Off to Balzers – Valair Helicopters moves to a new location
After 18 years in Sitterdorf (Thurgau), Valair Helicopters is relocating its centre of operations. The heliport in Balzers, Liechtenstein, has been a hive of construction activity this summer. Expansion work to turn it into a modern helicopter station is almost completed and Valair has already organised its relocation to the cloud free Sarganserland region.
For Hansruedi Amrhein, managing director of Valair, the new location situated at the gateway to the Alps is absolutely perfect: “From Balzers, we can coordinate our range of services much better!” Since January 2018, it’s now much easier for Valair customers to book helicopter tours through the Swiss mountains, taxi flights, flight training and mountain training. The heliport also has excellent transport connections. With immediate effect, the R44 Raven II and the R66 Turbine helicopters are now available for training and charter flights starting from Balzers.
The only aviation location in the Principality of Liechtenstein
Situated right beside the Rhine, the heliport has been in operation since 1980 and is the only air traffic location in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Up until now, it has primarily been used for work, business, training and instruction flights, but also for rescue and operational flights and increasingly for sport and recreation flights as well.
“There’s much more space, better light, it’s well-organised and warm – I’ve been dreaming of something like this for years!” Maintenance Director Arthur Hofer exclaims. Thanks to a considerably better infrastructure and twice as much space, it is now possible to bring together overhaul projects, concurrent servicing work and flight operations all under one roof. The base offers ideal conditions for training courses and demonstrations.
The services will be extended
“With this expansion work to create the biggest, most high-tech helicopter base in Switzerland/Liechtenstein, Valair is now in an ideal position to expand the range of services we offer,” said Walter van der Geest, member of the administrative board. The move from Thurgau to Liechtenstein also means that we no longer expect to face limitations caused by fog in the autumn and winter months.
The sites in Sitterdorf and Zurich will continue to be used for flight operations. Major maintenance work is due to start in Balzers immediately.
The Valair team is already raring to go and is busy preparing several surprises for flight enthusiasts and business clients alike as part of the process of relocating to Balzers.
Bleiben Sie dran – coming soon!