Operator Highlights

Blackcomb Aviation

Celebrating its 25th year of operations in 2014, Blackcomb Aviation 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 operates a variety of Airbus Helicopters aircraft including multiple AS350’s, AS355’s, an EC120 and EC135.

Main Missions: Hydro-Utility, search & rescue, sightseeing, filming, heliskiing and executive travel.

Calgary Police Service

In 1995, the CPS HAWC went airborne on its inaugural operational flight making Calgary the first municipal police agency in Canada to have a full-time patrol helicopter program.

The CPS Air Support Unit flies two EC120 helicopters. Both aircraft have a range of specialized equipment. They operate a daylight/thermal imager camera and have the latest technology in mapping systems to get them where they need to be quickly. Both EC120’s are equipped for night operations.

Main Missions: Repond to life threatening incidents, air support for ground units, crime prevention through aerial patrol and search & rescue operations.

CHC Helicopter

Throughout their history, CHC has evolved, from crop dusting in British Columbia, to transporting passengers to the world’s most remote offshore drilling locations in the North Sea.

In 1987, a merger between Toronto Helicopters and Sealand Helicopters led to the creation of Canadian Holding Company, or CHC. Since then, CHC has expanded into the largest helicopter services company in the world.

CHC currently operates multiple AS332’s, AS350’s, AS365’s, EC225’s and EC155’s in dozens of countries around the globe.

Main Missions: Offshore transport, search & rescue and emergency medical services.

Canadian Helicopters Limited

CHL is the largest helicopter transportation services company operating in Canada with a network of 26 strategically located bases providing operations in every geographical region in the country. Canadian Helicopters is an integral part of the HNZ Group of Companies, which collectively provides transportation services on an international level.

CHL operates the largest Airbus Helicopters fleet in Canada including multiple AS350’s, AS355’s and an EC120.

Main Missions: Oil & Gas, mineral exploration, military support, hydro/ utilities, forest management, construction, air ambulance and search & rescue.

Coast to Coast Helicopters

Coast to Coast Helicopters group is the largest privately owned helicopter business in Canada. Their fleet is composed of 19 varieties including medium, intermediate and light lift helicopters and fixed wing, operating from a global network of bases. In the last decade, several reputable operators from across Canada have joined Coast to Coast including; Mustang Helicopters, Heli-Excel and Heli-Inter.

In December 2010, Coast to Coast took delivery of the 600th Airbus Helicopters (formally Eurocopter) aircraft in Canada. Their Airbus Helicopters fleet is comprised of an significant number of AS350’s, AS355’s and an EC135.

Main Missions: Oil and Gas, forestry, hydro, passenger and freight transportation, mining, emergency services and tourism.

Edmonton Police Service

Considered a patrol car in the sky, the EPS Flight Operations Unit can dart across Edmonton in seconds offering their partners on the ground police back-up. The flight crew safeguards both ground officers and the public by safely managing pursuits and assisting police members with high-risk vehicle stops or incidents. Their involvement increases the likelihood of capturing and apprehending suspects.

The EPS Flight Operations Unit operates EC120’s, equipped with forward-looking, infra-red camera’s, allowing crew members to search the ground for suspects, vehicles or evidence and relay timely information to the officers below. In 2014, Air 1 surpassed 12,000 flight hours.

Main Missions: Responding to calls arising from any EPS member, the RCMP as well as, fire and emergency medical services personnel.

Enbridge

Enbridge operates the world’s longest and most complex crude oil and liquids transportation system. They transport 53 per cent of U.S. bound Canadian production. Enbridge is the leading pipeline operator in both Canada’s oil sands region and the rapidly growing Bakken formation in Canada and the United States. Enbridge transports natural gas all over North America and are the largest gas gatherer and transporter in the Gulf of Mexico.

Enbridge operates an Airbus Helicopters EC120.

Main Missions: Inline inspections, maintenance and replacement programs.

Forest Helicopters

Forest Helicopters was incorporated in 1997 after taking over most of the North West Ontario operations from Midwest Helicopters. Forest Helicopters has become a successful company by providing a quality competitive service that stresses safety, dependability and competence.

Forest operates out of Kenora, Ontario and has additional Ontario bases located in Pickle Lake and Dryden. Forest Helicopters operates a large Airbus Helicopters fleet of AS350’s.

Main Missions: Exploration drill support, power line maintenance support, fire suppression, airborne geophysics (bird towing), aerial construction and general charter.

