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EDITION

APRIL 2013 | VOLUME 16

16

THE REGIONAL AIRPORT OF NORTH-HOLLAND-NORTH

new supervisory board members introduced Jaap Bakker and Dé Jansen joined the supervisory board of Den Helder Airport on behalf of CHC Helicopter Services in October of last year. Both can be proud of their vast knowledge and experience gained in the aviation sector: Jaap Bakker primarily in the commercial and financial area and Dé Jansen more on the operational side. He is also very familiar with the Den Helder region.

Dé Jansen (left) and Jaap Bakker joined the Supervisory Board of Den Helder Airport on behalf of CHC. (Photo: PAS Publicaties)

Jaap Bakker lives in Rotterdam

Manager in Asia.” He would

Rotterdam. This was a very

and is the older of the two

continue to work there until

instructive period, but after five

supervisory board members.

Fokker's bankruptcy in 1996.

years I decided to return to

After studying Economics at the

Subsequently, Jaap Bakker was

aviation and went to work for

University of Amsterdam, he

briefly responsible for the

Schreiner in Hoofddorp.

went straight into the aviation

commercial settlement of

sector. “I landed a job at aircraft

Fokker's assets. “After that I

manufacturer Fokker. I started

switched to the naval sector,

there selling aeroplanes and was

where I went to work as

able to work my way up to Sales

Marketing Manager at ECT in

FOREWORD

FOREWORD

When this edition of the Den Helder Airport Newsletter comes out, spring will have arrived. However, we would like to take a brief look back on 2012. A turbulent year, with as absolute highlight the conclusion of a ten-year joint use agreement with the Ministry of Defence, which ensures the continuity of and thereby also employment at Den Helder Airport and Naval Air Station De Kooy for a longer period of time. Furthermore, in December, based on the Nature Conservation Act, a new permit was issued, with 1 January 2013 as the commencement date. Based on this permit, Den Helder Airport can make 27,000 flight movements for large planes and 5,000 for small planes annually as of that date. The current Defence decision is still based on a maximum of 25,000 flight movements, but we will be working together on expanding that to 27,000 per year. Not that we need it right away, but it is important to look ahead. A new record was also set last year since as many as 141,260 passengers passed our counters, surpassing our old record of 130,000. Another highlight was the highly successful Heldair Show Maritiem 2012. This joint open day of Den Helder Airport and Naval Air Station De Kooy attracted some 30,000 visitors on Saturday, 15 September. News from 2013 is that the expansion of Hangar 5 was officially put into use as of 1 January. A start was also made with the expansion of the large car park for passenger cars by 165 additional spaces and a start will soon be made on the construction of a new underground fuel installation for helicopters and aeroplanes. In this newsletter, Base Manager Pieter Broos of Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen talks about this Belgian helicopter operator that has been flying from Den Helder Airport for oil company Wintershall Noordzee as of recently. Other interviews were conducted with Dé Jansen and Jaap Bakker, the recently appointed members of the Supervisory Board on behalf of CHC Helicopter Services, and Kees-Jan de Waal of NOORDWEST Services & Security, a company active at the airport. Finally, Brenda Tax and Linsey van der Spree talk about how they manage to hold their own in the offshore world. If you would still like more information about us after reading this newsletter, I cordially invite you to visit Den Helder Airport. Of course, all information and news can also be found on our website: www.denhelderairport.nl Conny van den Hoff Directeur www.facebook.com/denhelderairport @dha_info Luchthavenweg 10A, 1786 PP Den Helder, The Netherlands Phone: +31 223 63 56 66 | Fax: +31 223 66 08 92 Internet: www.denhelderairport.nl E-mail: [email protected]

- continued on page 2 -

1

new supervisory board members introduced

(CONTINUATION)

”Both supervisory directors speak

new, large branch somewhere in

offshore industry in and around

activities in Den Helder are

the world, Den Helder Airport

Den Helder an extra boost.”

declining further, you have to

with pride about Den Helder Airport.”

often serves as a model.”

