Equinor grounds AW189 helicopters

Rogaland / Stavanger news from the past 48 hours: Equinor grounds its AW189 offshore helicopters from Monday, after more than a hundred reports of hearing damage. The Utsira Nord floating wind project gains Høyre's backing, while Viking Stavanger begins a particularly busy European autumn.

Industry: Rogaland / Stavanger news shaped by AW189 grounding

From Monday 12 October, all offshore rotations operated by Equinor's AW189 helicopters are suspended. It is the company itself that is grounding its aircraft, reports NRK Rogaland / Stavanger. More than a hundred workers have reported hearing damage after flying on board this helicopter, due to cabin noise levels.

In a survey of its members by the Styrke union, 42% of those who flew on board the AW189 say they experienced hearing problems after the flight. The aircraft is very new: it entered service only last November (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

This is not the first suspension. In March, Equinor had already grounded the fleet and carried out noise reduction measures, before returning them to service on 1 May. On 6 July, safety delegates (verneombud) from Equinor and Vår Energi used their right to stop work to ground the AW189 once again (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

Energy: Høyre gives green light to Utsira Nord project

The Høyre party announces it supports the continuation of the Utsira Nord floating wind project, off the coast of Rogaland. The party had asked in the spring for an "external quality check" of public support for floating wind, a demand taken up by several parties. This requirement had put the government's plan on hold and created strong uncertainty in the industry and among suppliers (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

The quality check was made public in the State budget. According to Høyre, it strengthens confidence in the fact that Utsira Nord can become a good project. "With the quality check, the Storting has finally obtained concrete and necessary clarifications on decisive questions that the government had not previously given us," says Aleksander Stokkebø, Høyre's energy spokesperson, to NRK.

The project involves 35 billion kroner in public support. Several media reported on it on Friday, including NTB, Stavanger Aftenblad and Haugesunds Avis (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

Sport: a European autumn for Viking, Haaland faces court

Viking Stavanger is competing both for the Eliteserien title and in the Champions League league phase. "I get goosebumps just talking to you about it," says Per Egil Hagen, who will travel across Europe to follow the club: first stop in Bergen against Brann, then Seville, Munich and Madrid. "I just think it's completely crazy to get to experience this" (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

After the international break, eight matches await the "dark blue" in four weeks. "Now it's mainly about playing the matches and recovering well between them," sums up captain Zlatko Tripic. Stavanger Rødt councillor Mímir Kristjánsson, a declared club supporter, for his part feels he has "never found it so hard to be an inhabitant of Bergen," with Brann sitting 7th in the league (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

Another sports file: Erling Braut Haaland and the airline Norwegian met on Friday at Oslo court for a planning meeting. Haaland is suing the company for using his image in several social media posts during the World Cup. "All claims are contested," said Norwegian's lawyer, Vebjørn Krag Iversen. The player's lawyer, Thomas Hagen, says that solutions were proposed then refused, and that attempts at settlement out of court had taken place. Haaland was not present on Friday (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

Household finances: more requests for advice from Jæren

Running a family costs significantly more than supporting those five to ten years ago, says Norsk Familieøkonomi, an independent personal finance advisory organisation headquartered in Bryne, on Jæren. Its CEO, Terje Hamre, cites rising interest rates, more expensive fuel and rising food prices (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

The organisation records a clear increase in contacts from people wondering where the money they earn goes. Several of them have not thought in detail about their spending and are asking for help to see things clearly. "There are quite a few of them. Those who feel it most are those in the settling-in phase, or those who have moved to a bigger home," says Terje Hamre (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

📌 Local briefs

A woman was found dead in Stavanger. Her partner, a man in his late thirties, has been placed in pre-trial detention for two weeks in complete isolation by the Sør-Rogaland court. He is suspected of having left her without assistance and contests his guilt. The prosecution requested four weeks, the defence a release or one week at most. Judge Elise Hanstveit Grepsly considers that four weeks are not proportionate, but that a ban on correspondence and visits is not enough. The autopsy is to be carried out over the weekend (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

Stavanger Aftenblad published at 21h on Saturday a "Nordlys" alert for the district, and reported at 20h that police name the "worst offenders," who "do not back down."

Still according to Stavanger Aftenblad: heavy defeat for Stavanger Oilers, who "lose every duel" (Saturday 19h), and a Jæren resident has been given a special mission by NRK (Saturday 17h).

Sources: NRK Rogaland / Stavanger, Stavanger Aftenblad, The Local Norway — Period: 10 October 2026 and 11 October 2026