AeroGulf Services has revealed that one of its helicopters has crashed into the sea off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“AeroGulf Services regrets to report that one of our Bell 212 helicopters crashed into the sea off the coast of the United Arab Emirates at 20:07 on September 7, 2023,” said a statement posted on the company’s website on Sunday .
“The helicopter was conducting routine training operations between Al Maktoum International Airport and an offshore platform,” the statement added.
“The helicopter was carrying two crew members and no passengers on board. Unfortunately, we can confirm that both crew members have died,” he continued.
In the statement, AeroGulf Services said specially trained personnel have been provided to provide support and assistance to the families and friends of the crew members.
“AeroGulf continues to work with authorities to recover the wreckage and investigate the cause of the accident,” the statement said.
AeroGulf is the first commercial helicopter operator in Dubai, initially founded for the purpose of supporting Dubai Petroleum’s oil and gas operations in the Emirate of Dubai, the company said on its website.
Established in Dubai in 1976, AeroGulf Services provides customized support for helicopters on long-term, short-term, or daily/ad hoc hire in support of the oil and gas, construction, surveying, aerial photography and filming industries , air taxi, cargo/cargo lifting and medical evacuation, highlights the company’s site.
AeroGulf also continues to provide frequent and ongoing air work support for various companies and governments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, according to its site.
The business is based at Dubai World Central International Airport (Al Maktoum) near Jebel Ali and currently operates a fleet of Leonardo AW139, Bell 212 and Bell 206 helicopters, according to the AeroGulf site.
“For over 40 years, one of AeroGulf’s core activities has involved providing 24/7 professional helicopter support to the offshore oil and gas industry in the MENA region,” AeroGulf states on its site.
“365 days a year, AeroGulf provides helicopter support under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) day and night to offshore platforms, facilities and vessels. To ensure the highest quality of service, AeroGulf’s fully IFR-equipped offshore helicopter fleet is always maintained and operated to the highest international standards,” the company’s site adds.
“AeroGulf’s versatile range of leasing options allows customers to benefit from the option that best suits their regional and specific aircraft requirements, including a turnkey ACMI option with full crew, maintenance and insurance support where necessary,” the site continues, noting that AeroGulf operates. in full compliance with the current sanctions and restrictions ordered by the UN.
According to its site, AeroGulf counts several oil and gas companies among its clientele, including DanaGas, Chevron, Crescent Petroleum, Masirah Oil Limited, DNO, Dubai Petroleum.
The United Arab Emirates produced 3.364 million barrels of crude oil and condensates per day last year, according to the Energy Institute’s first and 72nd General Statistical Review of World Energy, which was released in early ‘year. That figure marked 11.5% year-on-year growth and 4.1% growth in global crude oil and condensate production by 2022, the World Energy Statistical Review showed.
Since the discovery of oil in the United Arab Emirates, the country has developed into a modern state with a high standard of living, OPEC notes on its website. The country is one of 13 members of the OPEC group, which joined in 1967.
The value of the country’s oil exports reached $54.59 billion in 2021, according to the OPEC site, which shows that the UAE’s proven crude oil reserves at that time were 111 billion barrels.
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