seize the opportunities that the

Jaap Bakker has this to say about

Offshore mission

offshore sector has to offer.” Jaap

the scheduled service that was

Both Jaap Bakker and Dé Jansen

Bakker concludes: “Greater

discontinued: “Despite the

agree that Den Helder Airport

efforts will have to be made to

disappointment about the very

will be able to focus on the

attract offshore companies to

brief existence of the scheduled

offshore industry for many years

Den Helder. Both the seaport and

My last job there was as Business

representatives were appointed

service between Den Helder and

to come. They also agree that

the airport are driving forces of

Unit Leader of one of the three

supervisory director as of

Norwich we will also continue to

the airport and the seaport

economic growth. In short, the

divisions of the company, which

1 October 2012. The

work on achieving a regular

complement each other

mission is offshore. As super-

had been taken over by CHC in

Supervisory Board at Den

scheduled connection with Great

perfectly. Dé Jansen believes that

visory directors, we not only have

the meantime. For that job, I was

Helder Airport has four

Britain, in which our preference

the privatisation of the

a supervisory task, but where

engaged in activities in Eurasia

members. The municipality of

would be Aberdeen. Such a

municipal port authority is a

possible we will also advise on

and later in Africa as well. I

Den Helder and CHC each

connection would give the

good thing. “Now that the naval

how to succeed in this mission.”

recently stopped working there.”

have a 50-percent interest in

Dé Jansen was born in Belgium

Den Helder Airport and

but has Dutch nationality. At the

therefore, they may each

age of 18, he enrolled in the

provide two supervisory

Royal Netherlands Naval

directors. The Supervisory

College (KIM) in Den Helder.

Board meets an average of four

The Royal Netherlands Navy

times a year in Den Helder.

would remain his employer for

When asked about their

15 years. After a period at the

specific input, Jaap Bakker

Mine Service, Dé Jansen

replies that he is mainly

acquired a job at the

involved with commercial and

Netherlands Naval Air Service

financial matters. Dé Jansen

(MLD). “At De Kooy, I did my

says in turn: “In addition to my

flight training with Squadrons 7

operational knowledge,

and 860. After that, I worked as

I am also very familiar with the

1st and 2st pilot, performed SAR

Den Helder region. Since I

operations and served as a

worked here at the Royal

carrier pilot on naval surface

Netherlands Navy as well as

vessels.” After his departure from

CHC, I also know my way

the Royal Netherlands Navy, he

around Den Helder Airport.

worked at the ANWB Medical

And in the past, Airport

Air Assistance for five years.

Director Conny van den Hoff

“I flew on the trauma helicopter

had me closely involved in

there. I then worked for three

handling the notices of appeal

years as an inspector pilot for

and objection for the

the Transport, Public Works and

expansion in the number of

Water Management

flight movements.” Both

Inspectorate. In 2005 I made the

supervisory directors speak

switch to CHC.” Dé Jansen was

with pride about Den Helder

stationed at Den Helder Airport

Airport. They are proud of the

and ultimately appointed

public-private collaboration

Manager Flight Operations.

and the successful

“I worked in this position at Den

infrastructure of the airport.

Helder Airport until 2010.” After

Dé Jansen: “In terms of

another year as Business Unit

heliports specifically designed

Leader at the CHC office in

for the offshore oil and gas

England, Dé Jansen was

industry, this is one of the

appointed Director Flight

world's best. Truly tailor-made.

Standards. “I've been doing this

It is also unusual that five

work for the head office in

helicopter operators work here.

Vancouver for about two years.

Basically, they are each other's

I travel all over the world, but I

competitors, who all make use

still have a workplace at CHC in

of the same facilities and

Den Helder, which has always

cooperate operationally as well.

remained my place of

Sometimes foreign operators

residence.”

come here to look at how Den

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Helder Airport designed the Role model

passenger building and how it

Formally, both CHC

is used. And when CHC opens a

2

noordwest services & security:

growth and investments in quality It's been about two years since Kees-Jan de Waal took over the security and surveillance tasks at Den Helder Airport with the company he founded, NOORDWEST Services & Security. Since then, the young company has undergone remarkable growth and has successfully passed an intensive certification process. And the Security Hallmark was acquired, as icing on the cake.

