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..........Bristow Base: Ecuador, S.America.

No photos for this one yet, but an excellent article
about the operations from Keith Daley.







Between 1970 and 1973, Bristow Helicopters operated from two main bases in Ecuador. Both bases were east of the Andes in the Amazonian jungle supporting a Parker air transportable drilling rig. This rig was designed to be broken down into component parts each weighing no more than 4,200 lbs, this being the max hook load for a Bell 204B.
...... I joined the operation when it was at Curaray named after the river Curaray on whose banks the camp was situated. The base was about one hours flying time (in a De Haviland Canada Carabou) from the nearest town Pastaza. We shared the camp with PHI who had the seismic survey contract over the jungle in Bell 47G4s.
.......... A typical operation would start with us winching down a party through the jungle canopy. This party would cut a clearing into which we would undersling a D6 bulldozer in pieces. When assembled, the bulldozer would clear a larger space and the rig move could start. This was the most intensive phase with flying from 6 am to 6 pm continuously with running refueling and running pilot changes. The rig, and all of its equipment would be underslung from the old rig site to the new. In addition we would have to move the huts, drill pipes casing, chemicals, food, water and people, and then support the site during the drilling whilst preparing the next site. During the rig move period, we would regularly fly 240 hours per helicopter per month. All maintenance was carried out overnight.

...... Accommodation was in wooden huts on stilts (to help keep out the snakes and spiders). We had no air conditioning and electricity would quite often go off without warning. The river was full of piranha, catfish and alligators. Swimming races were held on Saturday nights.

Staffing.
Area Manager - Bob Brewster, based in Quito.
Chief Pilot - Horst Neu.
Dep. Ch. Pilot - Rudi Meyer.
Chief Engineer - James T (Jim) Lay.
Dep. Ch. Eng - Johannes Krippner.
Line pilots - Dick Metcalfe, Malcolm Soper, John (The Wad) Waddington, Chris Newlands, John Odlin (ferry pilot for Bell 212) plus others.
Line engineers - Keith Daley, Derek Cook, John Winton, Jeff Orme (Greenie).

Aircraft.
Bell 204B(?), s/n 3041, Reg HC-ASZ. This was built as an Agusta with a Gnome engine, converted to Lycoming T53-11 and as a result no new parts fitted, especially cowlings and panels.

Wessex 60, s/n WA544, Reg HC-ASD. Returned to UK and reverted to its UK registration G-ATSC on the arrival of the Bell 212 mid 1972.

2. Bell 212, s/n 30543, Reg HC-AYG. Arrived direct from Bells mid 1972 ferried by John Odlin and immediately put to work on heli-rig moving. Had it’s first Combining Gearbox failure within 200 hours in a remote clearing. Derek Cook and myself had to go to Quito and make a hoist to remove the CGB in the field. The location was a small clearing in an area known to house inhospitable indians and as a result the army provided armed guards for us while we worked. The 212 was eventually written off during a rig move when a load cable caught on a skid and rolled the helicopter.

Keith Daley