Bond Aviation has been awarded the inaugural Moral Courage Safety Award by the US Department of Transportation. The award was created to celebrate helicopter companies and crew who put safety first, even when that means taking the difficult decision not to fly.

While awards often recognise those who perform life-saving missions, this unique award is designed to reward the moral bravery of those who decide that the best way to protect lives is to cancel the mission.

Bond won the award after two members of its technical team noted a small deviation in a health and safety usage monitoring system indicator on one of the company's aircraft. While the helicopter was arguably still fit to fly, they raised their concerns immediately with managers and a decision was made to err on the side of caution and take the helicopter out of service.

Luke Farajallah, md, explains: “It caused delays and inconvenienced people coming back after two weeks offshore, but we felt it was important to listen to our people. Sometimes the bravest decision is not to fly.

“In the end, a small bearing on the aircraft was replaced in a couple of hours. We would probably have been able to fly, but I'm proud and pleased that our team spoke up. We want to be in a place where if anyone is uncomfortable, then we don't go.”

Meanwhile, its two operating divisions have been winning new business: Bond Offshore Helicopters has been awarded a new contract with EnQuest plc, the North Sea independent oil producer. The contract is for up to ten years and will provide crew change flights for EnQuest out of Aberdeen airport. Services have begun using a Sikorsky S-92 aircraft initially operating under an arrangement with sister company Norsk Helikopterservice.

And Bond Air Services has been granted a seven-year contract by North West Air Ambulance, worth just over £10 million, to provide air ambulance support across Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

Under this contract, Bond will continue to provide a complete helicopter support service out of Blackpool airport and City Airport Manchester, including aircraft, crew and maintenance support. NWAA now operates two EC135s provided by Bond.