It is certainly remarkable that a start-up company has experienced strong growth in these times of global recession. Kees-Jan de Waal has this to say about it: “In April 2011, we started at Den Helder Airport with twelve people. Since then, we have been able to attract eight new clients plus a number of clients for which we perform ad hoc work. We now have 28 employees in our workforce. We provide property protection, reception and concierge services, and ISPS security (security of ships and port facilities), among other things. Besides the province of North Holland, we

Photo: F.l.t.r. Kees-Jan de Waal, Sander van der Kooi, Kirsten Tokaya and Leo de Jong.

are also active in the province

We would like to distinguish ourselves

of Friesland, including the areas where gas is drilled.”

and see it as an investment

Early this year, the company achieved a real milestone by

for the future.

receiving the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001 certificates. “We already had

I am very pleased that we now

future. A quality improvement

the necessary experience with

carry this quality label. We would

not only within our own

the ISO 9001 quality

like to distinguish ourselves and

organisation, but certainly for our

management system, which

see it as an investment for the

current and future clients as well.”

stands for quality of service and assurance of that quality. As a young and ambitious

And since we also work with

demonstrate the quality of the

company, however, we also

international companies, that fits

company. Kees-Jan de Waal: “In

wanted to show our clients

in well. We therefore opted to

January of this year, we were

that we take the work on the

link and integrate the systems.

audited for the Security quality

other certificates for quality,

That makes it all more workable

mark. This is a quality mark

working conditions, safety,

and cuts red tape and reduces the

developed by the Dutch

environment and Corporate

burden of documentation.”

Association of Private Security Organisations (VPB). Also within

Social Responsibility seriously. We started in August of last

Quality Mark

the framework of self-regulation,

year. The ISO 14001 system is

NOORDWEST Services & Security

the initiative was taken to

linked to the ISO 9001 system

has appointed its own quality

achieve a quality mark for

and specifically focuses on

manager who checks and

security organisations. This

environmental aspects. OHSAS

monitors the processes and links

quality mark is the next step in

18001 focuses on working

it to the current situation. In

the professionalisation of the

conditions and safety and is

addition to the certification,

sector and promotion of the

internationally recognized.

another hurdle was taken to

quality level.

43

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new helicopter operator at den helder airport Starting on 1 January of this year, Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) from Oostende has been flying for Wintershall Noordzee from Den Helder Airport. The Belgian helicopter operator moved into Hangar 5, which was recently expanded with a number of modern office and warehouse areas. As Base Manager here, Pieter Broos manages NHV's operations and feels right at home at the airport in Den Helder.

Pieter Broos studied Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology, for which he also did an internship at NHV. He enjoyed this first introduction, which would be followed up at a later stage. “I did my graduation project at Eurocopter in southern France. It was fantastic to look around at this helicopter manufacturer for an entire year and it was also a golden opportunity to perfect my French.” After his study, Pieter went to work for NHV. A company that currently employs some 340 people and flies with 26 helicopters in nine countries. At the beginning of last year, the company placed an order for ten EC175 helicopters at Eurocopter. This is an entirely new type of helicopter, for which two prototypes are being intensively

Base Manager Pieter Broos enjoys working for NHV at Den Helder Airport.

tested at the moment. When the first commercial versions of these helicopters come on the market at the end of this year,

”What I like about Den Helder Airport is the openness and straightforwardness of the other companies.”

three will be stationed at Den Helder Airport. Sixteen passengers can be transported with this type of helicopter. “We are now flying for Wintershall Noordzee with one EC155 B1

are higher than two metres,

Belgium. “We have been active in

Platform hopping

and straightforwardness of the

and two AS332 L2 Super Puma

helicopters are deployed instead

the oil and gas sector since 2004”,

Pieter Broos says the work for

other companies. You

helicopters. Twenty-five people,

of pilot boats.” After the Pilotage

Pieter continues. “We started with

Wintershall is pretty demanding

immediately know what you´re

including 12 pilots, work at Den

Services in Belgium, the Dutch

a number of short-term contracts

and challenging. “It is an entirely

up against. That's typically

Helder Airport for NHV. And

Pilotage Services also called on

that were carried out from

new experience for us. It´s not

Dutch.”

