« We move the industry that moves the world. » |
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Type | Private |
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Industry | Transportation |
Predecessor | Sealand Helicopters & Okanagan Helicopters |
Founded | St. John's, Newfoundland (1987) |
Founder(s) | Craig Dobbin |
Headquarters | Richmond, British Columbia, Canada |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | William Amelio, CEO Rick Davis, CFO |
Services | Helicopter services |
Revenue | $1.34 billion US (2010) |
Owner(s) | First Reserve |
Employees | 4,439 (2008)[1] |
Subsidiaries | Heli-One |
Website | www.chc.ca |
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
CHC Helicopter is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada and operates more than 250 aircraft in 30 countries around the world. CHC's major international operating units are based in the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Australia.
CHC Helicopter is one of several global providers of helicopter transportation services to the offshore oil and gas industry (the others including Bristow Helicopters) and claims to be the most experienced helicopter operator in the world. CHC has capabilities in precision flying techniques and technical support.
CHC has long-term working relationships with most of the major oil and gas companies. CHC operates the marine search and rescue service for the Irish Coast Guard at Shannon, Waterford, Sligo and Dublin airports and provides commercial Search and Rescue helicopter services for the United Kingdom Maritime and Coastguard Agency. CHC provides helicopter services in Australia for the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia, the Victoria Police Force and Ambulance Service of New South Wales.
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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., from 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, renamed Okanagan Helicopters Ltd. By 1954, had become the largest commercial helicopter operator in the world.
In 1987, Newfoundland businessman Craig Dobbin headed a group (Canadian Holding Company) that purchased Okanagan Helicopters and Toronto Helicopters and merged them with his own company, Sealand Helicopters to form Canadian Helicopters. The new parent company was called CHC Helicopter Corporation. CHC acquired British International Helicopters in 1994; Helicopter Services Group of Norway in 1999 (included Bond Helicopters), Helikopter Service AS, Lloyd Helicopters of Australia and Court Helicopters of South Africa. In 2004, CHC purchased Schreiner Aviation Group who provided offshore helicopter services company in the Dutch sector of the North Sea, and in the Nigerian offshore industry.
In 2000, CHC entered into an agreement with Fonds de Solidarité FTQ (FSTQ) and the management of its two Canadian divisions, Canadian Helicopters Eastern and Canadian Helicopters Western, for the sale of an interest in CHC's Canadian assets in a Management Buyout to form Canadian Helicopters. As a result senior Management and FSTQ acquired 10% and 45% equity interests in Canadian Helicopters, respectively, while CHC retained a 45% equity interest.
CHC restructuring in 2004 saw the creation of a new Corporate Head Office in Richmond, B.C., Canada, and the creation of three main operating segments:
CHC was purchased by First Reserve, a US private equity company in February 2008 for CAD$3.7 billion ($3.5 billion). At the time, the word "Corporation" was dropped from the company's name, which is now "CHC Helicopter".
CHC manages its global operations through the following divisions:
CHC is the largest provider of emergency medical helicopter services in Australia.
helicopter, a new military search and rescue helicopter provided to France, Italy, Germany and The Netherlands through a joint venture shared by Agusta, Eurocopter and Fokker.
CHC provides extensive ship supply and rescue service off the coast of Africa and the Netherlands, and helicopter support services to scientific expeditions in Antarctica and other harsh environments.
CHC operates approximately 250 aircraft in Canada and 29 other countries which include Malaysia, Australia, Brazil, Thailand, the Philippines, the Middle East, South Africa, Ecuador, Angola, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea.[6]
CHC provide a range fixed-wing transportation services for crew transport to helicopter bases around the world. CHC operates both jet and turbo prop aircraft including Dash-8 and Twin Otter service to meet the needs of the global oil and gas industry.
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