MORAINE AIRWAYS: United States (1971-1973). Jimmie D’Amato sets up Moraine Airways at Waukesha, Wisconsin, in the late fall of 1971 to provide scheduled daily passenger and cargo roundtrips to Fond du Lac and Chicago (ORD). Regular de Havilland Canada DHC-6-100 Twin Otter flights are inaugurated on December 20.
Early in 1972, The Leasing Corporation of Boston, Massachusetts, purchases the carrier, keeping it in business until January 9, 1973.
MOREFLY, A. S.: Alesund Apt. Vigra, N-6040, Norway; Phone 47 7018 3500; Fax 47 7018 3771; Year Founded 1955. A. S. Morefly is established at Alesund in 1955 to offer charter services to Vigra and other coastal destinations. A decade later, in 1966, the company begins helicopter flights by placing a Bell 47 into domestic service. The nation’s first Bell 206B JetRanger is acquired in 1967. Both American machines are employed in passenger air taxi operations. Operations continue apace during the remainder of the decade and through the 1970s.
The company places its first Aerospatiale AS-350 into service in 1979. The company continues to emphasize onshore domestic operations during the 1980s, including agricultural services, emergency medical services (EMS), power plant service, sight-seeing, and other similar activities. These are further supported by the addition of two Bell 205As and a Bell 214B.
In late 1985, General Manager Per Erik Dalen obtains two Cessna 441s that are employed to undertake air ambulance and air taxi flights, passenger and cargo charters, and scheduled flights to Aberdeen, Scotland. Two years later, in 1987, an AS-365N Dauphin is acquired specifically for a new EMS contract.
In 1988, a three-year plan is developed to upgrade the company in order to acquire offshore support contracts. Two Beech Super King Air 200s are also acquired. An AS-332L Super Puma is leased from Bristow Helicopters, Ltd. in 1989 and is placed into service on a search and rescue contract acquired from the Norwegian government.
When, late in 1990, the company’s principal shareholder becomes ill, his portfolio is put up for sale. As a result, a 44.5% interest is taken in Morefly, the nation’s second oldest helicopter operator, by Helikopter Service, A. S., the nation’s oldest. An option is also taken for the purchase of additional shareholding within the next four years and He-likopter Service, A. S. President Christian Brinch becomes the Morefly chairman. During the year, cost cutting measures are undertaken, including the shrinking of the fixed-wing fleet to 1 of each owned aircraft
Type.
Airline employment in 1991 stands at 90 (10 pilots) and the fleet is increased during the spring by 2 owned AS-332L Super Pumas. On August 1, the new aircraft begin operating a five-year offshore support contract for Statoil from Bergen. Upwards of 24 flights per day are offered to the Gulifaks, Statfjord, and Veslefrikk platforms. Revenues for the year total Nkr 90 million ($13.9 million).
The fleet in 1992 includes not only the 3 Super Pumas, but 1 Dauphin, 4 AS-350s, 2 Bell 205As, and 1 Bell 214B. When Helikopter Service, A. S. receives a five-year government contract in May 1993 to provide emergency medical services, those services are launched by helicopters flown by Morefly and Lufttransport, A. S. from bases at Tromson, Bronnoysund, and Vigra.
Flights continue in 1994 and Managing Director Per Erik Dalen’s fleet includes 1 Bell 214B and 2 each Eurocopter AS-350Bs, AS-350B1s, AS-332Ls, SA-365Ns, and Bell 205s.
Operations continue apace in 1995-1999, and, by the latter year the fleet includes 3 AS-350B and SA-365Ns, plus 2 each AS-332Ls and Bell 205As.
World History
