Absolutely devastating, it's an awful thought to think that lads and lasses who go away to work on a bomb in the middle of the sea in order to make a better life for themselves can't rely on their mode of transport to keep them alive.
They have now grounded all L2 Super Pumas and alot of platforms will be dowmanning to cope with the reduced choppers running.
I've been working offshore for 7 years now and even though there is the fact that on average one chopper per year goes down, you just have to bury it to the back of your mind. Luckily my rota seats me in a S92 so I can kind of rest assured, but there is always the risk of these choppers being overworked due to the shortage created by this grounding.
The one thing I know is that if they start any of the 225s and L2s flying again in the future, anyone who doesn't refuse to fly wants their heads looking at!
Worrying times, but I'll still be at the heliport for my next trip. S92 or S76 only though please!