British International Group

The British International Group

The scheduled services from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly were only one part of the operations of British International. The company owns and operates helicopters and heliports.

Of the Sikorsky S-61Ns, two normally operated the service to Scilly from spring to autumn and one during the winter months. Two S-61Ns are based in the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, providing transport for the Falklands Islands Garrison from the main base at Mount Pleasant airfield. Most of the supplies of fuel and food, together with mail, depend on the air services flown by British International. Other S-61Ns were used to back up the Penzance operation if required, provide support to off-shore oil and gas exploration, or to provide specialist lift capability for the Royal Navy and to the major NATO naval exercises which take place throughout the year off the west coast of Scotland.

Support to the Royal Navy is provided by the two Aerospatiale Dauphin helicopters based at Newquay airport. These undertake ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore transfers of personnel, VIP communications, radar calibration work, and also deliver the air element of the Flight Deck Training Unit at RNAS Culdrose.

British International / Veritair also has a base at Cardiff, operating light helicopters on a range of roles including police air support.

An S-61N full flight simulator is operated at Bournemouth International Airport providing training and validation for S-61N operators worldwide. The company also provided engineering support to the DHC Dash 8s of Air Southwest at Plymouth.

British International