Swiss operator Heli Lausanne has taken delivery of an AS350B3e helicopter which it will use for taxi flights, sightseeing, aerial work and heliski. “We had an AS350B2 with a 12-year maintenance check approaching,” says quality and safety manager Daniel Grandguillaume. “This machine was pretty old, a 1978 build, so we decided to sell it and invest in the latest generation. We looked at the market for available and recent B3e rotorcraft and finally settled on a Swiss broker.”

The B3e will deliver more power and a higher cruise speed while offering clients a more modern exterior and interior look. It is due to be configured with vip leather seats.

“Trying to cope with EASA regulations has placed us under great strain and we can only make a small profit,” explains Grandguillaume. Competition in the area is also rife, with four or five rival operators vying for business. He is therefore aiming to attract more vip and sightseeing flights from hotels, and to achieve this is offering a diverse fleet of three different helicopters: the latest Squirrel, a Colibri EC120 and an AS355 twin. “We can offer different prices with different types of helicopters,” he concludes.