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Great Slave Helicopters

Part of the Discovery Air Group, Great Slave Helicopters is one of the largest VFR & IFR helicopter operators in Canada. GSH is known in the industry as being the first Northern based helicopter operator that has supported Canada’s precious mineral and oil and gas exploration from its early stages of development through to its current state of operations.

GSH operates a large Airbus Helicopters fleet of AS350’s, BK117’s and an EC130.

Main Missions: Mining exploration, forest fire suppression, oil/gas & seismic exploration, wildlife survey & ecological tourism, geophysics & environmental impact surveys, aerial construction, DND military support, air ambulance and remote medevac, executive charter, film production & aerial photography, utility infrared integrity and pipeline fugitive emission inspections.

Highland Helicopters

Since 1959, Highland’s experienced and professional crews have flown many thousands of demanding and challenging hours servicing resource based industries, government, telecommunication providers and the motion picture industry.

Highland operates a large fleet of Airbus Helicopters AS350’s in bases across Alberta and British Columbia.

Main Missions: Oil & Gas, forestry, mining & exploration, aerial media, wildlife and resource management, aerial construction, medi-vac flights and power line patrols.

Hydro One

Hydro One is the largest electricity transmission and distribution company in Ontario. They own and operate substantially all of Ontario’s electricity transmission system and their distribution system is the largest in Ontario and spans approximately 75% of the province. Hydro One’s customer base
includes remote communities, rural and urban distribution and local distribution companies.

Hydro One operates a large Airbus Helicopters fleet of AS350’s. In 2014, they selected the AS355 NP for twin-engine operations.

Main Missions: Aerial power line maintenance and transporting equipment & components.

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Innukoptères

Serving the Cote Nord region of Quebec, Innukoptères also provides a wide range of services across the province.

Innukoptères operate an Airbus Helicopters fleet of AS350’s.

Main Missions: Mining, geophysical analysis, transporting scientific personnel equipment and sampling, drill slinging, tourism and the film industry for aerial photography, capturing wildlife as well as, hydro support.

LR Helicopters

LR Helicopters is a commercial helicopter operator based out of Springbank, Alberta. They operate additional bases across Alberta in Calgary and Edmonton as well as, Vancouver, BC, Winnipeg, MB and Toronto, ON. Seasonal operational bases are located in Blue River, BC and Ft. MacMurray, AB.

LR’s Airbus Helicopters fleet consists of AS350’s.

Main Missions: Oil and Gas, geology, forestry, photography and video production, tourism, electronic news gathering and traffic reporting.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry protects Ontario’s biodiversity while promoting economic opportunities in the resource sector and supporting outdoor recreation opportunities.

The ministry conducts scientific research and uses its findings to manage Ontario’s fish & wildlife resources, water, oil, gas, salt and aggregates resources, ensure the sustainable of Ontario’s Crown land, manage Ontario’s parks & protected areas, protect people, property and communities from forest fires, floods & droughts as well as, develop & apply geographic information to help manage the province’s natural resources.

OMNR’s Airbus Helicopters fleet includes numerous EC130’s and AS350’s.

Main Missions: Forest fire suppression, wildlife management, utility operations, surveying, fish stocking, reconnaissance and compliance monitoring.

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Ontario Provincial Police

The OPP Aviation Services Section provides effective aviation-based support to all police services and government agencies within the province of Ontario.

The OPP’s Airbus Helicopters exclusive rotary fleet includes EC135’s.

Main Missions: Search & Rescue, surveillance, drug eradication, support of specialized units, support during public demonstrations, transportation of personnel, prisoner escorts, photography, suspect apprehension pursuits, search and containment of escapees, major events, regional traffic/crime initiatives, evidence searches and aerial enforcement program.

Peak Aviation

Peak Aviation Inc. is a commercial helicopter company, dedicated to offering security, quality and personalized service to its clients. The company is located in the center of Quebec in the town of Saguenay.

Peak Aviation operate an exclusive Airbus Helicopters fleet of AS350’s and an EC130.

Main Missions: Mining, forest fire, long-lining, aerial construction and utility.

Phoenix Heli-Flight

Phoenix Heli-Flight is a charter helicopter company operating from its main base and headquarters located in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Phoenix is a regional leader and privately owned company that has been in operation for over 20 years.

