The private aviation industry is crucial in supporting the oil and gas industry. Oil fields, rigs and vessels are often located in remote or hostile areas and are impossible or difficult to reach by any other method. They simply cannot be accessed by commercial flights or ground transport and, therefore, rely on business aviation for the transportation of goods and people. This relationship is vital, as the industry is still growing, and locations are moving farther from shore.
The oil and gas industry is time critical. There is often very limited infrastructure, but business must continue. Unforeseen issues in the supply chain can cause the industry to lose untold sums of money. Therefore, a solution must be found to avoid the disruption of productivity. For example, an essential piece of equipment may be needed urgently, or a spare part may be required for urgent repair. Time is of the utmost importance and private aviation offers that.
Operations can be very diverse and have unique requirements. For example, cargo or people may have to be moved from an international airport to a remote regional terminal and then flown by helicopter to reach the “last mile” destination. Critical deliveries must be made in such areas, and fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) activities are a large part of the staff and supplies industry. Emergency evacuation may also be needed for safety or medical purposes, which could logistically be a significant hazard without private aviation.
The United States is the largest oil producer in the world, with almost 15% of the production globally. The industry often needs rapid staff, equipment, and supply transportation and, because of its flexible nature and availability 24/7, private aviation provides on-demand charters to meet the needs and requirements of the oil and gas industry (which also works 24/7), and operations can continue uninterrupted. Cargo charters are absolutely vital to the industry for essential supplies and for the carriage of hazardous or dangerous goods that commercial aircraft cannot carry.
Accessing Remote Locations
Projects in such an industry can mean changing schedules and requirements, and private aviation offers flexibility and adaptability. Transportation solutions can be customized to meet the needs of any project. Charter companies like Icarus Jet, conveniently located in Dallas, one of the major oil and gas hubs in the country, help bolster the industry by providing logistics and support and arranging accommodation or ground transport, for example, when moving crew or engineers around on rotations. They can remove some of the administrative processes that would otherwise be difficult to do in remote locations.
Of course, safety is paramount in the gas and oil industry, and private aviation offers the same safety protocols, whether transporting people or cargo. Similarly, security is another important issue, as personnel and cargo can be very sensitive within the energy sector. Private aviation offers solutions that save time and provide reliable and flexible transport in a secure and discreet environment.
Time is money, and the gas and oil industry is no exception. Executives must connect for meetings, conferences, research and development projects, and site visits. Traveling by private jet saves time and saves money in the long term. Executives can be productive during flights and hold private meetings and calls without being overheard. The heart of the U.S. oil and gas sectors can be easily transversed using private aircraft, whether from Dallas or Houston to New Orleans or out to an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.
The aircraft used in such circumstances would vary considerably depending on the airports and heliports available and their size and location. For example, a helicopter may need to land on a moving tanker to complete a mission. A turboprop could be used to carry staff to a location before being shipped via vessel or helicopter to the next area. Cargo and dangerous goods could start their journey on a large aircraft and then be collected on the ground to meet a vessel for the final destination.
There are challenges, however. There has to be a fuel supply at the destination to enable the aircraft or helicopter to refuel. Helicopters are necessary in most cases, especially offshore, but they are often short-range, have operational challenges, and can be demanding work. Lack of infrastructure is often an issue. Fields are moving farther offshore in most cases, so this may bring new challenges. The industry is still increasing to meet the world’s demand for fuel, although sustainable fuel and alternative methods are still in production and under scrutiny.
The gas and oil industry needs private aviation for its reliability, flexibility, and access to remote locations. Both must take a multilayer approach to finding the best solutions for each mission. Private aviation offers a variety of aircraft available for missions that are unique and of major benefit to the challenging and rugged oil and gas operations.
Pilot, president, and founder of Icarus Jet, a leading global trip support and aircraft management company, Kevin Singh has flown globally as a chief pilot and captain on private jets like the Hawker 800-A and 850 XP, and the Challenger 600 series and Global 6000.
