The audit team consisted of representatives from several operators holding the specialist responsibility for the joint audit. The annual audit program is extensive and covers all aspects of helicopter operations within the helicopter operator.

The joint audit concept was first established in the 1980s. The audit service is supported by common guidelines and operator representation in Offshore Norge´s specialist network.

Offshore Qualific is coordinating the work on behalf of the operators on the Norwegian continental shelf.

– Through common operator requirements and standardised audit arrangements, the industry collaboration will contribute to more efficient and cost-saving work processes for both operator and supplier companies, and thereby contribute to increased value creation in the energy sector. This is aligned with our purpose as a company to strengthen work related to supplier qualification and audit services, says Svein Håkon Fjelltun, CEO in Offshore Qualific.

According to the supervisory responsibility in the petroleum regulations all operators on the Norwegian continental shelf are required to verify compliance of their contracted helicopter operators to the regulations.

– Our responsibility is to see to that the supplier is in compliance with the national regulations, applicable standards, Offshore Norge´s industry guidelines and the operators contract terms, says John Arild Gundersen, audit leader from Aker BP. The industry has developed a set of common framework for auditing helicopter operators through standardised audit methods and sharing for audit data, says Gundersen.