HeliOffshore Announces New Chair as Principal Founder Bill Chiles Concludes Decades of Industry-Changing Leadership

HeliOffshore, the global offshore helicopter safety association, today announced the appointment of Duncan Trapp as its Chair-elect. Duncan will formally succeed Bill Chiles, who was pivotal in founding the organisation in 2014, at the association’s Annual Conference & AGM in April 2026.

For more than a decade, HeliOffshore has been the focal point for unprecedented collaboration across the offshore aviation community. What began as a determined response to prevent further accidents has evolved into a global coalition of over 50 helicopter operators and over 100 other organisations from across the industry – including OEMs, energy companies, technology and service providers, and more – all united by a singular mission: to ensure no lives are lost in offshore aviation.

Bill Chiles, who established HeliOffshore as the global safety-focused association for the offshore helicopter industry after retiring as President and CEO of Bristow Group, has been widely credited with transforming the way the industry approaches safety. His call for collaboration – at a time when operators did not share best practice – reshaped relationships, accelerated best practice development, and laid the groundwork for implementing meaningful changes that have driven improved safety performance in the industry.

Commenting on the news, HeliOffshore Chief Executive, Tim Rolfe said: “Bill’s leadership and personal conviction changed what this industry believes is possible. The collaboration he inspired has saved lives and built a community that puts safety above competition. I know I speak for the entire Board and membership when I say thank you, Bill, for everything you have done for our industry.”

“It’s a sacred responsibility that makes us do this work,” said Bill Chiles, reflecting on the origins of the organisation. “HeliOffshore exists because we care deeply about our colleagues, their families, and everyone we are responsible for. Our colleagues who travel offshore deserve to get where they need to and home again, safely, every day. We have made real progress together over the last 10 plus years, and I am delighted to be handing over the reins to Duncan, who I know will drive forward our mission with passion and purpose.”

Incoming Chair Duncan Trapp brings more than two decades of flight operations and safety leadership experience to the role – including as Vice President of Safety & Quality at founder board member organisation CHC Helicopter, and now as Director of Aviation Safety at Willis – as well as deep knowledge of HeliOffshore itself, having been closely involved in its work since the organisation’s inception. As Chair, Duncan will work hand-in-glove with Chief Executive Officer, Tim Rolfe, overseeing the strategic direction of the association, as well as supporting the continued development and implementation of safety programmes across the member community.

“Our task now is to build on Bill’s legacy with even greater purpose – ensuring that as technology evolves and operations grow arguably more complex, our collective safety commitment to frontline teams remains at the centre of everything we do,” Duncan Trapp commented. “Not everyone working in offshore aviation today remembers the conditions that prompted HeliOffshore’s creation, or just how far we have come since. Our work together has led to great strides in developing best practice for the industry, and it is more important than ever that we focus now on implementing that best practice consistently and appropriately across the globe. That is how we will drive continual improvements in our industry’s safety performance.”

Tim Rolfe concluded: “We are delighted Duncan is joining the Board to lead this charge with us on implementing the library of best practice our members have collectively developed. His leadership, combined with the strength of our global membership, ensures we are well-positioned to continue driving meaningful and practical changes that protect lives and elevate safety standards worldwide.”