BB Heli AG Zurich is targeting the purchase of an EC135 or Bell 429 to expand its operations. Its current aircraft include a 206 JetRanger and two EC120B Colibris. "Either helicopter would complement our fleet and help us service demand," says BB Heli's Markus Baumann.

He says all areas of activity - which include charter, survey and surveillance, photography and film, aerial works, sightseeing and leisure are expanding. Many of the sight-seeing tours start from Kloten but vary from taking in an island monastery to viewing glaciers. Baumann also reports rising demand for BB Heli's pilot training courses.