After years of hiatus, international scheduled traffic returns to Malmi as the German operator Wiking Helikopter Service starts to fly regular helicopter traffic.
On 29 August 2018, the 12-seat helicopter of the German operator Wiking Helikopter Service landed at Malmi. Soon it begins crew transport flights to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline construction site. The helicopter will take experts to the ships and back. In the first stage, there will be flight operations three times per week.
The same kind of traffic was last flown from Malmi in 2011 when the Danish operator Bel Air transported crew in its “Spirit of Malmi Airport” helicopter to and from the Nord Stream gas pipeline construction site.
The chairman of Friends of Malmi Airport, Mr. Timo Hyvönen, welcomes the helicopter to Malmi. “Malmi has been shown to be a logistically outstanding solution when flexible and safe operation is required. The route from Malmi to the sea is short, and even unexpected maintenance needs can be taken care of immediately.”
The base of the helicopter will be a private hangar, as the City would not rent the main hangar for this use.
The continued aviation use of the airport is still an open question, and the situation is convoluted. “Let’s hope that the protection of the airport, now under consideration by the Ministry of the Environment, will be realized, and that the negotiations with City of Helsinki about continued aviation use proceed in good spirit. There’s a strong need of the airport now and in the future”, says Hyvönen.
A large part of the pipeline components are transported via Finland (among others, through Koverhar harbor in Hanko), and the project is of substantial economical significance to Finland too.
Wiking Helikopter Service GmbH: http://wiking-helikopter.de/en/index.php
Nord Stream 2 project: https://www.nord-stream2.com/
Photo: Maria-Pelagea Keurulainen (http://www.malmiairport.fi/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/helikopteri.jpg)
The Agusta Westland 139 helicopter of Wiking Helikopter Service arrived at Malmi Airport on Wednesday 29 August 2018. The helicopter can transport 12 passengers and crew to the pipeline-laying ships. (Photo: Maria-Pelagea Keurulainen)
The photo is free for use in reporting as long as the photographer’s name is mentioned.
Technical specifications of the helicopter:
http://wiking-helikopter.de/en/leonardo-aw139-datas.html