TSL Contractors said it decided to launch Skyhook Helicopters as it believes there is a wider need for such an offering.

Andy Knight, managing director of TSL and a director of the new service, told The Herald: “Early this year we were asked to assess a scheme on Ben More, Isle of Mull, and it became obvious that there was going to be a lot of helicopter involvement due to significant environmental requirements.

“When we started to get the job organised, we concluded that from both a cost and logistical point of view, a helicopter lifting service based on the west coast would be a significant advantage.”

The firm’s initial target area is a radius of about half an hour or 60 miles, therefore covering local islands as well as Inverness, Glasgow, Perth and Ayrshire.

The service is being provided via a modern highlift capacity Eurocopter AS350B3 helicopter,

TSL, which started out in 1979, will also use the vehicle itself.

Mr Knight said he believes it will be of interest to a wide range of industries, including other construction companies, utility firms, hydro contractors, fish farms as well as the agriculture and forestry sector.

Over time, the investment “will prove successful,” he predicted.