The recent floods which have devastated parts of Germany and Austria have meant some helicopter charter operators working overtime. “We have been flying more hours helping victims of the flood. Not all the charter companies were involved, but we are about an hour’s travel from the hardest hit region,” said Heli Unionair's Sabine Wolk.

Tasks have so far included flying a business man to the sites of his various shops in order to inspect the damage. “The company currently has a helicopter working on the dam, controlling it. This entails flying military personnel up to make sure it's still holding. There have also been quite a few flights evacuating hospitals, with passengers being transferred to safer ones. But I’m not sure exactly who has chartered us because the work was subcontracted out by another company,” said Wolk. One of Heli Unionair's pilots was also engaged in transporting blood plasma, due to the inaccessible roads.

Of the company’s fleet, it was the BO 105 which controlled the dam and an AS 350 carried out the blood plasma transportation. “It is configured for people charter, but it was suitable enough to carry the containers,” she said.

The flood may in fact be a double-edged sword for the Heli Unionair, as Wolk explained: “Obviously as bad as it is for the country, it meant additional business for us.

“It’s hard to say a number, but I think it will mean between 10 and 20 per cent more business over the course of the year. It might be coincidental, but we didn't really have any other charters over this period. It is also possible that the negative effect on the economy could knock onto next year's flight hours.”

Germany is still devastated by the flood and most places are still under water, although there is no longer a widespread state of emergency. “People are now starting to clear up but there is a very large hole left, which the flood has torn into the country,” she added.