Around the world, the mining sector has been thrust into the spotlight as a crucial component in the journey to a sustainable future.
The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy Annual Report 2024 indicates that “global demand for critical minerals is expected to double by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).”
Copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements are used to produce everything from wind turbine semiconductors to cell phones, medical devices and electric vehicles. At present, Canada has identified 34 minerals and metals that it considers to be the building blocks of modern technology.
Aside from this focus, the global mining outlook is picking up on other fronts, too. Global gold production in 2024 is expected to have increased by about 2.2 percent over 2023 – with Canadian production alone increasing by 15.2 percent. The Business Research Company predicts that the diamond market will see strong growth, reaching $3.29 billion in 2028. Deloitte chimed in recently on the oil-and-gas outlook, calling 2024 “one of the most stable years in the past 25 years,” and forecasting a “robust” 2025.
With all this activity in mining and natural resources, helicopters have been busy in many parts of the world. Traditionally, they have provided critical logistical support to remote work sites, facilitating exploration services, personnel and equipment transportation (in-cabin and by longline), aerial surveying and mapping, supply restocking, emergency medical services, and security support. When crews are working far from civilization, a helicopter is often the only link enabling the exploration and development that would otherwise be logistically impossible.
Take BAC Helicopters, for example. Based in Durban, South Africa, the company’s roots go back to 1992. Company CEO Tremayne Thompson said his team specializes in mining exploration, vertical reference, and utility work in East Africa, mostly utilizing Airbus Helicopters AS350 B3 aircraft.
“We do a lot of vertical reference and mine exploration, specializing in longline work in the most remote areas,” he said. “We have spent a lot of time in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) looking for mineral deposits in challenging terrain.”
BAC Helicopters also operates Bell LongRanger IV and JetRanger III helicopters and recently acquired a twin-engine Airbus AS365 N3+ Dauphin.
Although it is headquartered at Imbonini Helistop, its own private facility in Ballito, Durban province, BAC Helicopters does most of its flying in East Africa due to the specialized nature of its utility business.
Mining exploration is cyclic in nature, and Thompson reported an increase in activity in the DRC over the past year. The country has substantial gold, cobalt, copper, tin, tantalum, lithium and diamond reserves, with total mineral wealth estimated in the tens of trillions of dollars, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration.
“Mining industry activity is positive and the outlook is optimistic,” said Thompson. “However, the DRC is a tough environment to work in. There is always rebel activity and fighting in the Eastern Congo. In the summer months, thunderstorms are a challenge and the terrain is extremely rough. Africa in general is not positive because of the changing landscape, the uncertainty, and the instability.”
With little to no infrastructure network, mining operations in the DRC depend on helicopter support.
However, a successful mission in the Congo requires planning, teamwork, and a special kind of pilot. Threats can come from the ground or the sky.
“We need to be very aware of the security around us in terms of information about any threats from the rebels, for example,” said Thompson.
To get to some of the mining camps, pilots must cross over Lake Kivu, one of the African Great Lakes on the border of DRC and Rwanda. The lake creates its own unpredictable microclimate — and once they’ve safely navigated that, crews find themselves flying over impenetrable jungle.
“At the camp, they drop supplies and do it again,” said Thompson, adding that 150-foot (45-meter) longlines are used to deliver drill rig sections and diesel fuel, and to retrieve core samples.
“Often, the route is impassable due to the tropical environment in the jungle. The rainy seasons last from October to January and again from March to May, and they can bring massive thunderstorms.”
Plus, there’s the logistical side of the operation.
“You have to think about fuel and access to backup supplies to make sure you’re not stuck out there. Most of all, you have to be proactive about safety and be diligent with your equipment.”
Pilot Greg Strydom has been flying for BAC Helicopters for seven years. He told Vertical that part of the challenge in the DRC is that some of the rigs being transported are not easily moved.
“They might weigh 1,800 to 2,200 pounds (800 to 1,000 kilograms) per unit. When reassembling them, the engine and control panels must be repositioned by helicopter. It can be quite tricky.”
Another challenge: Drill rigs are typically moved over large distances.
“Now you’re flying components, a heavy load for half an hour, so there’s logistical planning in terms of fuel and weather delays.”
Strydom said rainy season in the DRC brings fog and mist in the morning, when they’d otherwise prefer to fly. That means missions must be flown in the heat of the day, when weather is often extreme and unpredictable.
A BAC Helicopters pilot supporting an exploration typically bunks at the jungle base camp for six weeks on, six weeks off. They’re tasked with bringing in all kinds of supplies. When their rotation is over, they fly to the nearest major town, where they meet the incoming pilot for an aircraft handover and briefing.
The work helicopters perform in the jungles of the DRC is important.
“Exploration companies choose to use the helicopter instead of cutting down vast areas of forest to bring vehicles in,” concluded Strydom. “They take only a couple of trees down to create a hole where the helicopter can set things down. Environmental impact is important.”
While mining activity is currently high, Thompson acknowledged it is cyclical. In the inevitable low times, BAC Helicopters will do what it’s always done: adapt.
“As a company, we carry on evolving. Africa as a continent is always evolving, and so is the scope of its helicopter needs.”
