For a long time, Air-Glaciers was known to operate just SA-315 Lama and SA-316 / 319 Alouette III helicopters. It was only in 2001 that famous swiss pioneer Bruno Bagnoud finally "gave" in and ordered the first AS-350B3 helicopter for Air-Glaciers. Built in 2001 and registered HB-ZCZ in August that year, this helicopter wrote history for Air-Glaciers. It should serve the company well for the next almost 23 years till April 2, 2024, when it was unfortunately involved in an accident at the Petit Combin mountain in the canton of Valais, with three of the six occupants being killed.

In April 2021, N43CU became Coulson's 5th CH-47D. Originally built as a CH-47C (cn B736 / US FY # 74-22272), it was remanufactured / modified to CH-47D standard in 1990. Interestingly, new c/n M3334 plus new US FY # 90-00182 was assigned to this airfame during the upgrade. Retired by the US Army around 2015, apparently becoming N160BE (not confirmed) with Unical and then N43CU in August 2019 (confirmed). The Edison sticker and the "L.A. County Fire" title reveal the heli has been contracted by the electrical company to combat fires within the LA County at the time the picture was taken.

SKA International Group was founded in 2003 and prides itself as "doing difficult jobs in difficult places is what we do best!". As such, SKA operates and flies into hostile places like Iraq, Yemen and Somolia, to name a few. Built in 1979, 5X-IRE started its career with Avianca and SAM Colombia (as N202AV). Converted to a freighter in early 1995, DHL operated till September 2011 (as N741DH) before being sold to SKA in Africa (as ZS-IRE and 5X-IRE). Finally registered as 5Y-IRE with SAFE Air and w/o on March 31, 2024 during a landing accident at Malakal Airstrip, South Sudan.

Built in May 2021 with test registration SP-YVL, N476DF shown here is number 9 of 12 Firehawks initially ordered by CAL Fire (a follow-up order for 4 additional Firehawks has since been placed). The heli briefly carried fleet number 305 (for Prado Helitack base) but has since received # 608, as all CAL Fire Firehawks are getting a 6XX fleet number. The reason is that they will be moved around between the various Helitack bases throughout California for operational and maintenance reasons, and will not be assigned to a fixed base like the UH-1 Huey's they replace.

This aircraft is ex US Coast Guard serial 1708 and has registration N464DF reserved (previously assigned to a Cessna 337 Skymaster), but no civil registration is worn at the photo date. It flew with the US Forest Service as "Tanker 116" during the 2017 fire season and was reported to become N116Z eventually, a registration reserved by the US Forest Service since 1997. However, there is no proof that this registration was ever carried by this aircraft, which was handed over to CAL Fire after a 2018 US Forest Service decision to abandon its Hercules fleet.

On July 6, 2022, ROTAK took delivery of its first two CH-47D from Columbia Helicopters. The two helis (both ex US Army a/c) were N377RA and N388RA. Unfortunately, the latter was destroyed on July 21, 2022 already, killing both crew. N366RA shown here was built in 1980 as a CH-47C (FY serial # 79-23400) and in 1991/92 was modified to the CH-47D standard, becoming 91-00244. It joined the ROTAK fleet in November 2022, getting this attractive and colorful livery. A 4th CH-47D (N344RA, ex 86-01663) was delivered to ROTAK as recent as January 2024. The company also operates three Kaman K-Max's.

Capitol Helicopters, based at Sacramento Executive Airport (KSAC), was founded in 2014 and operates more than 20 turbine powered helicopters. Among the fleet are three UH-60A Blackhawks (N602NC, N603CK and N605CK). Other types operated for utility aerial work such as firefighting, search and rescue, construction and other external loads are Bell 205, Bell 212S, Bell 407, Bell 429 and MD500F.

The San Diego Fire Department currently operates two helicopters out of Montgomery airfield: this 2017 built Firehawk plus one Bell 412 (with a 2nd on order as of March 2024) can be dispatched for SAR and firesuppressing duties. A 1980 built Bell 212 was also operated till 2023, when technical issues grounded the helicopter. The SDFD's original intend was to aquire three Firehawks, but increase in cost lead to the decision to operate a mixed fleet.

This 2018 built S-70i was the 1st of 12 Firehawks ordered by CAL Fire. It initially carried fleet number 903 but has since been renumbered to 611. Seen here resting at the Prado Helitack base (adjacent to a prison facility) south of the city of Chino. The base is to become CAL Fire's main helicopter hub in Southern Californina. A follow-up order for 4 additional Firehawks is currently being exercised. The fleet of 16 Firehawks will allow to keep enough in service, while a few will either serve as back-up or undergo maintenance.

This 2011 built AW139 had a rather short life, as it was destroyed during an accident on June 30, 2011 already, at the very location this picture was taken a bare three month before. The accident happened during a training flight and before the aircraft joined the growing AgustaWestland fleet of Weststar. Luckily, none of the three persons on board was killed.

Founded in 2013 as successor to Air Malawi (active between 1963 and late 2012), Malawian Airlines is a joint venture between Ethiopian Airlines (holding a 49% share) and the Malawi Government, owing 51%. ET-AQB shown here was leased from Ethiopian between January 2014 and October 2023, the month it was replaced by a leased Ethiopian B737-700 (registered ET-AVP). In 2016, the titles on ET-AQB were slightly changed from "Malawian" to simply "Malawi".

