority stake in Cougar Helicopters. The investment figure announced was $250 million, which included the purchase of eight Sikorsky S-92 helicopters as well as facilities located in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, Canada. By October 4, 2012, the deal was closed.

Bristow will lease its purchased helicopters back to Cougar, and Cougar’s Kenneth Norie will continue his role as CEO and chairman. Cougar’s general manager in St. John’s, NL, Hank Williams, sees “only positive outcomes as a result of partnering with one of the industry’s leaders in helicopter transport.” He states, “With Bristow acquiring a minority interest, it will be operations as usual at Cougar Helicopters. Being partnered with Bristow does allow Cougar to have deeper access to additional aircraft and resources. Also, the ability to share the best practices between our two companies can only enhance both our operations.”

William Chiles, president and CEO of Bristow, explains that the investment is in alignment with Bristow’s vision. “Our vision is simple and straightforward: to become one global team setting the standard for excellence, growing, and succeeding together while soaring above the competition. Our investment in Cougar meets all of those criteria—we are aligned on service excellence; we are growing our ­business and building Bristow’s strategic advantage in the marketplace. Cougar has been ‘soaring above the competition’ for years.”

Bristow Group Inc. (www.bristowgroup.com) was the first civil helicopter transport company to work in the oil and gas sector. Fifty years ago, the company began providing ­helicopter ­services to the Gulf of Mexico through Air ­Logistics, which focused on servicing offshore projects in the oil and gas industry. Investing in U.K. Bristow ­Helicopters Ltd. expanded ­operations internationally. It is now the world’s leading ­offshore energy helicopter service ­provider. It transports drilling and production crews ­offshore in the U.S., Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea, and in most of the other ­major ­offshore oil-and-gas-­producing regions of the world, including Alaska, Australia, Brazil, ­Nigeria, Russia, and Trinidad.

Bristow also provides search and rescue (SAR) services and has rescued more than 7,000 ­people in the U.K. alone. Its industry-leading program, Target Zero, fosters a safety culture and has resulted in Bristow achieving the ­industry’s best safety record. The Target Zero program includes Target Zero Accidents, Target Zero Downtime, and Target Zero ­Complaints (http://www.bristowgroup.com/clients/target-zero/). The Target Zero program also includes zero harm to the environment. With above industry average compliance rates, Bristow aims to reduce its carbon footprint and has implemented several initiatives to achieve this. Bristow demonstrates its value of safety not only internally, but through its Corporate ­Social Responsibility program, Bristow Uplift. Its intention is to make social investments, build community ­relationships, and create long-term value for business.

Chiles emphasizes Bristow’s commitment to safety and the alignment to Cougar’s safety pledge. “Bristow’s commitment to Target Zero safety is our first Core Value, and nothing we do will ever have a higher priority. We have worked with Cougar previously and find them to be an exceptional operator. I believe we are culturally and operationally aligned when it comes to safety, quality, and service. Bristow has achieved an industry-leading safety record by setting the highest standards and relying on dedicated teams around the world to meet those standards. That’s not going to change.”

In addition to offshore crew transport and SAR, Bristow offers helicopter maintenance and pilot training through Bristow Academy. Bristow’s company values of safety, quality, integrity, fulfillment, teamwork, and profitability are in alignment with Cougar, which eases the adjustment necessary in such an acquisition.

Cougar Helicopters (www.cougar.ca) ­began its offshore helicopter services in Nova ­Scotia in 1984 and today transports ­personnel to ­offshore locations. It began servicing ­Newfoundland in 1997 with its first offshore flight to the ­Hibernia platform. Cougar is now Canada’s largest ­helicopter service provider for the offshore oil and gas industry in Atlantic Canada and the ­Arctic, with a secondary role providing search and rescue services to offshore ­operators. Its parent company, VIH Aviation Group Ltd. (www.vih.com), is a group of privately-held ­aviation businesses providing general aviation services to Canada since 1955 and ­internationally since 1986.

Like Bristow, Cougar has a safety focus; its safety management system comprises ­aviation safety, health safety, and ­environment ­management. Its commitment is to the people employed and transported, and is ­demonstrated by its goal to eliminate hazards that can cause an accident or incident. Williams adds, ­“Cougar’s vision is, and has always been, to ­provide safe and efficient service to our ­customers. ­Partnering with an industry leader like Bristow will no doubt enhance these ­services. It is very evident that Cougar Helicopters and Bristow share similar corporate values and our focus on safety.”

Bristow’s commitment to ­Target Zero safety is our first Core Value, and nothing we do will ever have a higher priority.

This investment meets Bristow’s mission to ­expand business and extend horizons. ­Bristow now has a significantly larger fleet in its North American Business Unit and greater access to oil and gas opportunities in a growth ­market. Chiles says, “Our investment in Cougar fits our growth strategy because we gain a strong ­foothold in the fast-growing Canadian ­exploration and production market. The fleet is a perfect fit for Bristow; we have the same core values, and the transaction is very accretive to our earnings.”

Bristow is now the world’s leading ­offshore energy helicopter service ­provider. It transports drilling and production crews ­offshore in the United States, Gulf 0f Mexico and The North Sea. Bristow also provides helicopter service in most of the other ­major ­offshore oil-and-gas-­producing regions of the world, including Alaska, Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, Russia and Trinidad.

Currently deployed throughout 26 countries, the S-92 fleet today consists of 155 helicopters with more than 443,000 fleet hours. The average customer reports availability of 96 percent.

Of these, 99 are operated by helicopter transport companies serving the offshore oil and gas sector. These include Cougar Helicopters, based in Canada and part of the VIH Aviation  Group.

Cougar also has provided search and rescue (SAR) services since 1991 to the oil and gas industry in harsh environments including Alaska, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Greenland. Cougar Helicopters is the first operator to utilize the S-92 in a SAR role.

“Our customers rely on the S-92 helicopter for their most demanding missions,” notes Robert Kokorda, vice president of sales and marketing for Sikorsky. “Offshore oil S-92 helicopters fly an estimated 80 to 110 hours per month; the high-time aircraft has more  than 12,000 flight hours to date. Safety and reliability are key factors. We have to ensure the aircraft  performs at optimal levels while we continue to enhance its value for customers.”

Sikorsky has introduced 18 new product improvements to the fleet during the past 18 months. These range from expanding the envelope with high wind rotor starts to 55 KTS to localizer
performance with vertical guidance (LPV)/dual WAAS, a system that allows a precision approach with vertical guidance into airfields without an instrument landing system (ILS).

Coming soon is a rig approach safety enhancement system that provides the ability to conduct fully coupled, GPSbased approaches to offshore platforms in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), using waypoints virtually connected to the destinations. Sikorsky has made a considerable investment to design, flight test, and certify this capability. The system integrates the latest FMS and GPS technology with next-generation flight control and avionics management algorithms, as well as special software and equipment.

Sikorsky’s aftermarket division, Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS), is also changing the way aircraft are supported. In addition to dedicated product support teams that provide 24-hour aircraft on ground (AOG) and customer service engineering support, SAS established its Fleet Management Operations Center (FMOC), which monitors the health of  the S-92 fleet in near real-time. As customers look to lower the maintenance man-hours on their aircraft, SAS is moving toward condition-based maintenance. Increasingly, maintenance is determined by how operators fly their aircraft versus the hours they have flown. The FMOC, which monitors virtually the entire worldwide S-92 fleet, is central to this approach.

Based in Trumbull, Conn., the FMOC is a collaborative endeavor among Sikorsky teams from safety, analytics, engineering, support technology, customer service, and material support. The FMOC compiles and analyzes data across the full spectrum of aircraft operations, from in-flight monitoring, maintenance environment, and warehouse inventory which it receives from the S-92 fleet. Working with industry and regulatory partners, Sikorsky uses the data to identify opportunities to improve aircraft and component performance. The FMOC has helped reduce overall operating costs by focusing on several key areas, such as part life extension, increasing part reliability, and reducing repair costs. Some key examples:

• Main rotor hub life extended from 4,900 to 9,000 flight hours.
• Use of HUMS data to extend the life of the main rotor hub based on actual usage.
• Improved reliability parts for complicated rotor ice protection system (RIPS).

Sikorsky knows the operators of its S-92 fleet count on the safety and reliability of the aircraft to accomplish the most demanding of missions. Through continuous improvement and innovative support, Sikorsky works to ensure the S-92 helicopter remains the leader in the OOGS and SAR categories.

There’s a familiar sighting in the skies of the beautiful, but rugged, North Atlantic. Cougar Helicopters fleet of aircraft have been providing helicopter support services to the offshore oil and gas industry in this region for the past 20 years.