Support from start to finish
A continent away in Oceania, Pacific Helicopters Limited delivers specialized helicopter services across the Asia-Pacific region from its home base in Goroka, Papua New Guinea (PNG).
“We focus on providing reliable, efficient and tailored solutions to a diverse range of industries including oil-and-gas, mining, government, infrastructure and telecommunications,” said Cameron Craig, the company’s overseas non-executive director – aviation operations.
The island of PNG in the Southwestern Pacific is known for its remote and rugged environment, including high mountain peaks, valleys, dense jungle and tropical rainforest. Minerals found in the country include gold, copper, silver, nickel and cobalt, as well as oil and gas reserves.
In the mining and natural resources sector, Pacific Helicopters performs seismic support services, exploration, heli-portable drill moves, construction projects, offshore petroleum exploration, aerial surveying, power line construction and charter services. Aside from its headquarters in Goroka, the company operates from Port Moresby, Moro, and the Kainantu gold mine.
The Pacific Helicopters fleet includes Airbus H125s and H145s, BK117s and Bell 212s. It was augmented this year by the addition of five more H125s and two new H145 D3 helicopters. One of the latter machines is operated by Pacific Helicopters on behalf of global energy company Santos.
“All our operations are based in Papua New Guinea at the moment, but we have a long and successful track record of operating across multiple Asia-Pacific countries as well as Afghanistan,” said Craig of the 50-year-old company, which currently employs 23 pilots and 20 engineers, most from PNG but some from countries like Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Craig said the team is busy these days, thanks to high gold prices and a strong demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG). As they do elsewhere in the world, global markets directly influence PNG’s mining and natural resource sectors.
“We’re now seeing a notable increase in exploration activity as the industry rebounds from the disruptions caused by the pandemic,” he explained. “The sector has picked up for a few reasons. First, ongoing global conflicts have likely pushed up the prices of some resources. PNG is a more stable and attractive option for exploration compared to other locations in parts of the Middle East, Ukraine or Russia.”
Second, as commodity prices rise, that spurs increased investment in resource exploration.
Third, noted Craig, some companies are required to spend money cyclically to keep their resource licenses current.
Pacific Helicopters is typically involved in projects from start to finish, beginning with surveying, then assisting with seismic drilling, followed by — if all goes well — drilling and then the production phase.
“An example of a typical job for us would be supporting drilling operations at gold mines,” he explained. “This would involve supplying the necessary equipment to keep both the camps and drills running smoothly. When a drill needs to be relocated, we disassemble and reassemble it at the new drill pad, using 150- to 200-foot (45- to 60-meter) longlines under the aircraft. Throughout the process, our role is providing essential services to support the smooth running of the project.”
Craig sees a continued role for helicopters in the mining and natural resources sector, “especially as the industry continues to evolve.” One of the biggest trends he’s tracked over his career has been the increasing demand for modern helicopter technology and safety features. Indeed, Pacific Helicopters has significantly upgraded its capabilities in recent years, including with twin-engine aircraft and two-pilot crews.
“The days of relying on older, single-engine aircraft that once dominated the resource sector are behind us,” he asserted. “Today, there is a clear trend towards incorporating the latest technology in helicopters to improve both safety and operational efficiency. As this shift continues, I expect even greater emphasis on advanced capabilities and safety features, which will help meet the growing needs of the sector in years to come.”
‘Equipping to differentiate ourselves’
Far away in Western Canada, Blackcomb Helicopters is also working to differentiate itself through a commitment to safer, greener operations.
“It’s all about continuous improvement,” said Jonathan Burke, president of Delta, British Columbia-headquartered Blackcomb Helicopters. Since 1989, the company has been providing a range of helicopter services, including tourism, search-and-rescue, oil-and-gas support, heli-skiing, utility, mining and aerial firefighting. Besides Delta, it also operates from B.C. bases in Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, and Lillooet, as well as Calgary, Alberta.
Blackcomb hasn’t been overly active in the mining sphere in recent years, but Burke said the time is right to explore opportunities.
“We were involved in the past and have even gone up to the Northwest Territories to support mining activity,” he explained. “We are now working to get our name back out there. Globally, there is a push for critical minerals. We’re seeing it in B.C. as well as across the country. There are challenges, however, because it takes longer to get permits for mineral exploration and development.”
The Blackcomb team has attended mining and natural resources trade shows across the country, where Burke said the emphasis has been on the company’s expertise, equipment and qualifications. In 2023, for example, it achieved silver certification in the Flight Safety Foundation’s Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) aviation safety program.
Burke said it’s clear that today’s sophisticated mining companies are looking for professional aerial support.
“It’s one thing to transit personnel from one place to another. But to move drills and other things you need more qualifications,” he said. “Companies are looking for certain performance criteria in terms of pilot and equipment standards.”
In keeping with its own commitment to operational safety and efficiency, Blackcomb Helicopters is undergoing a fleet modernization. Last year, the company disposed of some older aircraft after evaluating the related training and maintenance costs. Today, its fleet consists of 16 aircraft in total, including Bell 212 HP, EC135 T2 and T3, H125, and AS350 B2 types.
