Helijet


Helijet International is a helicopter airline and charter service based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Well known for its scheduled passenger helicopter airline services, it also operates a charter division serving the film, television, aerial tour, industrial and general charter markets, as well as helicopter and jet air ambulance services. Its main base is Vancouver International Airport.
Sightseeing harbour and city tours and scheduled services to Victoria and Nanaimo operate from the Vancouver Harbour Heliport located on the shores of Burrard Inlet, adjacent to Waterfront Station. The actual heliport is a floating structure located in the harbour waters. Helijet is also British Columbia's largest air medical service provider, operating rotary wing, fixed wing medevac aircraft including Learjet and Hawker.

History

The airline was established in 1986 as Helijet Airways and started operations between Vancouver and Victoria in November 1986 with one Bell 412 helicopter and 14 staff members. It was formerly known as Helijet Airways. During the past 30 years of operation, Helijet has grown from one aircraft in scheduled service with 14 personnel carrying just 22,000 passengers into a diversified company with 15 aircraft and 150+ employees carrying over 100,000 passengers per year. The company has an excellent record of aviation safety. With US Helicopter now defunct in the New York City area since 2009, Helijet is the only scheduled passenger helicopter airline service in North America.
In the past, Helijet provided scheduled passenger services with Sikorsky S-76 helicopters or Beechcraft 1900 turboprop fixed-wing aircraft to Seattle-Boeing Field, Abbotsford International Airport, Langley Regional Airport, Victoria International Airport and Campbell River Airport, all of which are still destinations accessible by Helijet Charters' services. Helijet has operated large, 19 passenger seat Sikorsky S-61 helicopters as well including in scheduled service between Vancouver and Victoria.
All scheduled passenger services between the company's heliports located in downtown Vancouver, B.C. and downtown Victoria, B.C. have been operated for many years with twin engine, Instrument Flight Rules capable Sikorsky S-76 helicopters flown by two pilots. During the 2013 summer season, all scheduled service between Vancouver and Victoria was being operated with Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III turbine powered rotorcraft. However, with the advent of the 2013 fall season, Helijet was once again operating Sikorsky S-76 helicopters between Vancouver and Victoria and is currently doing so.
Helijet International operates the Vancouver and Victoria Harbour Heliports under its wholly owned subsidiary, Pacific Heliport Services.

Destinations

As of August 2019, Helijet operates scheduled services to the following destinations:
Helijet operates air ambulance at the following heliports/airports in British Columbia, Canada:
Helijet also operates helicopter services between Masset Airport and numerous fishing lodges in the Haida Gwaii area during the BC fishing season. The fishing lodges have an operating helipad to facilitate this service, which includes passenger and cargo transfers.
On March 11, 2015, Helijet began operating new scheduled passenger service utilizing Sikorsky S-76 helicopters with seven roundtrip flights every weekday between the company's downtown heliport located in Vancouver Harbour and the Nanaimo Harbour Heliport located at the Nanaimo Cruise Ship Welcome Centre.

Fleet

Current

The Helijet fleet consists of the following aircraft types :
AircraftNo. of AircraftVariantsNotes
Aérospatiale AS3501AS350 B25 passengers, MEDEVAC capable
Bell 2062206-L1 or L35 passengers, TC list them as L1 but Helijet as L3
British Aerospace 1251Hawker 800Fixed wing, not listed at the Helijet site
Learjet 31131AFixed wing, not listed at the Helijet site
Pilatus PC-121PC-12/47EFixed wing, not listed at the Helijet site
Sikorsky S-7613S-76A, S-76B, S-76C12 passengers

In addition the Transport Canada list shows two Robinson R22 Beta but with cancelled certificates.

Former

HeliJet has operated the following fixed wing turboprop and helicopter types: