S61 - Who is Operating?
 

Just a quick question for members. Who around the world is still operating the S61.

Thanks for your help.

Croman, Carson, CHI, Withrotor.

AirGreenland

N registered

FAA Registry - Aircraft - Make / Model Inquiry

https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalap...rcrafttype=s61

Also Spanish Coastguard

Doesn't the US State Department operate the largest S-61 fleet these days?

New S-61 Helos for the US Government

HNZ/CHL has 3 they still operate I believe.

Brittish International in the Falklands

Heli-Carrier in Quebec operating an ex Cougar 61.

Coulson Aviation out of Port Alberni operate two 61's, mainly on logging and fire fighting.

The State Department sold most of their S-61's in 2016.

Ah. Who to?

Stored
 

The S-61N's used on the state department were stop gaps until the converted ex SeaKings to Triton spec.
The S-61's are all currently in storage as some of the mods done to them were not approved and leaves they in a grey area.

That's surprising, as they were ramping up their fleet quite significantly in 2011 I seem to recall. They had about 30 under contract, and were authorised to buy 110 of them.


Any word on why they retired them all so suddenly?

A friend flys a US registered 61 for the USN test centre in the Bahamas ...don't know who the operator is.
Yes I am jealous of him. LOL

I think I have never seen many people talk negative things about the S-61, perhaps no one as I can recall. Was this the best "non modern technology" large type helicopter ever built?

Every pilot we have ever interviewed about the S61 has always been complimentary - don't think I have ever heard a bad word against that helo - unlike many of todays modern ones :)

AUTEC run 61's for Bahamas gig. Many happy hours flying 61, always felt comfortable in it even in turbulence.

Carson is gone. Coulson, and HTS are operating them in the US, maybe others.