newstodate.aero
May 02, 2011 (newstodate): Estonian Air's plans for reviving the helicopter service between Tallinn and Helsinki are still on the table, and may soon turn into reality.
Estonian press sources claim that the airline is in talks with the now-defunct Finnish helicopter company Copterservice that, while grounded, still owns helipads in the two cities.
The idea of re-establishing a helicopter service between Tallinn and Helsinki comes from the Board of Estonian Air that has asked the airline to analyze the viability of a helicopter line to provide convenient and fast air connections from Tallinn as well as supporting the carrier's eastward transit traffic at Tallinn Airport.
While the helipad on the Estonian side is close to the airport, the site at Helsinki is conveniently distanced from Helsinki Vantaa Airport, minimizing the risk of spilling passengers into Finnair's traffic system.
Copterline opened services on May 5, 2000, but experienced a fatal accident with the S-76 on August 10, 2005 after take-off from Tallinn, and the carrier never managed to return to profitable operations thereafter.
After aborted attempts to get the service going in the SAR and emergency services, Copterline finally folded its rotary wings on 15 February 2010, filing for bankruptcy due to inability to keep the company profitable.
Managing Copterservice is Tonis Lepp that is also manager at Apple Finland.
Estonian press sources claim that the airline is in talks with the now-defunct Finnish helicopter company Copterservice that, while grounded, still owns helipads in the two cities.
The idea of re-establishing a helicopter service between Tallinn and Helsinki comes from the Board of Estonian Air that has asked the airline to analyze the viability of a helicopter line to provide convenient and fast air connections from Tallinn as well as supporting the carrier's eastward transit traffic at Tallinn Airport.
While the helipad on the Estonian side is close to the airport, the site at Helsinki is conveniently distanced from Helsinki Vantaa Airport, minimizing the risk of spilling passengers into Finnair's traffic system.
Copterline opened services on May 5, 2000, but experienced a fatal accident with the S-76 on August 10, 2005 after take-off from Tallinn, and the carrier never managed to return to profitable operations thereafter.
After aborted attempts to get the service going in the SAR and emergency services, Copterline finally folded its rotary wings on 15 February 2010, filing for bankruptcy due to inability to keep the company profitable.
Managing Copterservice is Tonis Lepp that is also manager at Apple Finland.