when all the new job vacancies

the expertise of NHV, particularly

Norwich, among others. That

just a question of flying to a

The contract with Wintershall

are eventually filled, we will have

for transferring pilots on seagoing gave us the opportunity to

platform, dropping people off

Noordzee will be valid for five

37 people working here.”

vessels that call in at Rotterdam.

acquire our first experiences in

and immediately flying back

years. Pieter expects that other

But in the event of calamities at

this sector. Shortly afterwards, we

again. We go to a whole series of

companies that are also active

Offshore experiences

sea, SAR flights are also made at

received a large contract in

platforms, one after the other, to

in the Dutch sector of the

When asked how NHV evolved,

night from Rotterdam. The

Ghana. This enabled us to win the drop people off or pick them up.

Pieter replies: “After its founding

company is also very active with

confidence of the larger oil and

We do an average of five flights a

services of NHV. “We have

in May 1997, we started with the

medical flights in northern

gas companies in Europe. Two

day. On Mondays and Fridays

already been approached by

transfer of pilots on seagoing

France and in the Ardennes and

years ago we made a number of

somewhat more than on other

various parties and I am very

vessels that had to go to

since recently there have been

ad-hoc flights from Den Helder

days. What I like about Den

curious to see how this will

Antwerp. Especially if the waves

flights to offshore wind farms in

Airport.”

Helder Airport is the openness

develop.”

4

North Sea will make use of the

donations for charities What a pleasant surprise for Jannemieke van Donkelaar of the Present Foundation and Bianca Weller-van Koningsveld of the ALS op de weg! Foundation, who each received a EUR 2,000 cheque. It was a nice sum of money for both foundations that the organizers of Heldair Show Maritiem 2012 had left over to donate to charities, thanks to very tight budgeting.

”Our foundation offers practical assistance to people suffering from the muscle disease ALS.” F.l.t.r.: Lieutenant-Colonel Jos Bloemen, Conny van den Hoff, Jannemieke van Donkelaar, Bianca Weller and Major Jan Verest.

The cheques were presented

Verest, Deputy Director of

Station De Kooy, Lieutenant-

donation for the furnishing

foundation offers practical

on Friday, 18 January of this

Traffic Control at Naval Air

Colonel Jos Bloemen.

of 'Het Boelhuys'. This is a

assistance to people

year in the 'Tradition Room'

Station De Kooy.

The Present Foundation helps

charity shop that opened in

suffering from the muscle

of Naval Air Station De Kooy

The official presentation of

people who could use a

March at Spoorstraat 71 in

disease ALS. It intends to use

by the organizers, Director

the cheques took place under

helping hand. Jannemieke

Den Helder. Bianca Weller of

the money to purchase an

Conny van den Hoff of Den

the watchful eye of the

van Donkelaar said that the

the ALS op de weg!

electric bicycle.”

Helder Airport and Major Jan

Commander of Naval Air

foundation will use the

Foundation said: ”Our

•

In early March a start was made with the

sponsor of Sail Den Helder 2013, the great

now settled here.

sailing event that will be held in Den

In early May, BP will start renovating its

Helder, together with the Navy Days, from

Airport. A total of 165 new spaces were

underground fuel installation at Den

20 to 23 June.

created, bringing the total up to 865.

Helder Airport, from which helicopters

The expansion of Hangar 5 was officially

and fixed-wing aircraft receive their

be transporting offshore workers by

launched on 1 January of this year.

fuel. The work will take several

helicopter from Den Helder Airport to and

Helicopter operators DanCopter from

months.

from an oil rig for a period of four months.

expansion of the number of parking spaces for passenger cars at Den Helder

•

Vlaanderen (NHV) from Belgium are

Denmark and Noordzee Helikopters

•

•

Den Helder Airport has registered as a

45

•

Starting in July of this year, Tullow Oil will

WOMEN IN THE OFFSHORE

unusual job at the airport Both Brenda Tax and Linsey van der Spree work for Peterson SBS as aviation assistants at Den Helder Airport. They see it as a very unusual and dynamic job. Unfortunately, the importance of their work is sometimes underestimated.

”It is very responsible work, since a helicopter takes off with ten passengers.”

Brenda Tax (left) and Linsey van der Spree can regularly be found behind the check-in counter.

We then return to the

They are always checked one

passenger building. Upon

day before the person will be

return, we pick up the

flying. If something does not

passengers again from the

appear to be in order, we look to

helicopter.” Brenda: “We assist

see whether we can still acquire

passengers from Shell/NAM,

the missing data. If we do not

GDF SUEZ E&P Netherlands

succeed, that person is taken off

and TAQA. I´ve been doing this

the flight.” Linsey is also very

work for about six years and I

enthusiastic about her job and

still think it´s a wonderful job.

thinks it's great working with

You would be hard pressed to

helicopters.

find such an unique job with

To work as an aviation assistant,

so much variety nowadays. At

both Brenda and Linsey had to

Peterson SBS we work in a very

take a series of training courses:

nice team of about 15 people.

level 4 intermediate vocational

Once a month I´m on call for

education, a safety, health and

the weekend. We then work

environment course,

Passengers from Den Helder

information to the Operations

go-ahead for the helicopter

with three of us and take

Helicopter Landing Officer

Airport regularly see these two

department. There, everything

flight, the two women get back

everything that comes our way,

(HLO) training, a course on

working mothers behind the

is added together and checked

into action. Linsey says: “Then

including the distribution of

business Dutch and English

check-in counter of Peterson

whether everything can go

we have the helicopter loaded

survival suits and freight

and assertiveness training.

SBS in the central hall of the

along on board. The

and we call on the passengers to

handling.”

The latter is needed to

passenger building. Brenda

Operations department of CHC

pick up their survival suits and

works here four days a week,

also calculates how much fuel

to proceed to the secured area.

Strict control

passengers. Fortunately this is

alternating between the

the helicopter has to take

After watching a short safety

Linsey has been working three

something that does not occur

morning and the afternoon,

along. So it is very important

film, they can put on their suits

days a week at Den Helder

very often. Linsey also has a

while Linsey mainly works one

that the weight data we provide

and we give them a life jacket

Airport for the past eight years.

first-aid diploma, for which she

day a week on the early shift.

are extremely accurate. It is

and earplugs. We help them

One day at the check-in

takes a refresher course each

Linsey also works another two

very responsible work, since a

where necessary and check

counter and two days at the so-

year. Brenda and Linsey are

days at a different department.

helicopter takes off with ten

whether everything is on

called PSL department. “This

accustomed to working in a

Brenda: “When a passenger

passengers. And then

properly. Via Operations we then

department checks the

male environment and are

reports to our counter before a

everything has to be just right.

hear whether we can walk with

required certificates of all the

both very familiar with the

flight, we check the passport

The importance of what we do

the passengers to the waiting

people who go offshore.

offshore sector. Brenda: “My

and the place and date of birth.

is not always recognised and

helicopter. Passengers may not

Offshore workers are required

husband has been working

Both passengers and luggage

appreciated by everyone, which

proceed to the platform

to successfully complete

offshore for years and Linsey´s

are carefully weighed and

means that our work is

unsupervised. After boarding, we

certain courses and training.

father has been doing this work

noted on a manifest. This is

sometimes underestimated.”

check whether all the

But it can also involve medical

for as many as 27 years. We are

passengers are secure in their

examinations. We now know

thoroughly familiar with this

also done with freight such as

adequately deal with aggressive

tools, measuring equipment

Tight supervision

seats and give the pilot the

exactly which certificates are

world and feel right at home

and food. We pass on this

As soon as Operations gives the

manifest with all the data.

needed for each platform.

here.”

