British International Helicopters

Infobox_Airline
airline=British International Helicopters
logo=
logo_size=
fleet_size=12
destinations=3
IATA=BS
ICAO=BIH
callsign=BRINTEL
parent=
founded=2000
headquarters= Sherborne, Dorset, United Kingdom
key_people=
hubs=Penzance Heliport
frequent_flyer=
lounge=
alliance=
website= http://www.brit-int.co.uk

British International Helicopters (Veritair Limited) is an airline based at Penzance heliport, in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, with headquarters located at Sherborne, Dorset. It operates seasonal and year round domestic scheduled services to the Isles of Scilly. Its main base is Penzance Heliport (EGHK/PZE), with services to St. Mary's Airport (EGHE/ISC), and Tresco Heliport (EGHT), Isles of Scilly. It utilises two Sikorsky S-61 helicopters from a pool of 6 of the type that it owns. The remaining 4 spend most of their time on oil work in Scotland.

BRINTEL also operate two Sikorsky S61N helicopters based at RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands, where they are used for everyday public transport around the islands.

Veritair Limited holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, which permits it to carry passengers, cargo, and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats. [ [http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?categoryid=183&pagetype=90&pageid=340 Operating Licence] ]

History

The company was originally British Airways Helicopters until its privatisation in September 1986, when it was sold to publisher Robert Maxwell and subsequently renamed to British International Helicopters (BIH).

In 1993 CHC Helicopter acquired 40% of BIH's voting shares, and raised their shareholding to 90% within a year. BIH became the UK subsidiary of CHC, as Brintel Helicopters Limited. In October 1996 Brintel acquired the Cardiff-based Veritair Limited.

The current incarnation of the company was formed in 2000 with the backing of 3i Group PLC and the Bank of Scotland, through a management buy in of the non-oil related operations of Scotia Helicopters and CHC Helicopter, with the Bank of Scotland providing funding of £22million.

In 2006, BIH finalised a secondary management buy-out financed by a syndicate of investors led by Matrix Private Equity Partners, with the backing of Finance Cornwall and Chrysalis Venture Capital Trust.

Fleet

The British International Helicopters fleet consists of the following aircraft (at May 2008) [ [http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&owner=Veritair&pageindex=1 UK Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Register] ] :

* 2 x Aerospatiale AS355F2 Twin Squirrel
* 1 x MBB Bo 105Db4
* 6 x Sikorsky S-61

Destinations

* Penzance Heliport
* St. Mary's Airport
* Tresco Heliport

Accidents and incidents

* 6 November 1986 a British International Helicopters Chinook crashed on approach to Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands with the loss of 45 lives.

References

External links

* [http://www.islesofscillyhelicopter.com/ British International Helicopters Booking Information]
* [http://www.brit-int.co.uk Main Company Information]