Oil and gas lures chopper firm to Perth
One of the world's biggest helicopter operators is moving its Australian headquarters to Perth to cash in on the massive investment in new oil and gas projects in WA's North West.
Canada's CHC Helicopters has also started a recruitment drive to boost its Australian workforce and earmarked $250 million to upgrade its aircraft and infrastructure.
Managing director of CHC's Australian arm, Rick Burt, said the group had decided to relocate its head office from Adelaide because the best growth opportunities were in oil and gas.
It has been based in Adelaide for more than 30 years.
"Historically Adelaide has been a legacy location," he said.
"We compared that to where our current operations are and where we see the growth.
"Perth stood out because oil and gas is one of the leading growth segments of our industry - mostly in the North West. It's great when you can walk five minutes to (see) most of your clients."
CHC has three divisions, with oil and gas accounting for about 50 per cent of its business. Its petroleum clients include ConocoPhilips, Royal Dutch Shell and Total.
The other divisions are air ambulance and search and rescue, where Mr Burt said there were also some growth opportunities.
The group has a helicopter fleet of about 32 in Australia and 250 worldwide, ranging from a Eurocopter AS365, which seats 11, to the Sikorsky S-92, which can carry 19.
CHC has secured premises in West Perth and hopes to start moving staff in by December. It has already opened a new hangar and office complex in Karratha.
WA has billions of dollars of offshore oil and gas projects in the pipeline, most notably Chevron's $43 billion Gorgon liquefied natural gas project and Woodside Petroleum's Pluto LNG development.
Mr Burt said CHC would have about 42 to 48 staff based in its Perth office.
He expects its Australian workforce to be close to 500 by the time the move is completed in mid-2011.
CHC employs 4300 people worldwide in 35 countries.
