KLM Helikopters
{{Short description|Defunct Dutch helicopter airline}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = KLM Helikopters
| image = File:KLM Helikopters logo.svg
| image_size = 180
| IATA = KL
| ICAO = AMS
| callsign = KLM HELI
| founded = October 1965
| commenced =
| ceased = 1998
| hubs = Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
| secondary_hubs = Den Helder Airport
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer =
| alliance =
| subsidiaries =
| fleet_size = 11
| destinations = North Sea oil rigs
| parent = KLM
| headquarters = Amsterdam, Netherlands
| key_people = Dr M. S. Kamminga (Manager)
H. Zeedijk (Chief pilot)
| website =
}}
KLM Helikopters N.V. was a Dutch civil helicopter operator founded in 1965, and was wholly owned subsidiary of KLM.
History
Also known as KLM Noordzee Helikopters the company provided offshore support flights, charters, and search and rescue. Their fleet consisted of seven Sikorsky S-61N's, four Sikorsky S-76B's, two Sikorsky S-58T's and two MBB Bo 105's.{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1978/1978%20-%200661.html|title= Airline Directory 1978 pg. 1173|publisher= flightglobal.com |date=|accessdate=5 February 2016}} In 1991 the company expanded when Era Helicopters a division of Era Aviation acquire a 49% of KLM, and provided them with growth in Alaska region. until the company was sold to Schreiner Airways in 1998.{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1997/1997%20-%202205.html|title=Schreiner to KLM Era pg. 21|publisher= flightglobal.com |date=September 1997|accessdate=5 February 2016}}{{cite web|url= http://www.helis.com/database/org/nl_klm_helicopters/|title= KLM Helikopters|publisher= |date=|accessdate=5 February 2016}}
Fleet
File:PH-NZD S61N KLM Helikopters (5312582949) (2).jpg
KLM Helikopters operated the following helicopter types:{{cite web|url=http://aerobernie.bplaced.net/KLM%20Helicopters.html|title=KLM Helicopters|website=Aerobernie.bplaced.net|access-date=April 12, 2023}}
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ KLM Helikopters fleet |
| Aircraft
!Total !Introduced !Retired !Notes |
|---|
| MBB Bo 105C
|1 |1976 |1982 | |
| MBB Bo 105Cbs-4
|2 |1993 |1994 | |
| Sikorsky S-58
|2 |1975 |1980 | |
| Sikorsky S-61N
|9 |1969 |1998 | |
| Sikorsky S-62
|1 |1967 |1972 | |
| Sikorsky S-76B
|8 |1986 |1998 | |
Accidents
- On May 10, 1974 KLM Noordzee Helikopters Sikorsky S-61N PH-NZC crashed en route to an oil rig in the North Sea. None of the two crew and four passengers survived. The probable cause was a failure in one of five rotor blades due to metal fatigue.
- On December 29, 1990, a Sikorsky S-61N was in a hover when serious vibrations were experienced. After touchdown one of the main rotor blades struck the fuselage and detached before the engines were shut down, no injuries were reported.{{cite web|url= https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1991/1991%20-%200121.html |title= KLM grounds Sikorskys pg. 11|publisher= flightglobal.com |date= January 1991|accessdate=5 February 2016}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal bar|Netherlands|Companies|Aviation|Transport}}
{{Airlines of the Netherlands}}
Category:Defunct airlines of the Netherlands
Category:Airlines established in 1965