One of Northwestern Europe’s largest offshore heliport renovated
Following extensive work, the partly renovated platform of Den Helder Airport was officially reopened, today. Thanks to the renovations, as well as existing helicopter flights, Den Helder Airport is now better equipped for passenger transport to European offshore cities and windfarms in the North Sea.
“Thanks to renovation of the platform, over the next few years we will be better able to serve new growth markets, thereby considerably strengthening our position as the international centre for offshore activities in the North Sea. We aim to become the economic powerhouse for the entire region, and have announced the ambition of doubling the number of jobs on offer, over the next few years. In other words, our focus is clearly aimed at future opportunities,” explained Conny van den Hoff, Director of Den Helder Airport.
New markets
Over the next few years, Den Helder Airport aims to attract new markets. Thanks to a recently announced permit, the airport can continue to grow to 27,000 aircraft movements per year. Den Helder Airport is currently in negotiation with a number of interested providers of scheduled flight services. Scheduled and charter services (maximum capacity approx. 30 people), for example for the transport of offshore personnel from the Netherlands and abroad, including a scheduled service to Aberdeen in Scotland and Esbjerg in Denmark, are on the cards. Because of its ideal location in respect of the Southern North Sea and close collaboration with the sea and offshore Port of Den Helder, Den Helder Airport also aims to focus on helicopter transport for maintenance personnel to the ever growing number of windfarms in the North Sea.
Renovation
The extensive renovation of the three oldest aircraft hard standings, undertaken by Ballast Nedam, lasted one and a half months. The old asphalt was recycled, and reused in a durable, low-maintenance platform. The renovated surface now consists of seamless, non-permeable concrete, surrounded by new asphalt. Following the renovation, the entire platform was completed with new marker lines, so the airport once again meets the very latest requirements.
One of the largest offshore heliports
The number of aircraft movements at Den Helder Airport rose over the past few years to more than 23,000 per year. On that basis, the airport provides forty to fifty flights per day, mainly to the 130 oil, gas and service platforms in the Dutch sector of the North Sea. At present, on average 140,000 passengers, mainly offshore personnel, pass through the counters at Den Helder Airport, every year. This makes the airport in the Kop van Noord-Holland one of the largest offshore heliports in Northwestern Europe.
Capital of the North Sea
Thirty businesses, including five helicopter operators, are based at Den Helder Airport. These companies together offer 500 direct jobs. Den Helder Airport is and important economic driving force in the region, and offers indirect employment opportunities for offshore-related businesses, port-related businesses and their suppliers. Thanks to this combination of economic activities focused on the international offshore industry, and through close collaboration with the Port of Den Helder, Den Helder itself has acquired the name capital of the North Sea.
Photo credits for CHC Helicopters Netherlands. (Renovated platform Den Helder Airport)