Commenced Operations

Incorporated in 1984 in Nova Scotia, Cougar commenced operations shuttling passengers between the airport and downtown Halifax. A lot has changed since that time! Cougar entered the offshore oil and gas industry in 1990 with a support contract in Gijon, Spain, and later that same year returned home to Nova Scotia to begin flying for the oil industry in
Atlantic Canada.

With the signing of the HMDC contract in 1995, operations began off the coast of Newfoundland & Labrador and shortly thereafter, a new purpose-built facility was constructed at the St. John’s Airport. It is from this facility that today Cougar oversees its geographically-diversified fleet of 16 heavy and medium aircraft for the offshore oil and gas industry.

Cougar’s current fleet is comprised of nine Sikorsky S92 helicopters, six Sikorsky S61s and one Sikorsky S76. Cougar introduced the Sikorsky S92 helicopter to
its fleet in the summer of 2005. In September 2010,just six years after the S-92® helicopter entered into service globally, Sikorsky Aircraft announced the worldwide fleet had reached a quarter-million flight hours, a record pace for a commercial fleet of Sikorsky helicopters.

Cougar’s highest time S-92 has accumulated more than 5,000 flight hours since its introduction in 2005. Hank Williams, Cougar Helicopters General Manager, stated “with its ongoing operations and with new markets and opportunities emerging, we anticipate that Cougar’s flight hours will continue at this pace”.

As a matter of interest, the all-time high air time S-92 aircraft, operated by Bristow Norway AS in the North Sea since January 2005, has flown more than 9,000 flight hours.

Eight helicopter service companies serving the offshore oil and gas industry worldwide are responsible for 90 percent of those total flight hours — flying 75 of the 117 in-service S-92 aircraft, says Sikorsky, which tracks fleet usage from its Fleet Management Operations Center in Trumbull, Connecticut.

Globally, these eight service providers of the S-92, fly crews to offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea, Greenland, the waters around Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Brazil, Australia, Malaysia and China. The Cougar logo proudly flies in five of these regions.

Sikorsky first helicopter in its class

Sikorsky Aircraft explains that the S-92 helicopter was the first helicopter in its class certified to the latest FAA/JAA standards. It has become a favorite of the offshore oil and gas industry because of its power, endurance and speed, low noise, a large 19-passenger cabin with large 18.4 inch wide by 21.5 in. high jettisonable windows, a rear ramp that allows easy passenger entry/exit and fast baggage handling, and the ability to carry full loads to platforms in tough environmental conditions at ranges up to 476 nautical miles.

Other attributes cited include the spacious cockpit with excellent exterior visibility, and modern avionics with sunlight/night-readable displays.

Outside the offshore oil and gas industry, the S-92 performs search and rescue off the Scotland coast, utility missions in the Middle East, and head of state transport for the leaders of several nations. Sikorsky has kept the S-92 fully modernized with emerging technologies, among them improvements to the rotor deicing system, noise reduction, new capabilities for the Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS), and enhanced communications and fault detection systems.

The Sikorsky Fleet Management Operations Center

The Sikorsky Fleet Management Operations Center (FMOC) monitors all operational S-92 aircraft in 21 countries. Data analysis enables the FMOC to identify trends, predict material requirements, and recommend cost savings and maintenance reductions — ensuring that every S-92 benefits from the experience of the entire fleet. To date, FMOC data and analysis has identified more than 30 percent direct operating cost savings associated with reliability, supportability and price improvements. Completed projects include extending or eliminating the life limits of many S-92 components, including the main rotor blade, tail rotor blade and the horizontal stabilator. Additional FMOC data was used to move the major 1,250-hour inspection to 1,500 hours.

Cougar, with the ongoing support of Sikorsky and its FOMC, provides a diverse range of services for its oil and gas customers: Passenger movements, search and rescue (SAR), heli-deck surveys and offshore aerial construction.

Cougar’s SAR services provide dedicated helicopters and crew for emergency response and medical evacuations. Cougar Helicopters was the first operator, civilian or military, to utilize the S-92 aircraft in this role.

Cougar Helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft have a shared commitment to safety and service for the offshore oil and gas industry. Hank Williams told Oil and Gas Magazine “Cougar’s focus is on meeting the needs of its customers with safety being the first and foremost consideration. My commitment to all Cougar’s customers is to strive for continuous improvement in safety and service.”

