Prague-based DSA has purchased and renovated an AS355N helicopter at its maintenance centre for resale.

“The AS355N is a well-known helicopter with a proven history and high reliability; it is a twin engine workhorse with good reconfiguration possibilities,” says manager and pilot Roland Vanhees.

“We see a growing market of potential helicopter users demanding quality and professional support,” continues Vanhees. “We do face challenges, because we are a small country with a small market and very specific clientele. We have some political issues and approvals are not always straightforward.”

DSA is the official Enstrom helicopter dealer for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia, and co-organiser of the EFA Prague expo. It is also a Cessna Caravan dealer, an authorised Cessna service centre and holds its own AOC.

The operator began its air rescue service operations in 1993 and in 2000 became a member of the HEMS association of non-state-owned air rescue services. It has five HEMS EC135s based in Hradec Kralove, Ostrava, Liberec, and Usti nad Labem. DSA also uses its aircraft for air taxi operations and for a flight training school, where the company trains its own HEMS co-pilots. Its fleet includes a CitationJet, King Air, Piper PA-34 Seneca, EC120, Enstrom 480B, AS350B3 and AS355 Twin Squirrel. The company performs aerial filming and photography in addition to its other duties.