Copterline
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| Copterline | ||
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| IATA - |
ICAO AAQ |
Callsign COPTERLINE |
| Founded | 2002 | |
| Hubs | Helsinki Hernesaari Heliport | |
| Fleet size | 9 | |
| Destinations | 2 | |
| Headquarters | Helsinki, Finland | |
| Key people | ||
| Website: http://www.copterline.com/ | ||
Copterline Limited is Finland's largest helicopter airline. In 2004 the company ferried over 75,000 passengers.
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[edit] Services
Copterline maintains hourly passenger flights across the Gulf of Finland between Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia between 7-20, or 9-17 on weekends. The trip takes 18 minutes for a 12-seat helicopter. Since 22 June 2006 the service has been suspended.
The company announced on September 5 2007 that they will resume operations between Helsinki and Tallinn with two new AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters.[1] The company are also planning a new terminal in Helsinki. The board was also changed and new CEO is Jerker Molander.
Copterline has resumed the Helsinki-Tallinn route on April 9 2008, using a AW139 helicopter. Service runs only on weekdays, until a second AW139 enters service on autumn of 2008.
[edit] Incidents and accidents
In spring 2004, the company had been restricted from commercial flights in bad weather conditions, due to concerns about pilot qualifications, but the restriction has since been lifted.
On August 10, 2005, a Sikorsky S-76 of Copterline crashed into the sea near Tallinn, Estonia, three to four minutes after taking off. The craft was carrying 14 people, all of whom were killed: six Finnish, four Estonian and two American passengers, and two Finnish crew members. The disaster was caused by the failure of the power steering system of the American-built helicopter. According to Estonian authorities, no distress signals of any kind were received. However, after examining the helicopter's black box it has been reported that the pilots had attempted sending one, but for unknown reasons it was never received. The black box also revealed that the pilots had remained calm and attempted a safe landing in a "by the book" fashion.
The cause of the accident was the failure of the power steering system. Plasma coating on the pistons of the power steering system had flaked off and blocked the return valve, causing the aircraft to lose its manouevrability. It was revealed in 2007 that the failed component was inside a system that Copterline did not have the authority to service or even open. Furthermore, the emergency floats failed to operate. The manufacturer, Sikorsky, confirmed that damages have been paid to the families of the casualties, but a court case between Copterline and Sikorsky is still pending.
[edit] Fleet
The Copterline fleet consists of nine helicopters and several rescue craft. The helicopters used on the Helsinki-Tallinn route are Sikorsky S-76C+s.
The company has ordered two new AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters to replace the Sikorsky ones.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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