Rotorcraft
Bristow Growing in Operations and Training Fields
Bristow operates a fleet of more than 550 aircraft, has 3,300 employees in 20 countries and in a typical week operates some 6,200 flights and carries more
Bristow’s helicopter fleet ferries people and materials to and from oil rigs, vessels and gas platforms in the world’s major oil markets.
Bristow’s helicopter fleet ferries people and materials to and from oil rigs, vessels and gas platforms in the world’s major oil markets.

What does whale oil have in common with deep-water oil and gas production? If you’re talking about the history of Bristow Group, quite a lot. In 1953, Alan Bristow, a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot, founded a company called Air Whaling, that specialized in spotting whales for company factory ships. His experience landing helicopters on a ship’s aft deck in all kinds of weather gave him a considerable advantage as he pursued another promising business opportunity, ferrying men and materials to and from oil rigs in the North Sea. Consequently, in 1955, with a contract to service Shell Oil’s company rigs, he founded Bristow Helicopters.