Fifty CHC helicopter firm jobs at risk

About 50 jobs at Aberdeen helicopter firm CHC are at risk.

It is understood pilots and engineers are involved, and the company said a consultation process with staff and unions was under way.

CHC said the offshore industry continued to face "challenging conditions".

The news comes after Bristow Helicopters said last month it could make 130 of its 1,950 UK staff redundant.

A CHC spokesman said: "While we have worked diligently to address market conditions without affecting our wider workforce in Aberdeen, unfortunately we are unable to continue to do so.

"We started formal consultation discussions with affected employees and their trade union representatives. In the region of 50 positions may be affected at our Aberdeen base.

"We continue to work to reduce costs, strengthen our balance sheet and partner with our customers to provide solutions that result in lower customer costs, while maintaining an absolute commitment to industry-leading safety, availability and reliability."

Jim McAuslan, general secretary of pilots union Balpa, said: "This is yet more devastating news.

"The loss of experience is a major threat to the UK economy. It is more important than ever that the governments should commit to helping businesses in the North Sea through this downturn, so skills are not lost when the situation improves."