“We are getting rid of our older B2s and replacing them with the Airbus Helicopters H125,” said Burke.
Blackcomb is also investing in twin-engine helicopters and safety-enhancing equipment such as flight data monitoring (FDM) and health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS). Additionally, it has invested in a Loft Dynamics H125 virtual reality simulator to “push the training envelope” and get better outcomes.
“We are equipping to differentiate ourselves,” continued Burke. “Companies recognize and request this additional equipment on board as a safety plus.”
And, in cooperation with one of its oil-and-gas clients, Blackcomb has begun fielding two-pilot crews as part of a mentorship program. Pairing junior pilots with senior pilots presents a great opportunity for crew development and knowledge transfer.
Currently, Blackcomb employs about 46 pilots and 38 maintenance engineers. Burke said the company’s experienced staff and its top-end equipment position it well for opportunities in mining and natural resources support.
“It’s about our aircraft and pilots and the skills they bring — for mines already in operation, they can do drill moves and handle medevac requirements. For exploration companies, we can help with seismic work and drill moves. We have the people and the experience to do it.”
In a world where environmental impact is a prominent consideration, Burke is proud when he says Blackcomb Helicopters was the first Canadian carbon neutral helicopter operator back in 2019.
“This has become a major selling feature to our natural resources customers,” he said. “They are under pressure as well to reduce their footprints. We get extra points for being carbon neutral.” He added that 100 percent of carbon emissions are offset through accredited and audited programs.
Looking ahead, Burke sees mining and exploration support as a big opportunity for Blackcomb Helicopters. But regardless of its business pursuits, he said the company will always embrace change.
“The one thing you can guarantee in the helicopter industry is change — whether it’s change with customers, regulations or the aircraft themselves,” he concluded.
Well positioned for the future
While it also operates at home in British Columbia, VIH Helicopters has extensive international experience, having worked on every continent except for Antarctica and Europe. Founded in 1955, VIH is Canada’s oldest privately owned helicopter company, specializing in heli-logging, powerline and pipeline construction, hydroelectric projects, firefighting and oil-and-gas support.
From its headquarters at Victoria International Airport and bases in Campbell River and Gold River, VIH Helicopters deploys a fleet of six Sikorsky S-61 heavy-lift helicopters for logging, construction and firefighting; three S-92s for firefighting; a Bell 407; and four Bell 206 JetRangers for supporting logging operations. Last year, its fleet flew 11,400 hours.
“In terms of heli-logging, we’re as busy as we’ve ever been — we are fully booked into next year,” said Shane Palmer, director of operations. He added that logging along B.C.’s rugged and isolated coast is a major undertaking, since everything must be barged in.
“You need an accommodation barge, a helipad barge, and pickup trucks for the logging roads,” he explained. “That’s a huge undertaking. Once everything is in place, there is constant support required: groceries, fuel, personnel changes, parts.”
Helicopters play an essential role, bringing logs from the bush to a drop-off point where off-highway trucks can then transport them to a barge.
“We have years of experience, plus we have expensive infrastructure equipment — accommodation camps for barges [and] fuel tankers. It’s taken many years to build our ops equipment to what it is,” said Palmer.
While VIH’s heli-logging business is booming, mining has been relatively quiet.
“We have the odd request, but nothing like the mid-2000s. But we are a heavy-lift company, so we’re not on the exploration side like the lighter aircraft. We get involved on the construction side of things — and then it can be a flurry of activity.”
Palmer reported fairly robust activity in the oil-and-gas sector over the last few years.
“There is talk of another major pipeline to the coast, from Alberta to Kitimat or Prince Rupert,” he said. “Coastal GasLink used our logging expertise to clear the right of way for their natural gas pipeline. We also helped with the odd construction project along the pipeline, such as delivering a crane.”
Palmer pointed out that VIH Helicopters changes with the nature of the work.
“With all resources, demand ebbs and flows with the economy. When the Canadian dollar drops and oil prices decline, we can switch back to logging. We’re well positioned to take advantage of a high dollar and a low dollar, but like everyone else, we’re at the whim of the global economy and political will.”
Palmer pointed to new and evolving regulatory requirements surrounding natural resource development. He said Indigenous communities are becoming more influential and some have approached VIH for discussions about future partnerships.
“I think our biggest opportunity for the future will be to build wholesome partnerships with the First Nations community,” he reflected. “Management of our natural resources sector is changing.”
At the end of the day, Palmer said “steady as she goes” is the plan moving into 2025. “Status quo would be fantastic for us.”
The global movement towards a low-carbon energy system is driving increased demand for minerals and elements that are crucial to meeting this objective.
Helicopters have always played a key role in supporting mining and natural resources activities around the world. Whether it’s in the initial phases for surveying and mapping, or transporting staff and heavy equipment, or even providing life-saving emergency medical transport, helicopters are in demand.
Today’s rotary-wing aircraft are more reliable than ever, many of them carrying state-of-the-art equipment to promote safer, more efficient operations.
While the mining and natural resources sector will forever be influenced by the vagaries of government policy and international markets, one thing is for sure: It’s hard to imagine a future where the helicopter does not play a supporting role.