Helicopter charterer Helilux has added a Bell 407 to its fleet, as it moves to become what it claims is "carbon neutral".

The Bell, which has 1,500 hours on the clock, was bought in Denmark from a private owner. It is based in Cardiff, and managed by Helicharter Wales.

The 407 was chosen from a shortlist of three, says the company's managing partner Jeremy Stone, with the Agusta Koala and Eurocopter AS350B3 the other contenders.

Since EBAN last crossed paths with the Welsh charterer 12 months ago, it has won major contracts with the BBC and Welsh Assembly government. This, together with growing charter and lifting demand, led the acquisition of the Bell.

"We considered only three aircraft could fulfil the need - the Koala, AS350B3 and Bell 407," Stone says. "The Bell won hands down."

He says that though the 407 looks like a 206 LongRanger, it's virtually an all-new machine, with composites, gearbox and rotor head taken from the Kiowa military helicopter.

"She flies incredibly smoothly and can lift pilot plus six with full fuel and baggage, and still ascend with power reserves and cruise at 140 knots. She can lift 1.2 tonnes, too."

The aircraft - registered G-OZAC, after the son of one of Helilux's managing partners - has a leather cabin and an avionics suite, to which Helilux plans to add a Mode S transponder and moving maps for pilot and passengers.

"We love the aircraft - a great passenger and pilot machine; it is a shame and mystery there are so few in the UK, compared to Eire, where there are around 16 with numbers growing swiftly."

Meanwhile, all Helilux's aircraft are now carrying a stencil that reads "Carbon neutral flight".

"We believe there is a duty to mitigate the environmental impact of air travel, yet still contribute to the ever-growing demand for helicopter transport," the firm says.

It has employed the services of the Carbon Neutral Company, which invests in CO2 reduction programmes as well as tree planting.

It also claims that flying point-to-point in its "modern, expertly maintained" helicopters with six passengers is less environ-mentally damaging than going by car or aeroplane.