Jetflite Challenger for COVID-19 Medevac Flights

摘要

FINNISH CHARTER operator Jetflite has used its newly delivered Bombardier Challenger 650 for a series of medevac flights to repatriate patients impacted by COVID-19 from its base in Helsinki to locations around the world. The aircraft was handed over to the owners of Jetflite, Wihuri Group, in late March and immediately began repatriating patients, visiting ten countries across three continents in five days. Destinations included Portugal, Italy, Mali, the Canary Islands, Liberia, South Africa, Seychelles, Afghanistan and Estonia. By the end of its second week in service, the jet had accrued more than 100 flying hours. Erina Karjalainen, Jetflite's managing director, said: "Our fleet is always busy, but completing the first 100 hours inside 14 days directly out of the factory was something of a record, particularly in light of the challenges in flight route-planning, obtaining diplomatic clearances and booking risk-free crew accommodation during the [pandemic]."BUSINESS AVIATION NEWS BY NIGEL PITTAWAY