BB Heli Switzerland has announced plans to order a second EC120 helicopter within the next two months. The company already operates a Bell JetRanger 206B and another EC120, which it uses for passenger taxi flights.

BB Heli chose the EC120 because it has excellent visibility – perfect for sightseeing tours – and is quieter than the JetRanger. “We have noise restrictions for flying over cities on our sightseeing tours, so we have to use the EC120 for that,” explained md Markus Baumann.

“It is also spacious, comfortable and offers lots of storage space for baggage, which is great for a helicopter,” he added.

All three helicopters operate from the company’s base at Zurich Airport. Only 20 per cent of the company’s business is from foreign tourists.

The largest contingent comes from Swiss and German tourists wishing to take mountain and year-round glacier tours to see the wild flowers, green mountains and snowy, alpine glaciers.

Business is very quiet, though, and people are reluctant to spend lots of money at the moment, Baumann said. BB Heli is considering the acquisition of a twin engine helicopter, but it has not yet decided between an EC135 or a Bell 427.