CHC Helicopter Corporation (sometimes known as Canadian Helicopter Corporation, Canadian Helicopters or Hélicoptères Canadiens) is the world’s largest global commercial helicopter operator. CHC has a fleet of 320 helicopters and has been providing helicopter services for more than 50 years and currently operates in over 30 countries, on all seven continents and in most of the major offshore oil and gas producing regions of the world. Based in Richmond, Canada, CHC's major international operating units are based in the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, South Africa and Australia.

CHC's core business is providing helicopter services to offshore oil and gas companies around the world. CHC also provides emergency medical services (EMS), infrastructure maintenance, utilities, forestry, mining, and construction services.

CHC Helicopter Corporation 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 pilots are qualified for IFR, over-water and all-weather missions. CHC also has capabilities in precision flying techniques and technical support.

CHC has long-term working relationships with most of the major oil and gas companies, including the operating subsidiaries of BP, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Royal Dutch Shell, Statoil, Norsk Hydro, Total, Chevron Corporation, Maersk and Unocal Corporation. CHC operates the marine search and rescue service for the Irish Coast Guard at Shannon, Waterford 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.

History

thumb|A Sikorsky S-61 in Okanagan Helicopters livery
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. The new parent company was called Canadian 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 integrated its operations around the world under one brand CHC.

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 Global Operations, based in Richmond, B.C.,

• CHC European Operations, based in Aberdeen, Scotland, and

• Heli-One, CHC's leasing and Repair and Overhaul support group, now based in Delta, B.C.

CHC has been bought by First Reserve, a US company, and is trying to cut costs.

Divisions

right|thumb|CHC Bell 206right|thumb|CHC S-61 operated for the Irish Coast Guard
CHC manages its global operations through the following divisions:

• EEA Helicopter Operations B.V. ("EEA"), a Dutch company majority owned by EHO Holdings S.a.r.l. and minority owned by CHC Helicopter S.a.r.l., provides helicopter services in the North Sea. EEA operates under the CHC brand name and uses CHC logo under license. It provides services from 17 bases in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.

• Brazilian Helicopter Services (BHS) (Brazil)

• CHC Helicopters International (Richmond, British Columbia)

• CHC Helicopters (Australia)

• CHC Helicopters (Africa)

• CHC Composites (Gander, Newfoundland)

Fleet

CHC operates approximately 250 aircraft in 35 countries which include Australia, Brazil, Thailand, the Philippines, the Middle East, South Africa, Ecuador, Angola, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Eastern Canada.

Helicopters

• AgustaWestland AW139

• Eurocopter AS365 N1,N2,N3 Dauphin

• Eurocopter Super Puma AS332, L1, L2

• Eurocopter EC225

• Sikorsky S76 A and C Series

• Sikorsky S92

Fixed Wing

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.

• 1 - de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter

• 1 - de Havilland Canada DHC-8

Gallery

Locations

• Adelaide • Perth • Victoria • Wayville *Sydney * Wollongong * Orange

Alberta

• Edmonton • Fort McMurray • Grande Prairie • High Level • Lac La Biche

British Columbia

• Fort Nelson • Fort St. John • Golden • Kamloops • Penticton • Smithers • Terrace • Vernon • Richmond

Manitoba

• Southport

Newfoundland & Labrador

• Bishop’s Falls • Conne River • Gander • Goose Bay • Pasadena • St. Albans • St. John's

New Brunswick

• Fredericton

Northwest Territories & Nunavut

• Fort Simpson • Inuvik • Norman Wells • Iqaluit

Nova Scotia

• Halifax

Ontario

• Kenora • London • Markham • Moosonee • Ottawa • Sudbury • Thunder Bay • Toronto

Quebec

• Montreal • Chevery • Chibougamau • Quebec City • Sept-Îles

• Esbjerg

• Cork • Dublin • Shannon • Waterford • Sligo

• Stavanger • Bergen • Florø • Kristiansund • Brønnøysund

• Den Helder

• Aberdeen • Blackpool • Yarmouth • Humberside