Phoenix operates an exclusive Airbus Helicopters fleet of aircraft including AS350’s, AS355’s, EC120’s, an EC130 and EC135’s.

Main Missions: Exploration, wildlife surveys, utility, oil and gas, forestry, construction, infrastructure maintenance, corporate transport, general transportation of personnel, freight and wildfire suppression as well as, Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo area with a 24/7 dedicated medevac helicopter and seven stretcher equipped helicopters.

View Customer Testimonial (PDF) »

Questral Helicopters

Questral Helicopters is a commercial helicopter service operating since 1987. Their corporate office is located at the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, in Ottawa, Ontario. Questral operates in Canada as well as, internationally in the United States, Mexico, Greenland, Morocco and Peru. They are the only commercial helicopter service in North American that specializes in airborne geophysical surveys, with aircrew’s consisting of experienced aerial survey technicians, survey pilots and engineers.

Questral operates an exclusive fleet of Airbus Helicopters AS350’s.

Main Missions: Geophysical surveys, aerial advertising, construction, inspection, surveillance, mapping, external loads and passenger transport.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The Air Services Branch provides a safe and effective air service to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in support of its role to maintain peace and security for Canada.

The RCMP operates an exclusive rotary wing fleet of Airbus Helicopters AS350’s and EC120’s.

Main Missions: Boarder patrol, transporting personnel and supplies, air support for ground units, carrying out searches and search and rescue missions.

Slave Lake Helicopters

In 2014, Slave Lake Helicopters celebrated their 15th anniversary and 100th million tree planted. Based in Slave Lake, Alberta, Slave Lake Helicopters operates state of-the-art modern equipment and employs a highly skilled workforce, which has contributed to the growth and reputation of the company in Alberta and across Canada.

Slave Lake operates an Airbus Helicopters fleet of AS350’s and an EC120.

Main Missions: Tree planting/forestry, oil support, fire fighting and powerline surveying.

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Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society

STARS is dedicated to providing a safe, rapid, highly specialized emergency medical transport system for the critically ill and injured. It is a charitable, non-profit organization and the STARS Foundation is the fundraising arm of the organization. Every day, STARS takes care of some of the sickest and most critically-injured patients in Western Canada. This translates to thousands of people every year who rely on STARS to get them to hospitals safely where they can access the advanced care they need.

STARS operates a fleet of Airbus Helicopters BK117.

Main Missions: EMS

Universal Helicopters Newfoundland Limited

UHNL is one of the most experienced helicopter companies in Canada. A Newfoundland and Labrador company headquartered in Goose Bay, Labrador, UHNL has been providing specialty helicopter services to a wide range of clients for over 50 years. Other UHNL bases are located in St. John’s, Pasadena and Gander, Newfoundland.

UHNL operate an Airbus Helicopters fleet of AS350’s.

Main Missions: SAR, wildlife capture, research and enforcement, Government services to remote communities, remote camp support, long-line diamond drill movements as well as, geological reconnaissance and remote sensing for mineral exploration and aerial photography/filming.

Winnipeg Police Service

The primary purpose of the Winnipeg Police Flight Operations Unit is to support all operational and investigative Service units in the detection of criminal acts and the apprehension of suspects.

Winnipeg Police operate an Airbus Helicopters EC120.

Main Missions: Response to crimes in progress, infrared searches for suspects and evidence, tracking and surveillance of suspect, illumination of crime scenes, vehicle stops, search areas, disturbances and foot pursuits, searches for missing persons, photography/videotaping of crime scenes, traffic collisions, high-risk incidents or remote areas, Emergency Services for major fires, environmental disasters and rapid deployment of Canine Unit members to remote locations.

Yellowhead Helicopters

Yellowhead Helicopters is a privately held Canadian company that has been providing commercial helicopter solutions to the public, industry and government since 1975. Strategically located bases throughout British Columbia and Alberta, have supported various industries for over 35 years.

Yellowhead operates an Airbus Helicopters fleet of AS350’s.

Main Missions: Forestry, mining, onshore oil and gas, seismic, utility tourism and emergency services.

Corporate Customer - Verne Thorarinson

Verne Thorarinson spent his entire career building roads and moving earth in southern Alberta until he decided to take to the sky in 2011 and become a helicopter pilot. In early 2013, Thorarinson ordered an AS350 B3e and made arrangements to have it delivered in mid-summer so he could take a trip to the Arctic Ocean and Alaska.

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