Exhibit
5
August
7,
2007
Bristow
Group Inc.
2000
W.
Sam Houston Pkwy. S.
Suite
1700
Houston,
Texas 77042
Gentlemen:
As
set
forth in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”)
to be filed by Bristow Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with
the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, relating to 1,200,000 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock of the
Company, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), together with associated
Preferred Share Purchase Rights, that may be issued pursuant to the terms of
the
Bristow Group Inc. 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), certain legal
matters in connection with the Shares are being passed upon for the Company
by
me. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as
Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement.
In
my
capacity as the Company’s General Counsel in the connection referred to above, I
have examined the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, and the Amended and
Restated Bylaws, each as amended to date, and the originals, or copies certified
or otherwise identified, of corporate records of the Company, certificates
of
public officials and of representatives of the Company, statutes and other
instruments and documents as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed.
In
giving such opinions, I have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company
with respect to the accuracy of the material factual matters contained in such
certificates.
I
have
assumed that all signatures on all documents examined by myself are genuine,
that all documents submitted to me as originals are accurate and complete,
that
all documents submitted to me as copies are true and correct copies of the
originals thereof and that all information submitted to me was accurate and
complete. In addition, I have assumed for purposes of paragraph 2 below that
the
consideration originally received by the Company if any for the Shares will
have
been not less than the par value of the Shares.
On
the
basis of the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and
qualifications hereinafter set forth, I am of the opinion that upon their
issuance and delivery in accordance with the plan, the Shares will be validly
issued fully paid and nonassessable:
1.
The
Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware.
2.
Shares
of Common Stock purchased on the open market and maintained in the accounts
of
Plan participants will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
I
hereby
consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. In giving such consent, I do not admit that I am within the category
of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act
or
the general rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder. This opinion speaks as of the date hereof, and I disclaim
any obligation to update this opinion.
Very
truly yours,
/s/
Randall A. Stafford
Randall
A. Stafford
Vice
President and General Counsel,
Corporate
Secretary