The Airbus Helicopters AS.332 L2 Super Puma is a twin-engined medium-weight
transport helicopter for up to 2 crew and 22 passengers powered by two
Turboméca Makila 1A1 turbine engines. The SNIAS SA.332 Super Puma was
derived from the SA.330 Puma, that flew first on 15 April 1965 under
Sud-Aviation banner. On 1 January 1970, Sud-Aviation merged with a
number of other French aerospace companies to form SNIAS (Société
Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale). Development of the AS.332 Super
Puma with more powerful engines and an enhanced rotor system started in
the late 70s. On 7 September 1977, the Makila-powered test-bed prototype
SA.331 c/n 001 F-WZAT, the modified SA330 B Puma c/n 1541, flew first.
The first production standard Super Puma, AS332-01 F-WZJA, was flown on
13 September 1978. On 1 February 1980, the AS332 C flew first, followed
by the AS332 L version (L for long) on 10 October. SNIAS AS 332L Super
Puma was certificated in 1983. From 1984, SNIAS operated under the name
of Aérospatiale. The Super Puma is in use in several military and
civilian roles. In 1990, the military Super Puma designations were
changed from AS332 to AS532 Cougar to distinguish between the civil and
military variants of the helicopter. The helicopter divisions of MBB
from Germany and Aérospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form
the Eurocopter Group. As a result of the merger between the Eurocopter parents Aérospatiale-Matra; DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA)
and Construcciones Aeronàuticas Sociedad Anonima (CASA) in July 2000, the Eurocopter group became a division of the new formed
EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space company). New Eurocopter designations for the further developed
helicopters based on the AS332L series were added: EC 225 Super Puma
(civilian versions) and EC 725 Cougar (military versions). Taking off into 2014, EADS was rebranded as "Airbus Group". Uniting
all its activities under a single brand, its helicopter division Eurocopter was rebranded as Airbus Helicopters on 8 January 2014.
On 7 July 1999, the 1999-built Eurocopter AS332L2 s/n 2500 was registered LN-ONI in Norway with Norsk Helikopter AS, Sola, as operator and
Heliair Leasing Ltd., as owner. On 11 June 2007, the Norsk Helikopter' AS332L2 Super Puma II LN-ONI was on its way to a offshore drill
platform, but due to the fog the "NOR220" diverted to Groningen Airport Eelde in the Netherlands. In April 2009, Bristow Norway AS, Sola, was
registered as operator and BriLog Leasing, Cayman Islands, was registered as owner of AS332L2 Super Puma II LN-ONI.
On 8 July 2010, registration LN-ONI was cancelled after the Super Puma
was transferred to Bristow Nigeria.
Norsk Helikopter AS was established in 1993 as a helicopter operator
providing helicopter transport on the Norwegian continental shelf. 51% of the shares were owned by
the Ugland family in Grimstad. The remaining 49% of the shares were owned by
Bristow Group. On 27 October 2008, Bristow Helicopters announced that it had entered
into an agreement to acquire the remaining 51% from joint owners of Norsk Helikopter.
In April 2009, Norsk Helikopter AS was renamed Bristow Norway AS. Bristow Norway AS operates
as a subsidiary of Bristow Helicopters Ltd. Bristow Norway AS is a Norwegian company based at
Stavanger Airport, Sola. Next to Stavanger, Bristow Norway has bases in Bergen, Bronnoysund and Hammerfest and provides
offshore helicopter transport and search and rescue services to clients in the energy sector.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
