Billy Doyle, owner of Kildare Helicopters in Ireland, is hunting for a replacement after losing a EC120 to an untimely blaze just before it was due to be brought into service.

He said: "The EC120 has been written off and will not be returned to service. I intend to replace it. A new EC120 would take ten months for delivery so I am currently looking at the pre-owned market. Pre-owned values are running high at the moment but they are available. I hope to be in service in later summer with the purchase of a pre-owned machine."

He bought the EC120 in November and had used it privately up to its scheduled maintenance. The fire struck in April just before it was going to be brought into service. "The fire happened in a maintenance office in the hangar and spread to the helicopter. It appears that an electric heater in the office was the cause of the fire," Doyle said.

Doyle sold Kildare's Robinson R44 to facilitate the purchase of the EC120. He said he will continue to use a Robinson R22 "as it allows the cover I need for the smaller jobs." The R22 is used for aerial photography and is hired to a local school for flight training.

Kildare, which set up in business in May 2004, is a specialist in providing helicopters for aerial photography.

Doyle said the damaged EC120 was eventually intended to be hired out to aerial photographers, surveyors, local council, property investors and auctioneers. The replacement EC120 will be targeted at the same clients.