Gladstone Aerospace Corporation and their Newfoundland-based operation, Gladstone Systems Solutions, have been working closely with Cougar Helicopters for the past two years to assist with key technology development programs. Cougar has an advanced approach towards challenging flight operations. They have implemented a methodical approach that leverages core expertise to implement safe and efficient operations.

Background

Cougar Helicopters Inc. is Canada’s premier offshore oil and gas helicopter service provider with permanent facilities in St. John’s and Halifax, supporting the oil and gas fields off the coast of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Currently, Cougar Helicopters operates a fleet of Sikorsky S92, S61 and S76 and Augusta Westand 139 helicopters, offering customers first class service and a safety record second to none.

Cougar utilizes their fleet daily flying along the North Atlantic Coast, an area that experiences some of the world’s most demanding weather conditions, including freezing precipitation.
These demanding flight conditions have required Cougar to develop in-house technical and operational strengths to support Canada’s offshore oil production. In addition, they have developed new methods and equipment for marine search and rescue, to implement a unique offshore helicopter service, with advanced technical knowledge in avionics, aerospace engineering and aviation human factors.

Over the past 10 years, Cougar has partnered with Government, Academic and Industry Players to field an operationally proficient company and technically competent people. Working diligently with start-ups, mid-size companies and multinationals to incorporate unique technical solutions into their operations, Cougar is committed to the safety and efficiency of transporting personnel to offshore installations.

The Dispatch and Passenger Control-Advanced Command and Control Systems

Using a series of software applications, satellite communications and experienced operators, Cougar has implemented a state-of-the-art civilian command and control system at the St. John’s Airport. Through this system, Cougar knows the state and location of their passengers and aircraft at any point in time. This advanced system allows key senior flight personnel to communicate with all line pilots through home base communication systems and portable systems such as blackberries and cell phones.

Extended Range of Operation

Through advanced research and development conducted in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Cougar has developed a turn-key solution for extending the range of their S-92 fleet. This unique patented solution has launched an internal research and development program that involves government, academia and industry. This is an example of Cougar’s internal capacity to conduct advanced research and commercialize that advanced internal R&D into real operational solutions that increase the safety and efficiency of their offshore operations.

New Cockpit Technologies for Penetrating: Poor Weather Conditions

Cougar Helicopters has lead the definition and design of a new cockpit technology for penetrating poor weather. This visionary R&D program lead by Cougar Helicopters involved assembling a national team of experts from academia, industry and government. Working closely with their client base and key stakeholders, Cougar has launched an advanced cockpit technologies, program that will broadly serve the safety and efficiency of their operations.

Synthetic Training Technologies – Innovative Approaches Towards Training

Cougar, like other aerospace companies in the sector, is currently facing acute shortages of highly qualified personnel that have been exacerbated by “grey-out”, whereby older experienced workers are retiring and critical knowledge is not being effectively transferred to the younger workforce. In addition, traditional approaches to training do not exploit the aptitudes of newer trainees who have been raised with computers and virtual games. Cougar has identified a need to enhance their use of synthetic and virtual training technologies by advancing their internal training programs. Tailoring simulator technologies to the unique requirements of their offshore operations, Cougar has built their technical advancements on a core team of training expertise, resident in the organization.

Safety – A Cultural Imperative: Core Expertise and Technology Adaptation

Mr. Ken Norie, President and CEO of VIH Aviation Group of Companies and owner of Cougar Helicopters, has established a corporate culture of adapting advanced technologies on a foundation of core operational expertise. Mr. Norie’s cultural imperative of “No Compromise” is that “No operation or business opportunity, either new or ongoing should ever compromise safety or unduly affect our accepted levels of risk. This is evident in all of Cougar’s technical and operational programs in which Cougar has recruited a cadre of highly-trained experts with years of experience. This experience is furthered with additional training, and has advanced this subject matter by creating partnerships with industry, academia and government. Cougar follows these three steps as a matter of process in adapting new technologies into their offshore operations.

Operational Experts and Technical Leader

Cougar is one of the advanced subject matter experts in adapting technology to their unique requirements. They continue to demonstrate thought and technology leadership coupled with tactical expertise to safely integrate technologies into their operations. These strengths have come into play in supporting Canada’s first offshore oil production and pioneering new methods and equipment for marine search and rescue. Every new contract is a challenge – to advance innovatively and continually improve every standard and every area of their operations. On the cutting edge of technology development and innovation, Cougar continues to be an important player to watch in the days to come.