UK – Patriot buys British International
Source: Patriot Aerospace, 13-May-13
Patriot Aerospace has acquired the interests of British International Helicopter Services (BIH), making the aviation group the UK’s largest domestically owned helicopter operator. The deal will see Sir Peter Rigby’s aviation company take over BIH’s military support contracts in the UK and overseas. Representing a significant move towards realising the group’s plan to create a [...]
New local hope for restoration of Scilly Isles service
Source: Pirate FM, 12-Apr-13
Pirate FM has learnt an announcement on a new air link to the Isles of Scilly could be just weeks away (see full story).
World’s longest running scheduled helicopter service closes
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-Nov-12
It is with sadness we record the closure yesterday of the helicopter link between the UK mainland and the Scilly Isles, following the sale of Penzance Heliport to a retail supermarket as the site of a future store. Scheduled services began on 1st May 1964 and have continued for forty eight and a half years, [...]
British International to stop Scilly Isles route after 48 years
03-Aug-12
British International Helicopters is to end its service from Penzance, which has run since 1964, in November. The company blamed the decision on uncertainty created by legal challenges to its sale of land to supermarket giant Sainsbury’s (see full story)
UK Government reduces SAR bidders to three
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-Aug-12
After the huge debacle of the previous round of bids (see £6bn UK SAR privatisation deal on hold – police investigate), the UK Government has announced the short-list of bidders going forward to provide SAR services around the British coastline for a 25 year period. The successful bidder(s) will take over roles currently provided by [...]
25-Jun-12 Sikorsky S61 St Mary’s, UK
25-Jun-12
Emergency landing at St Mary’s, Scilly Isles, on a flight out of Tresco after a warning light came on. Apparently a ‘spurious fire warning’
UK – Improved helicopter facilities open at HMS Raleigh
Source: Royal Navy, 01-May-12
The Torpoint base stepped in when Plymouth Airport closed and now serves as a ‘lily pad’ for helicopters working for the Flag Officer Sea Training. In their distinctive blue livery, two Dauphin helicopters which serve the RN’s premier training organisation are parked on new landing pads at HMS Raleigh. This is the new and improved [...]
UK: Penzance HP gets a few months reprieve
Source: HeliHub.com, 18-Jan-12
British International Helicopters (BIH) has announced that Penzance Heliport will be available to them until the end of October this year, rather than June/July as previously thought. The move has been welcomed as it allows a complete summer season to be operated. BIH had planned on moving to St Erth, but withdrew their application there [...]
British International targets Newquay after withdrawing St Erth plans
Source: Cornish Guardian, 17-Nov-11
BIH managing director, Tony Jones, said flights would continue from Penzance until June next year and the firm would continue to look for a site in West Cornwall. If necessary, flights would continue after that date from Newquay Cornwall airport to ensure the service was not disrupted.
Penzance HP planning meeting postponed
Source: HeliHub.com, 22-Sep-11
The subject of the planning application for the future of Penzance Heliport was put back at today’s meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee of Cornwall Council. It is not known whether this item will be scheduled for their next meeting on 20th October, or an additional meeting on 6th October which has been convened at [...]
Supermarket gets local council nod for Penzance Heliport site
Source: HeliHub.com, 16-Sep-11
Penzance Town Council has voted by 7 to 6 in favour of the plans submitted to redevelop the site as a Sainbury’s supermarket as well as a petrol station, car park, park-and-ride scheme and other business units. The debate lasted almost two hours as town councillors discussed the plan. Arguments against the plan focused on [...]
UK: British International to put St Erth Heliport plans on display
Source: Scilly Today, 08-Aug-11
British International Helicopters intends moving their helicopter base from Penzance to a site within walking distance of the St Erth railway station. The plans will be put on public display 18-19th August and are expected to go before planners in September (Full story)
British International sell third S61 to Vector Aerospace
Source: HeliHub.com, 27-Jul-11
British International have recently sold a third Sikorsky S61 this year to Vector Aerospace, this being serial 61721 and registered G-BCEA, Managing Director Tony Jones has confirmed to HeliHub.com. Previously operating on a military contract in the Falkland Islands, ‘EA had reached time for a major inspection and has thus been swapped with another example. [...]
16-Jun-11 ZJ165 Eurocopter AS365N2 Plymouth, UK
16-Jun-11
Nose wheel collapse on runway landing on training flight. Runway blocked for period of time which necessitated diversion of one airline flight. Civil owned, Military Registered aircraft, operated by British International for Royal Navy “Flag Officer Sea Training” unit
Local press reveal BIH preferred site after Penzance HP closure
Source: Cornishman, 06-Jun-11
The company confirmed that it had reached an agreement with a landowner for a new heliport adjacent to the St Erth industrial estate off the A30, subject to planning permission and the successful sale of the current heliport in Penzance to Sainsburys. If successful, it will create a transport hub enabling passengers easy access to [...]
British International sell two Sikorsky S61s
Source: HeliHub.com, 14-Apr-11
British International have sold two of their Sikorsky S61N helicopters to Vector Aerospace. The pair are currently at Southampton Docks awaiting shipment across the Atlantic, destination British Columbia for work at Vector’s Vancouver International Airport base. Both airframes need extensive work to get them airworthy, one having not flown for 10 years. The particular airframes [...]
Lands End Airport breaks off talks with British International
Source: This is the West Country, 26-Oct-10
The firm which owns Land’s End termintes talks with British International Helicopters (BIH) over plans to move services to the Scilly Isles to its airport. Photo shows current base – Penzance HP
Talks planned this month over Scilly Isles helicopter link
Source: BBC, 04-Aug-10
Noise protestors at Land’s End Aerodrome raise concerns. Operator British International says there will be more concerns over tourism if they can’t operate a service from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly. {Photo shows the current arrangement at Penzance HP]
Was Obama at Penzance Heliport? Helicopter firm reveals the truth
Source: British International, 31-Oct-09
The event coincided with a break in President Barack Obama’s public engagements, leading to speculation about an impromptu visit to Cornwal
