Report: Irish Helicopter Licenses Up 400 Percent

The number of private helicopter licenses Ireland issued has risen 400 percent in the last 10 years, according to the Irish news Web site Business World. It said high-flying business people seeking ways to beat the traffic drove the demand. In January, the Irish Aviation Authority said, 199 people held private pilot licenses for helicopters. In 1999, 51 people held such licenses. According to the report, there also has been a 150 percent rise in the number of commercial helicopter pilot licenses; in January there were 91. For related news