Canadian Helicopters
Encyclopedia
Canadian Helicopters formerly CHC Helicopter
Canadian operations, operates 132 aircraft from 43 bases across Canada which provides a broad range of helicopter services to include: emergency medical services, infrastructure maintenance, utilities, oil and gas, forestry, mining and construction, and helicopter transportation services. CH also operates three flight schools and provides third party repair and maintenance services. Canadian Helicopters also provides helicopter service in the United States in support of specialty operations including forest fire suppression activities and geophysical exploration programs.
Commercial helicopter flying began in British Columbia in the summer of 1947. Three ex-RCAF officers, pilots Carl Agar and Barney Bent, and engineer Alf Stringer, were operating a fixed-wing charter company, Okanagan Air Services Ltd., out of Penticton. In July 1947 they raised enough money to purchase a Bell 47
-B3 and pay for their flying and maintenance training.
Okanagan Air Services moved to Vancouver in 1949, was renamed Okanagan Helicopters Ltd. and, by 1954, had become the largest commercial helicopter operator in the world.
In 1987, Newfoundland businessman Craig Dobbin
headed a group that purchased Okanagan Helicopters and Toronto Helicopters and merged them with his own company, Sealand Helicopters to form Canadian Helicopters.
Until November 2000, Canadian Helicopters was the domestic operating arm of Canadian Helicopters International, a wholly owned subsidiary of CHC Helicopter Corporation. In 2000, CHI entered into an agreement with Fonds de Solidarité FTQ (FSTQ) and the management of its two domestic divisions, Canadian Helicopters Eastern and Canadian Helicopters Western, for the sale of an interest in the divisions' assets in a Management Buyout
. As a result the senior Management and FSTQ acquired 10% and 45% equity interests in Canadian Helicopters, respectively, while CHC retained a 45% equity interest. Management Buyout was completed in November 2000 at which time Management integrated eastern and western operations to form Canadian Helicopters Limited.
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CH operates 132 aircraft
CHC Helicopter
CHC Helicopter is one of the world’s largest helicopter services company specializing in: Transportation to offshore oil and gas platforms; Civilian search and rescue services; Helicopter maintenance repair and overhaul...
Canadian operations, operates 132 aircraft from 43 bases across Canada which provides a broad range of helicopter services to include: emergency medical services, infrastructure maintenance, utilities, oil and gas, forestry, mining and construction, and helicopter transportation services. CH also operates three flight schools and provides third party repair and maintenance services. Canadian Helicopters also provides helicopter service in the United States in support of specialty operations including forest fire suppression activities and geophysical exploration programs.
History
Bell 47
The Bell 47 is a two-bladed, single engine, light helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. Based on the third Model 30 prototype, Bell's first helicopter designed by Arthur M. Young, the Bell 47 became the first helicopter certified for civilian use on 8 March 1946...
-B3 and pay for their flying and maintenance training.
Okanagan Air Services moved to Vancouver in 1949, was renamed Okanagan Helicopters Ltd. and, by 1954, had become the largest commercial helicopter operator in the world.
In 1987, Newfoundland businessman Craig Dobbin
Craig Dobbin
Craig Lawrence Dobbin OC was an industrialist and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CHC Helicopter Corporation, a public company traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange...
headed a group that purchased Okanagan Helicopters and Toronto Helicopters and merged them with his own company, Sealand Helicopters to form Canadian Helicopters.
Until November 2000, Canadian Helicopters was the domestic operating arm of Canadian Helicopters International, a wholly owned subsidiary of CHC Helicopter Corporation. In 2000, CHI entered into an agreement with Fonds de Solidarité FTQ (FSTQ) and the management of its two domestic divisions, Canadian Helicopters Eastern and Canadian Helicopters Western, for the sale of an interest in the divisions' assets in a Management Buyout
Management buyout
A management buyout is a form of acquisition where a company's existing managers acquire a large part or all of the company.- Overview :Management buyouts are similar in all major legal aspects to any other acquisition of a company...
. As a result the senior Management and FSTQ acquired 10% and 45% equity interests in Canadian Helicopters, respectively, while CHC retained a 45% equity interest. Management Buyout was completed in November 2000 at which time Management integrated eastern and western operations to form Canadian Helicopters Limited.
Canada
- British Columbia - Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Golden, Kamloops, Penticton (Flight School), Smithers, Terrace, and Vernon.
- Alberta - Western Head Office Edmonton, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, High Level, Lac La Biche.
- Ontario - Kenora (Air Ambulance), London (Air Ambulance), Markham (Flight School), Toronto Buttonville, Markham, Moosonee (Air Ambulance), Ottawa (Air Ambulance), Sudbury (Air Ambulance), Garson, Thunder Bay (Air Ambulance), Toronto (Air Ambulance), Toronto (Admin Offices).
- Manitoba - Southport (Allied WingsAllied WingsAllied Wings Limited Partnership operates the Canada Wings Aviation Training Centre located in Southport, Manitoba.The 22 year contract was announced on 30 March 2005 by the Minister of National Defence and will provide flying training support at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School.Through the...
) - Northwest Territories - Fort Simpson, Inuvik, Norman Wells,
- Nunuvat - Cambridge Bay, Hall Beach, Iqaluit
- Quebec - Corporate Head Office: Montreal, Les Cèdres, Chevery, Chibougamau, Quebec City (Flight School), Sainte-Foy, LG2 (Whapchiwem), Radisson, Sept-Îles
- Newfoundland - Bishop’s Falls, St. Albans/Conne River, Goose Bay, Pasadena, Fredericton,
- New Brunswick - Lincoln
- Nova Scotia - Halifax (Air Ambulance)
Air fleet
- Bell 206Bell 206The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...
B and 206L - Bell 212
- AS 350
- AS 355F-1
- Sikorsky S-76Sikorsky S-76The Sikorsky S-76 is an American medium-size commercial utility helicopter. The S-76 is powered by two turboshaft engines, which drive both the main and tail rotors, each with four blades...
A - Sikorsky S-61Sikorsky S-61The Sikorsky S-61L and S-61N are civil variants of the successful SH-3 Sea King helicopter. They are two of the most widely used airliner and oil rig support helicopters built.-Design and development:...
N