BHS Aviation expects to emerge into the post-COVID-19 world with a new air operator certificate (AOC) and a recovering market for its helicopter and fixed-wing charter operations in Germany and Switzerland.
A new corporate structure “will bring a lot of opportunities, and a lot of new projects,“ says BHS CEO Maximilian Stoschek. Last year Bamberg, Germany-based BHS acquired the Swiss helicopter business of its Stuttgart, Germany-based cooperation partner, DC Aviation, to bring critical mass to its helicopter business, while allowing each company to focus on rotary- and fixed-wing charter and management, respectively. They both operated under DC Aviation’s AOC, but BHS soon expects to be awarded its own for its helicopter operations.
BHS, which originated with the auto parts company Brose, operates four twin-engine helicopters—an Airbus EC135 and EC155 and an AgustaWestland AW109SP and AW139—from its two bases in Bamberg and Zurich. All are used primarily for VIP and business transport.
Plans involve end-of-journey helicopter transportation for DC Aviation’s fixed-wing charter customers, perhaps to and from ski resorts in Switzerland, as well as a growing opportunity for VIP and business helicopter charters in Germany and Switzerland. Stoschek also plans to take the company into rotorcraft management and charter brokerage. “We are looking for operators who can bring us a helicopter to manage, and our sales team is growing internally in order to make a full booking for jets or helicopters,” he says.
The last two months have proven difficult for BHS, with no flights as Germany remained under lockdown. “It’s a little better in May; it’s coming back very, very slowly. So we’ve taken the time to prepare for post-Covid and our own AOC,” Stoschek notes.
He expects returning business will be mostly for flights inside Germany, as well as to destinations with about 1.5 hr. away in Austria, Italy and Switzerland.
