Finland's Copterline Begins S-76 Service

Finnish operator Copterline became the fifth airline world-wide to use the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter for scheduled passenger service this past May.
Copterline flies between Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia; the 18-minute direct flight is said to save travellers more than two hours each way, when compared with airline service between the two cities.

Copter Action, Copterline's parent company, took delivery of two new S-76C+ helicopters in March.
Helikopter Service of Sweden links Copenhagen with Malmo and Helsingborg with three S-76C+ aircraft; Alidaunia provides S-76 service between Foggia, Italy and the Tremiti Islands.

East Asia Airlines of Macao operates four new S-76C+ aircraft, while Canada's Helijet Airways has a fleet of five S-76s.
Sikorsky says 82 S-76 aircraft of all types operate in Europe, out of a world-wide fleet of nearly 500.

By Paul Richfield