Bristow: Charting the Skies for over Seven Decades

Bristow: Charting the Skies for over Seven Decades

By Stephen Everage, Chief Pilot & Director of Training

Bristow may not be a name widely known outside of the industry, but within the world of vertical aviation, it is celebrated for its pioneering spirit, innovation and excellence. Established in 1948 in the Alaskan tundra, Bristow has become globally synonymous with reliability and excellence in Offshore Energy Services, Government Services – particularly Search and Rescue (SAR), and the emerging Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Sector.

Bristow’s aviation services include personnel transportation, search and rescue, medevac, fixed-wing transportation, uncrewed air systems, and ad hoc helicopter services. It has customers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Dutch Caribbean, the Falkland Islands, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad, the U.K., and the U.S. The company maintains a global fleet of approximately 220 helicopters, each equipped with the latest technology to ensure safety, efficiency, and reliability in some of the most challenging environments on Earth.

For those in the Navy considering a transition to a civilian career, Bristow presents an ideal pathway. Not only does the company employ many veterans, but it offers an environment where the skills developed in the Navy can be meaningfully utilized, ensuring individuals are able to make a dynamic and impactful contribution.

“Bristow offers a unique opportunity to continue a life of service and challenge,” said Steve Everage, Bristow’s Chief Pilot, Director of Training and Naval Academy Graduate. “Whether in SAR, offshore energy, maintenance, or even the emerging field of AAM, Bristow provides a platform where military skills and experiences are not only relevant but highly valued. I encourage anyone interested to check us out.”

Bristow’s backbone: Offshore Energy Services

Offshore Energy Services has been a vital segment of the business for decades. Bristow's helicopters are not just modes of transport; they are vital connectors bridging offshore platforms with the mainland. These operations are crucial for the smooth functioning of the energy sector, transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies to remote offshore locations.

Bristow’s largest operation is on the U.S. Gulf Coast, serving numerous customers from its busiest bases in Houma and Lake Charles, Louisiana, 365 days a year. Bristow also has smaller operations in Louisiana as well as Texas and Alabama.

The company employs pilots, aviation maintenance technicians, customer service representatives, and various operational experts at its bases, while back-office support functions are located primarily out of corporate headquarters in Houston.

At its base in Galliano, Louisiana, Bristow has SAR pilots as well as technical crewmember experts such as hoist operators and rescue specialists, whose primary function is to support the company’s energy customers for offshore medical emergencies and evacuations.

Bristow uses different helicopters depending on distance and mission. The S-92 is a heavy model capable of carrying up to 19 passengers to the most remote offshore platforms. Complementing the S-92, Bristow also operates a fleet of Leonardo Helicopters' AW189 and AW139 models. These super-medium and medium twins, along with the Airbus EC135 light twin (for utility line patrol over land in places like Arkansas), are versatile for various roles.

A Lifeline in the Skies: Search and Rescue Operations

Bristow’s fastest growing sector is in Government Services, and Bristow’s SAR Operations comprise the largest segment of Government Services. Since its first SAR mission in the U.K. in 1971, Bristow has been a frontrunner, conducting well over 100,000 SAR flight hours and countless rescues with a fleet of technologically advanced helicopters equipped with SAR Automatic Flight Control Systems, Advanced Search Radar, Night Vision Imaging Systems, and more. These missions, often conducted under extreme conditions, underscore Bristow's dedication to saving lives and providing aid wherever and whenever needed.

Bristow largest presence as a provider of helicopter SAR services is in the U.K., on behalf of U.K.’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) since 2013. Bristow operates from strategically located SAR helicopter bases around the country, ready to respond to all SAR incidents for the whole of the U.K. In 2022, Bristow was awarded a £1.6 billion 10-year contract, ensuring the company’s presence well into the next decade.

One Bristow U.K. based winchman, Duncan Tripp, was awarded the prestigious 2023 Pride of Britain Emergency Services Award. He was selected from among thousands of nominations for his heroic actions on Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain, during a ferocious winter storm, where he helped save the lives of 24 people.

Bristow also provides 24/7 helicopter SAR services to the Netherlands Coastguard and Dutch Caribbean Coastguard based out of Curaçao. Most recently, Bristow won a 10year SAR contract to provide rotary and fixed-wing aviation services to the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG). Bristow will begin transitioning operations with the current provider toward the end of this year.

Excellence in Maintenance and Innovation

Bristow’s relentless focus on aviation maintenance and innovation has been a cornerstone of the company since its inception. Recognizing that the safety and reliability of its helicopters are paramount, Bristow invests heavily in maintaining its fleet. This commitment to maintenance and upgrades ensures that aircraft are safe and able to conduct their missions.

The company’s Louisiana Repair Station in Lake Charles is one example that performs repair work and routine heavy maintenance on Bristow’s aircraft to keep them safe and airworthy.

But that’s not all. Recently, the team modified two AW139 helicopters, which had been used for oil and gas crew change missions in the Gulf of Mexico, into fully configured and equipped SAR helicopters, complete with dual hoist installation, forward-looking infrared radar, night-vision goggle compliance, and Trakka searchlight installation for use by a government customer in the Caribbean.

Numerous innovations have been produced over the years, many of which have since been adopted by the regulatory authorities or by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) as industry standards. This has led to several OEM commissioning to develop systems that are incorporated into production line aircraft. A few examples include the Integrated Health & Usage Monitoring System (IHUMS), Automatic Float Deployment System (AFDS), Dual Hoist Systems for SAR aircraft, and Traffic Collision and Avoidance System (TCAS II) in partnership with Rockwell Collins, among others.

Bristow Maintenance Director, Ben Hulshoff, also a Navy veteran based in Lake Charles, reflected on his passion for aviation maintenance, having recently celebrated 20 years with Bristow. “Working the line, with my tools, on various aircraft is what I’ve enjoyed the most in my career,” Hulshoff said. “I’m a mechanic at heart. I love fixing things, getting my hands on some of the most amazing machines imaginable, and learning all there is to know about them. There’s nothing like it.”

Hulshoff, like Everage, has nothing but encouragement for his fellow Sailors. “Bristow is a great place to start after leaving the Navy. Our Core Values – safety, passion, integrity, teamwork, and progress – are traits that we live by and that drive our behavior, so it’s a natural fit here.”

Looking to the Future: Advanced Air Mobility

As Bristow looks ahead, its focus on innovation continues with its foray into Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). With 75 years of flying practically every helicopter that’s been developed, Bristow is actively shaping the future of aviation, exploring quieter, more accessible, and sustainable aviation solutions.

Partners like Elroy Air, BETA and Volocopter are looking to Bristow to help develop the standards and models that will lead to successful and safe certification of urban air mobility solutions, including eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft. This venture into AAM demonstrates Bristow's commitment to staying ahead in an evolving industry, focusing on reducing environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency.

“Bristow’s journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a global leader in vertical flight solutions reflects a story of continuous growth and aspiration,” Everage said. “For those in the Navy who aim to soar beyond their current horizons, Bristow is more than a workplace; it's a destination where skills, passion, and dedication to service can continue to flourish. It truly is the beginning of a new, exciting journey, and the people here are great.”

About Bristow

To learn more about Bristow Group, please contact Stephen Everage, Chief Pilot & Director of Training, his email is stephen.everage@bristowgroup.com; or Ben Hulshoff, Director of Maintenance, at benjamin. hulshoff@bristowgroup.com or Jenna Manuel, Recruiter at jenna.manuel@bristowgroup.com.

Interested in working at Bristow? Visit Bristow’s Career Portal: https://www.bristowgroup.com/careers