Sabena and KLM helicopters

[AOMD88]

Hi,

I've seen pictures and some memorabilia in the net about the helicopter divisions of KLM and Sabena. I think KLM helicopters did chiefly oil ring workers transportation, and aerial photographs, am I right ?

What about Sabena? I've seen some large helicopters depicted and I think they might have had some kind of communter network in Belgium .

Did any of these two carriers operate scheduled services, perhaps on behalf of KLM / Sabena ? Is there any good resource that you know of where I can learn more about these operations ?

[andorra-airport]

Sabena:

ON Tuesday last, September 1st, (1953) Sabena inaugurated their
inter-city helicopter passenger services on several of the
routes over which they have been successfully operating mail
flights for many months past, using Bell 47Ds and Sikorsky
S-55s. The passenger routes are Brussels-Lille (twice daily in
each direction), Brussels-Antwerp-Rotterdam (three times daily
each way) and Brussels-Liege-Maastricht-Brussels (once daily).
For these services the S-55s are being employed, and the Liege
service is soon to be extended to Cologne and Bonn. Early next
year it is planned to open yet another route, to Luxembourg
and Saarbrucken.

[Stij]

In Liège, the helicopter terminal was in the city centre, near the Pont Albert. The terminal is actually still there (as is the helicopter landing site, still active) but now there''s a very nice restaurant in the terminal named... Heliport. It's not cheap, but it's excellent and when the weather is nice, you can eat outside next to the river Meuse. Awesome.

Cheers,

Stij

[Acid-drop]

Stij,

It seems that you know well the place I never had the chance to sit in this restaurant but the feedback I had is very good indeed.
what it is now : http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7544097
We almost never see an heli there though :/

[Bruspotter]

Hello

Nice heliport it seems, over there.
If I'm not mistaken than Sabena did also transported loads of post with their helikopters as well, or maybe that was later when pax ciphers starting to decrease?

Regards, Yannick

[jan_olieslagers]

Bell 47 was used specifically for mail - would not be very efficient for pax anyway... That was before the pax services started. Sabena did indeed operate a commuter network with S55's and later S58's, the network included at least Brussels, Antwerpen, Eindhoven, Rotterdam. During the 1958 world exposition two Boeing Vertol V44's were rented to increase capacity.
BTW Brussels had a nice heliport too, near present North Station and the Groendreef/Allée Verte. There is still an "avenue de l'héliport" / "helihavenlaan" round there.

http://www.asa-be.com/images/PhotoGalle ... -SHA-1.jpg looks like Haren/Evere airport (or is it Melsbroek?)
http://www.asa-be.com/images/PhotoGalle ... OO-SHN.jpg reported to be in Liège indeed!
http://www.asa-be.com/images/PhotoGalle ... OO-SHP.jpg at EBAW

More goodies at following link, I hope it doesn't get broken:
http://images.google.be/imgres?imgurl=h ... l%26sa%3DG

[sn26567]

I had the pleasure to fly a Sabena S58 from Liège to Brussels Groendreef/Allée Verte with an intermediate stop at Zaventem (where most passengers disembarked) and back. It was a wonderful experience.

[Stij]

It seems that you know well the place.

My business brings me often in the province of Liège and I'm fortunate enough that I "have"to invite customers for lunch. And, well basically, the restaurant impresses them always. But honestly, when I have to lunch alone, I always go to "Le Concordia" in the Rue des Guillemins. Try the skate or the steak tartare there. Delicious!

Cheers,

Stij

P.S. I admit, of topic.

[Acid-drop]

You can invite me anytime, lol
(the second one is a very good choice too, you know what you are doing )

[AOMD88]

Thanks guys, very interesting answers ! it is pitty that this network is no longer in service, I guess inside Belgium road/rail posed enough competition and for international traffic, pax prefered the confort of planes ... but still, landing in the very city centre is a big plus !

[Stij]

Thanks guys, very interesting answers ! it is pitty that this network is no longer in service, I guess inside Belgium road/rail posed enough competition and for international traffic, pax prefered the confort of planes ... but still, landing in the very city centre is a big plus !

These helicopter flights were there before the highway network of Belgium was finished. For our Liège Brussels example: you can take the highway in the Liège city centre and get out of the tunnels in Brussels city centre. Even with a helicopter one wouldn't be able to beat that time. Same with the train since the high speed network is finished.

I guess helicopters are one viable in HEAVILY congested area's like (New York) or when water is involved (Vancouver)

Cheers,

Stij

[jan_olieslagers]

I guess inside Belgium road/rail posed enough competition

True enough, and not only inside Belgium: Brussels-Paris and Brussels-London City flights were discontinued due to better offer from high speed trains.

[wukwiljezeggen]

This is a video of the only Sabena helicopter still flying (also ex BAF)