Till 2003, this 1989 built airframe flew for Condor and Lufthansa as D-ABWF. Sold to chinese carrier Yangtze River Express as B-5055 which operated it as freighter till the end of 2016. Next stop was with congolese airline "Serve Air" (registered 9Q-DHJ and 9S-AHJ) before Trigana Air Service bought it in late 2021. The aircraft has no fixed base and for technical and operational reasons is being moved back and forth between Trigana's western (Java) and eastern (Papua) area of operation.

After a long career all over the world (refer to Photo ID 656384 for details), this 1986 built airframe ended up in Indonesia in late 2012. Since then, it's hauling cargo almost daily from the coastal city of Jayapura-Sentani to Wamena (Papua Province). It's first indonesian "stop" was Trigana Air (as PK-YSE) till April 2015, before taken over by Cardig Air which operated it for four years till December 2019. PK-BBC then changed ownership once again, currently flying for Jayawijaya under registration PK-JRB (2.). I was luckly to catch this airframe in all three indonesian airlines liveries.

Founded in late 2007, VietJet was Vietnam's first private airlines, even tough not the first to take to the air (that was Indochina Airlines). It was not until four years later that VietJet's first operational flight took-off in December 2011. However, since then VietJet's fleet rapidly grew to a currently 85 aircraft strong all Airbus fleet, consisting of Airbus A320, A321 and seven A330's. At the time of upload, VietJet operates 24 A321Neo's, with an other 88 on order. Also on order are 188 Boeing B737 Max (of which some will go to Thai VietJet) to be delivered till 2028.

This 2017 built airframe is one of eight B777-F freighters currently operated by Turkish Airlines Cargo, and the 2nd delivered. They carry registrations TC-LJL, TC-LJM, TC-LJN, TC-LJO, TC-LJP, TC-LJR, TC-LJS and TC-LJT. All were delivered between November 2017 and March 2020. With a total of some 340 aircraft as of December 2023, Turkish Airlines currently serves 300 destinations and thus ranks - in almost every regard - among the top 10 airlines worldwide.

This 1986 built airframe started its career as PT-TEA (Transbrasil). Next stops were Aloha Airlines & Vanguard Airlines (both as N303AL), then w/ America West Airlines as N330AW from July of 1997. Registration B-2165 was assigned w/ Shandong Airlines in early 2002, followed by TF-BBX in September 2003 (Bluebird Cargo), XA-UDQ w/ Estafeta Carga Aerea in April 2005, and Aeroflot as VP-BCJ between April 2008 and September 2009. Safair then flew it as ZS-SMG before Trigana Air took it on strength as PK-YSE (04/2013). Cardig Air was next (PK-BBC), now w/ Jayawijaya Dirgantara as PK-JRB since 2019.

Before joining Wucher Helicopter in October of 2021, this 2006 built EC135 has already been operated by various european companies. It's career started in Spain as EC-KKF with INAER (operated for the Spanish Police) till May 2011, when DK Helicopter in Germany bought it as D-HHDL. That same year, it was sold to Bond Aviation UK which operated it as G-CGCD for the East Anglican Air Ambulance. Back to INEAR as EC-MHG in April 2015 (still in HEMS configuration). Finally, between December 2018 and October 2021, it flew as Air Ambulance "SAMU 11" in France, registered F-HBDN.

This 2015 built EC130 was the first of the more powerful version T2 on the swiss register, and also the first and so far sole EC130 operated by Air Zermatt. Based at Zermatt heliport at 1600m/AMSL, HB-ZAZ was mainly used for scenic and taxi flights. The EC130 is not very popular in Switzerland - certainly not for aerial work - and it seems that Air Zermatt was not too happy with it either. Otherwise, it would not have been sold to Romania as YR-FRA in October 2023, after only being with Air Zermatt for eight years, and without being replaced.

This 1982 built Bell 222 became the presidental helicopter of Madagascar in late 2003. Previous registrations of this airframe were N1982P, N18UC, N990JB, C-GSVD, N32GH, XA-SII, and N444MA. It was operated by Madagascar's small Air Force but actually flown by foreign pilots. After less than two years in service, it was written off after an accident on October 12, 2005. Coming in a bit too fast and with tailwind, the underpowered helicopter hit the ground hard, rolled over and caught fire. Luckily, all seven persons on board - incl. the then president Marc Ravolomanana - walked away unhurt.

Seen taking off from Chamonix Mont Blanc Hélicoptères's Heliport near the village of Argentière, is this 2012 built Ecureuil. The heliport is situated at the feet of the famous Argentière-Glacier, a touristic hot spot in the Mont Blanc area (Europe's tallest peak). Blugoen operates a few AS-350B3, and leases heavier helicopters from Rotox (K-Max) and Heliswiss International (KA-32 and AS-332) if need be. Note the "Maximum Pilot View Kit" installed on the pilot side of F-HSBH, a modification developped by Swiss Rotor Services, increasing the pilot's view by factor 10.