1986 British International Helicopters Chinook crash the Chinook was too big for the offshore support task and the remaining Chinooks were withdrawn and sold. All surviving aircraft now operate with Columbia Helicopters in heavy lift, non-passenger capabilities. 1986 British International Helicopters Chinook crash On 6 November 1986, a Boeing 234LR Chinook helicopter returning workers from the Brent oilfield crashed on approach to land at Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands. At from the runway the helicopter had a catastrophic forward transmission failure which de-synchronised the tandem rotors, causing the blades to collide. The helicopter crashed into the sea and sank. 43 passengers and two crew members
Joint Helicopter Support Unit Joint Helicopter Support Unit The Joint Helicopter Support Unit (JHSU) was a joint organisation of the British Army and the Royal Air Force, located in RAF Odiham. It was formed in July 1982, following the introduction of the Chinook HC MK1 Helicopter. Personnel were drawn from the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) and Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) (both now amalgamated into the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC)) plus the Royal Corps of Signals and the Royal Air Force (RAF). The JHSU became the Joint Helicopter Support Squadron (JHSS) following its merger with the RAF Mobile Air Operations Team (RAF MAOT)