The Leonardo AW139 destined for the scheduled service between Penzance Heliport and the Isles of Scilly was one of the helicopter industry’s first #COVID19 casualties. The helicopter became quarantined in China early in 2020 when the pandemic took hold. Consequently the route started as planned on March 17 using two Leonardo AW109SP GrandNew helicopters, but lasted a handful of days before it too was forced to close by the pandemic on March 23.

Penzance Helicopters are now showing flights restarting Saturday 4th July on their website with all seats already booked outbound from Penzance on the opening day to both destinations – St Mary’s and Tresco.  Flights are operated by AOC holder Sloane Helicopters

Separately, it would appear that progress is being made with a AW139 helicopter yesterday being added to the British CAA register as G-PIOS (initials of “Penzance – Isles Of Scilly”) in the name of leasing company LCI Helicopters. The aircraft was previously leased to Shanghai King Wing General Aviation in China and will need to be reconfigured for the passenger service it will be flying, as well as repainted in Penzance Helicopters colours – presumably in the scheme of their CGI image seen below.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com