Services held to mark year anniversary of deadly N.L. chopper crash

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – The one-year anniversary of the crash of Cougar Flight 491 is a sombre reminder for oilfield workers of the perils of flying to their jobs off Newfoundland.

Memorial services and wreath-laying ceremonies will take place Friday at the White Rose, Hibernia and Terra Nova oilfields in remembrance of the 17 people who lost their lives when their helicopter plunged into ocean off the St. John’s coast.

Hundreds will also attend a memorial service in St. John’s that evening.

"It’s hard to believe a year has passed since the Cougar Flight 491 accident," said Kevin Kelly, president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers, Local 2121, in an e-mail. "This is a comment I have heard a lot in the last couple of days."

Kelly was elected last month as the head of the union that represents more than 600 workers at Hibernia and Terra Nova.

A central control room operator, Kelly was at Hibernia the day of the crash and remembers the anxiety everyone felt.

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Friday will be little different.

"I feel it will be a sombre day. Two of our employees, who are presently here, had brothers on Flight 491," he said.

"The CNLOPB hearings have resulted in some changes to the way helicopters operate offshore. Hopefully, more changes will come so that we won’t have to relive this type of incident again."

The CNLOPB, or Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, set up the inquiry last year.

Led by retired Supreme Court Justice Robert Wells, it’s investigating ways to make helicopter travel safer for offshore workers.

Wells’ early recommendation requires the oil companies to station a full-time search-and-rescue helicopter in St. John’s that can be airborne in 20 minutes. Previously, the SAR helicopter had up to one hour to launch.

Seventeen people lost their lives when Flight 491 plunged into the North Atlantic 55 kilometres east of St. John’s on March 12, 2009. Robert Decker was the only survivor.

The following did not survive the short flight.

Thomas Anwyll, 46, Langley, B.C.

Peter Breen, 55, St. John’s, N.L.

Gary Corbett, 46, Conception Bay South, N.L.

Matthew Davis, 34, Torbay (formerly Holyrood), N.L.

Wade Drake, 42, Fortune, N.L.

Wade Duggan, 32, Witless Bay (formerly Brigus South), N.L.

Corey Eddy, 32, Paradise (formerly Sibley’s Cove), N.L.

Keith Escott, 39, St. John’s, N.L.

Colin Henley, 38, St. John’s, N.L.

Timothy Lanouette, 47, Comox, B.C.

Allison Maher, 26, Mt. Pearl (formerly Aquaforte), N.L.

Ken MacRae, 47, Greenwood, N.S.

Gregory Morris, 40, Outer Cove, N.L.

Derrick Mullowney, 51, Bay Bulls, N.L.

Burch Nash, 44, Fortune. N.L.

John Pelley, 41, Deer Lake, N.L.

Paul Pike, 49, Shearstown, N.L.