63

COLOPHON The Den Helder Airport

start of scheduled service discontinued prematurely

Newsletter is distributed in a broad circulation and is meant to inform interested parties about the activities at and around Den Helder Airport. Reproducing of parts of the content is only authorized with source indication. The content has been compiled at information. No rights can be drawn upon the content in fact.

Den Helder Airport

Photo: Bertil van Beek

Luchthavenweg 10A 1786 PP Den Helder Telephone: +31 (0)223 63 56 66 Fax: +31 (0)223 66 08 92

There was great disappointment when Loganair announced, just a week and a half after its official start, that it would be discontinuing scheduled service between Norwich and Den Helder Airport. Despite the fact that more bookings were being made after an intensive advertising campaign.

www.denhelderairport.nl [email protected]

”A direct connection offers many advantages,

There were happy faces all around on Monday, 4 March, during the official start of

Editor

scheduled service between

not only for the above-mentioned sectors but for the business and leisure market as well.”

Norwich and Den Helder PAS Publicaties Postbus 47

Airport. A service that would connect the offshore oil & gas and offshore wind energy

1760 AA Anna Paulowna

Editorial staff Paul Schaap Conny van den Hoff Debbie IJlstra Marjolein van Dam

sectors in the East Anglia and Den Helder regions. And

daily scheduled service to

including an air route with

advantages, not only for the

would also be available for

Great Britain. “We will not

Aberdeen, the Scottish

above-mentioned sectors but

short holidays to the east coast

despair, but will continue to

offshore capital. A direct

for the business and leisure

of Great Britain, for example.

look into other possibilities,

connection offers many

market as well.”

The reaction of Conny van den Hoff of Den Helder Airport says it all. “Like so many others, I had very high expectations. We recently spent a lot of time and effort in setting up this scheduled

Production

service. We noticed that thanks to the intensive

PAS Publicaties, Anna Paulowna

Creator NeverSeen, GRAPHIC ART&DESIGN

advertising campaign, more

rare bird This Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin with registration M-MMGU visited Den Helder Airport at Tuesday March 26. The helicopter registered on the British Isle of Man travelled from Lille Airport in France to Harlingen the Netherlands. After a fuel-stop at Den Helder Airport the aircraft left to ReimsPrunay Aerodrome also in France.

bookings were being made.

The Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin is one of Eurocopter's most successful and versatile aircraft and

So it was all the more

is used for many purposes

disappointing that Loganair

such as Search and Rescue

pulled the plug so quickly.

activities, coast guard, the

This kind of new scheduled

pilotage and offshore

service requires a start-up

flights.

period but unfortunately Loganair became impatient”, Print Dékavé Managing Print

according to the airport director, who incidentally still believes that Den Helder

Photo: Den Helder Airport

Airport is an ideal base for a

47

phase-out of sikorsky s-76 helicopters After the large Sikorsky S-61N helicopters stationed at Den Helder Airport were phased out by CHC Helicopters Netherlands, the same thing happened with the smaller Sikorsky S-76 helicopters at the end of last year. The first three of these aircraft - with registration PH-NZS, PH-NZW and PN-NZZ - were removed in October. The PN-NZU and PH-NZT followed in December. After that, the helicopters were transported on low-loaders to Zeebrugge, Belgium and then transferred from there by ocean-going vessel to Boundary Bay, Canada. The S-76 is a medium-sized helicopter that seats twelve passengers. It was the first aircraft that Sikorsky specifically designed for use in the civilian market, particularly for the transport of staff to and from platforms

with the construction of the

first commercial version took

more than 200 operational

Den Helder Airport was taken

offshore. After the

S-76, four prototypes were

off in 1977. The new aircraft

worldwide and in total, the

over by Agusta Westland AW139

manufacturer announced in

made, which were tested

was a great success from the

manufacturer built more than

and Eurocopter EC155

1975 that it intended to start

intensively a year later. The

very start. In 1983, there were

500. The role of the S-76 at

helicopters.

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8