Helitrans is strengthening its position in Western Norway and has established a base at Bømoen in Voss with a helicopter, hangar and its own team to carry out cargo assignments and passenger transport in the region.

Helitrans has its head office at Værnes in Trøndelag, and is the largest domestic helicopter operator in Norway with 21 helicopters and over 100 employees spread over 14 bases from Kristiansand in the south to Tana in the north. In the region, they previously had bases at Kjevik, Ljosland (Åseral), Stavanger and Sauda.

The establishment at Voss is long-term, and they have signed a lease agreement for a hangar for 5 years.

The general manager of Helitrans, Ole Christian Melhus, is very satisfied with the establishment of the base at Voss.

“West Norway is a focus area for Helitrans, and the location at Voss covers large parts of the region and will be optimal for our customers,” says Melhus.

Stian Solberg, assistant flight commander at Helitrans, becomes base commander at Voss. He brings with him the pilots Kristian Moxnes and Bjørn Olav Aarra, both living in Voss.

“Using local crews is important in Helitrans’s future investment to have crews with local knowledge to be able to serve customers quickly and efficiently,” says Melhus.

In addition, Helitrans will use local forces and resources to operate the base, and collaborate with local companies for fuel and other logistics.

– We are happy to be able to contribute with jobs at Voss, says Ole Christian Melhus, general manager of Helitrans.

Helitrans’ choice of Voss is justified by its central location in Western Norway.

– Now we are even closer to our customers in Hordaland, and have got a good location to cover large parts of Vestland, says Stian Solberg.

In addition to ordinary missions such as cargo flying for the power industry, the cabin crew, not least, skid protection for railways and roads, is the type of mission Helitrans does for customers. They have already started work for Statnett where work is being done on lines to secure the power grid.

The base at Voss will also be part of fire preparedness, if necessary, through Helitrans’ agreement with the Directorate for Community Safety and Emergency Preparedness (DSB). At the large heather and forest fire on Sotra last summer, Helitrans was responsible for extinguishing it from a helicopter.

– We also see that passenger transport is becoming more and more in demand, and in addition we hope for a close collaboration with the local parachute club. Having active athlete Kristian Moxnes (world champion in freeflying parachute) on the team as a pilot is no disadvantage either, says Solberg.

A strongly growing tourist market that demands experiences, cooperation with tourism players and, not least, cruise companies also gives Helitrans new and more assignments.

“We offer sightseeing tours both via the established tourism industry, as well as directly to groups that request this,” says Solberg.