Heliwest, based in Asti, Italy, has purchased an AS350 B3, continuing its plan of adding a new helicopter every year. “We are attracted to this type of helicopter, because it is the most appropriate for the work

we do For example, next week we have to transport a small dumper truck, which can weigh between 800 and 1,100 kilos,” said president Luciano Villani.

The company started with an AS350 B1 before adding a B2 and then a B3. “This is a brand new aircraft, direct from the factory. Inside we keep it as bare as possible, because we don’t use it to carry customers. Tasks include transporting equipment and fire fighting, which can require lifting up to 1,000 litres of water. So with the B3 we are really satisfying all our requirements,” he said.

The company president explained the situation for helicopter charter companies in his country: “In Italy there just isn’t a market for transporting passengers via heli-copter, because it’s too expensive. We’re based in the North West of Italy and to get to Rome it takes three hours, which is very costly even if there's five people sharing the helicopter."

Short trips are also very rare, although Heliwest has a few regular clients which hire the helicopters, but the company said it's not enough to survive on. "Before 'Mani puliti' [Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's crusade to fight corruption in the country's government], we would fly many politicians, but this has now stopped completely."

The company said it has had no problem surviving in the current market. "In general we cater for the same clients, working on contracts of up to three years, so we always have work. There are many companies involved in our type of work, but there aren't really any problems with competition.

"In the future we would like to upgrade our older B1. If the market continues as it is, then we will certainly be adding another B3 to our fleet next year," added Villani.