Chopper fuel tank grounds N.L. offshore leader

A Newfoundland and Labrador union leader has stopped flying on helicopters to his offshore oil industry job to protest the presence auxiliary fuel tanks in the passenger cabin.

"The [auxiliary fuel] tank basically blocks off three windows," said CEP local 2121 president Sheldon Peddle on Monday. "It blocks off access to three windows from anybody who might try to get out through those windows."

Peddle, who represents almost 700 offshore workers, hasn't flown offshore since 17 people died when a Cougar helicopter carrying oil industry workers crashed into the ocean east of St. John's on March 12.

Peddle said he was put on a no-fly list by his employer because Cougar could not provide him with a survival suit that fit properly. He has since been provided with a custom-made survival suit but is still not flying because of concerns about the auxiliary fuel tanks.

"It's a purely economic consideration that these auxiliary tanks are in the passenger cabin," said Peddle.

Peddle said without these tanks, the Cougar helicopters might have to reduce the number passengers each helicopter carries on offshore flights.

Concerns about the auxiliary fuel tank in the Sikorsky S-92A helicopters used by Cougar were raised when the sole survivor of last March's crash, Robert Decker, testified Nov. 5 at the ongoing commission of inquiry into offshore helicopter safety in St. John's.

Decker said he was fortunate to be sitting near a window when the helicopter crashed. He testified that he believed the auxiliary fuel tank in the passenger area of the helicopter could make it difficult for people to escape from a chopper after a crash.

Peddle said he is willing to travel to work by offshore supply boats or helicopter, as long as an auxiliary fuel tank is not located in the passenger cabin.