Justice Robert Wells, who headed an inquiry investigating safety issues relating to the use of helicopters in the offshore oil industry, issued a challenge to the offshore petroleum board and oil companies operating off Newfoundland on Tuesday.

Wells is asking them to ignore an order by the US aviation authority, and install new gearboxes in existing Cougar S-92 helicopters as soon as they become available.

Justice Robert Wells says improvements should be made to Cougar S-92 helicopters as soon as possible. (CBC)

Manufacturer Sikorsky is making changes that would allow its S-92 choppers to fly for 30 minutes after losing oil pressure.

The fact the choppers couldn't do that was identified as one of the main causes of the crash of Cougar Flight 491, which killed 17 people in March 2009.

"When that new gearbox comes out, I feel it should go into every S-92, especially the ones operating offshore," said Wells, commenting after a presentation in St. John’s on Tuesday.

The head of the offshore petroleum board echoed Wells' sentiments.

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board's outgoing chairman and CEO Max Ruelokke said the new gearboxes should be installed as soon as they're ready.

"As far as we know, Sikorsky is working towards developing a 30 minute run-dry capability for the gearbox in the S92A," said Ruelokke.

"We would certainly want to see that installed as soon as it's available."

Cougar has the contract for transporting workers to and from oil installations that are in production offshore from St. John's.

It's not clear when the new gearbox assembly will be ready for installation in S-92 helicopters.

But the Federal Aviation Administration — the U.S. body that certified the Sikorsky choppers — says it's not necessary to replace gearboxes in helicopters that are already flying offshore.

Wells condemned the FAA’s position.

“I just can’t go along with that,” said the judge.

Wells said if the FAA doesn't require the upgrade, the C-NLOPB should still demand the changes be made on the fleet servicing the oil industry in this province.

Sheldon Peddle, who heads a union that represents offshore oil workers, agrees.

"The operators being the huge multinational companies that they are, they have a lot of clout politically, they have money to put behind such things," said Peddle.

“It would certainly be a direction for them to go in to improve their overall safety.”