Helicopter Association of Canada, Montreal, QC, November 8, 2014 –Blackcomb Aviation has been awarded the 2014 Airbus Helicopters Canada’s “Innovation in Safety” Award for their dedicated and collaborative approach to ensuring 25 years of safe operations.
This award is presented to a nominee or organization whose business initiatives have demonstrated a great impact on the overall goal of safe flying operations, including skill development, training and committing additional resources to safety programs. The winner, determined by an award selection committee, receives a $10,000 prize.
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Photo Credit: HAC, Left to right – Steve Badran, Blackcomb Aviation, Romain Trapp Airbus Helicopters Canada, Andrew Bradley, Blackcomb Aviation, Terry Irvine, Blackcomb Aviation, Ryan Zant, Blackcomb Aviation
“Safety will always be our number one priority and honouring innovative reinforcement of these practices has become imperative to how we think about the future of our industry,” said Romain Trapp, President and CEO, Airbus Helicopters Canada. “We applaud Blackcomb’s dedication to aviation safety helping drive the industry forward with best practices in the field of safety and are proud to recognize their efforts through the presentation of this award.”
Blackcomb Aviation is a privately-owned helicopter and jet company based in Vancouver, operating primarily in British Columbia and the western United States.
“Safety is integral to every component of our operations,” said Jonathan Burke, President and Chief Operating Officer of Blackcomb Aviation. “We look forward to continuing to work with industry leaders, service providers and our customers to develop and adopt the best safety practices in the industry.”
Blackcomb Aviation has earned a reputation for safety and customer service because of the safe flying initiatives they’ve implemented within their organization. Key safety programs they’ve created or continued in 2014 include:
- Working closely with industry leaders in the development and testing of sensor technology for the power utility market and were the first to initiate the first “Flying in the Wire Environment” course in British Columbia, co-hosted by BC Hydro
- In association with Allteck Power Line Contractors, they’re enhancing safety by using twin-engine aircraft that adhere to OEI (One Engine Inoperative) performance standards
- Reducing risk through the development of approved operating practices and using approved longline transportation systems for rescues, reducing the risk for both the victim and rescuer
In September 2014, Blackcomb Aviation participated in Airbus Helicopters’ Canada’s Hydro Symposium in Toronto, where they shared their approach to safety with a wide variety of organizations involved in hydro operations.
The helicopter industry committee includes: Robert Erdos, Chief Experimental Test Pilot, National Research Council of Canada; Fred Jones, President and CEO, Helicopter Association of Canada; Matt Nicholls, Editor, Helicopters Magazine and Wings Magazine; and Mike Reyno, Photojournalist and Group Publisher, MHM Publishing.
About Blackcomb Aviation
Celebrating its 25th year of operations in 2014, Blackcomb Aviation™ (www.blackcombaviation.com) is a privately-owned helicopter and jet charter company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company operates multiple aircraft out of Canadian and US bases in Vancouver/Richmond at YVR, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Lillooet, Bridge River Valley, Sechelt, Victoria, and Arizona. Blackcomb Aviation holds all current and applicable Air Operator and Aircraft Maintenance Organization certificates and authorities. The company also provides aircraft management services to other aircraft owners and is a designated Aircraft Management Company by the Canadian Business Aircraft Association. Blackcomb Aviation is co-owned by John Morris and by the McLean Group who own and operate Vancouver Film Studios.
About Airbus Helicopters Canada
Airbus Helicopters Canada, formerly Eurocopter Canada, is a subsidiary of Airbus Helicopters and a leading supplier of helicopters in Canada. Our helicopters are used across the country in key parapublic and civil roles which include: law enforcement, emergency medical services, oil & gas, mining, firefighting, hydroelectric utilities, environmental surveys, tour and corporate transport. Airbus Helicopters was established in Fort Erie, Ontario in 1984 and has additional operations in Richmond, British Columbia and Montreal, Quebec as well as a support and customer service network in place to support a fleet of over 680 helicopters in the country. The company is celebrating 30 years of success in Canada this year.
About Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters, formerly Eurocopter, is a division of Airbus Group, a global pioneer in aerospace and defense related services. Airbus Helicopters is the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer and employs more than 23,000 people worldwide. With 46 percent market share in civil and parapublic sectors, the company’s fleet in service includes some 12,000 helicopters operated by more than 3,000 customers in approximately 150 countries. Airbus Helicopters’ international presence is marked by its customer centers and participations in 21 countries, and its worldwide network of service centers, training facilities, distributors and certified agents. Airbus Helicopters’ range of civil and military helicopters is the world’s largest; its aircraft account for one third of the worldwide civil and parapublic fleet. The company’s chief priority is to ensure the safe operation of its aircraft for the thousands of people who fly more than 3 million hours per year.
For more information please contact:
Stéphane Chéry Laura Senecal
Tel: + 33 (0)4 42 85 60 51 Tel: 613-230-3902 ext 226
Mob: + 33 (0)6 23 93 71 23 Mob: 905-321-7738
