Columbia Helicopters has completed a detailed agreement with The Boeing Company to acquire the Type Certificates for the Vertol 107-II and Model 234 Chinook helicopters.
Columbia Helicopters is the only commercial operator of these heavy-lift aircraft in the world, and uses them in a wide range of applications, including logging, construction, fire fighting, and supporting petroleum exploration operations.
The official transfer will take place after engineering details are completed, and following approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“We expect that this will allow us to move forward,” said Mike Fahey, President of Columbia Helicopters. “This will significantly enhance our position within the industry.”
“Columbia Helicopters operates one of the most comprehensive maintenance programs and facilities in the industry,” said Fahey. “Acquiring the Type Certificates will compliment our ability to serve our customers in a cost-effective manner, and will significantly streamline Columbia’s work with both vendors and the FAA.”
“We expect to continue our great relationship with Boeing long into the future,” added Fahey. “They’ve built great helicopters, and have been a great company to work with. We anticipate that this acquisition will further enhance this relationship, and we look forward to many mutually beneficial years in the future.”
Columbia Helicopters bought its first Boeing helicopters in 1969, when the company acquired three Vertol 107 helicopters from Pan Am. The company purchased their first Boeing 234 Chinook in 1985.
Today, only government fleets are able to rival the size of Columbia’s privately held, heavy-lift helicopter fleet. The company now owns and operates 15 Vertol 107s, and seven Model 234 Chinooks. Due to the company’s exceptional maintenance program, Columbia Helicopters proudly operates four Vertol 107-II with over 50,000 flight hours on each airframe.
“These aircraft are an indication of the superiority of the product built by Boeing,” said Fahey. “They are extremely well made helicopters which, when supported by our robust and thorough maintenance program, provide first class, cost effective service to our customers.”