Greece-based helicopter operator Bellavia Aviation has taken delivery of a Bell 206, which is currently undergoing maintenance before being added to the charter fleet next month.

“We have been operating helicopters in Greece since 1992,” says head of marketing and sales operations Rania Belesioti. “We are the oldest existing company, and we undertake not only commercial flights but also a lot of aerial work, pipeline and powerline inspections, filming and movie production. Thanks to the STCs on this model, the Bell 206 has the best capability for us and can carry the most cameras.”

The company already has one Bell 206, which it operates on its AOC along with a 505 – the first in Greece, a 407 and an EC120. It also has a Bell 429 under commercial management.

“The Bell 206 is a very safe, steady helicopter and it's easy to fly,” Belesioti continues. “Bell has sold thousands of these and they are ideal for commercial air transport and specialised aerial operations, especially aerial inspections and filming. The maintenance is fairly low cost, they reach good speeds and clients and partners are always happy to use them. And they sell at a fair price in the market.”

This latest Bell 206 will be used for aerial work, filming projects, aerial pipeline inspections and commercial air transport (CAT). “When it comes to CAT, we mainly fly from Athens to Greek islands such as Mykonos, Paros and Santorini,” she adds.

It was 1992 when licensed civilian helicopter engineer Konstantinos Belesiotis decided to bring his experience and qualifications to the commercial helicopter market in Greece, challenging his sons Panagiotis, also a helicopter engineer, and Michael to help him establish the first family aviation company in the country. They took on a Bell 47, a Hiller UH12 and a Bell 206 JetRanger and commenced fertilising, aerial filming, aerial spraying, advertising and pleasure flights.