CHC Helicopter

What CHC Helicopter does

CHC Helicopter is a privately held global helicopter services provider headquartered in Irving, Texas, with operational roots dating to 1947 and a fleet of approximately 150 aircraft serving customers across roughly 20 countries on six continents. The company's core business is offshore personnel transportation for major oil & gas, offshore wind, and emerging carbon capture clients, alongside search and rescue (SAR), helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), and utility aviation. Revenue is generated primarily through long-term managed-service contracts with enterprise customers including Equinor, Aker BP, Petrobras, Shell, Ørsted, and the Canadian Department of National Defence, with contract values ranging from $20M to over $500M and terms of one to fifteen years.

The company's technology stack centers on safety and operational efficiency. CHC's Heli-One division provides global MRO services from facilities in Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, the UK, and Poland, and serves both internal and third-party operators (including a $150M+ CAD contract with Bell Textron Canada for CH146 Griffon maintenance). Proprietary software includes ClearSkies, a patent-pending flight planning tool delivering at least 5% CO2 reduction; DigitAI Aero, an AI-powered engine diagnostics platform deployed with ITP Aero that processes 3-6 million data points per flight hour; iSAR real-time mission analytics; the Safety Case System for global hazard assessment; and AMOS maintenance records. The 2025 launch of an S-92 Center of Excellence in Brazil with Sikorsky and Milestone Aviation extends this platform into embedded maintenance services for third-party S-92 operators.

CHC's go-to-market is exclusively direct enterprise sales through regional commercial directors covering the Americas/APAC, Europe, and emerging markets, supported by a senior vice president of commercial. Marketing channels include an annual Safety & Quality Summit, LinkedIn presence, industry conference participation, and earned media. The company has been recognized with three consecutive Petrobras PEOTRAM Operational Excellence awards (2024-2026), Best Air Logistics Supplier from Petrobras (2024), and top performer status in Brazil's ANAC Sustentar sustainability programme (2023). Following the 2023 divestiture of Offshore Helicopter Services UK required by the UK Competition and Markets Authority, CHC has pursued a strategy of organic contract expansion, particularly in Brazil and Norway, supported by a refreshed leadership team including CEO Tom Burke (appointed February 2024) and CFO Neil Gilchrist (appointed June 2025).

Name

CHC Helicopter

Legal name

CHC Group LLC

Website

https://chcheli.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CHC Helicopter is a privately held global helicopter services provider operating ~150 aircraft across ~20 countries, delivering offshore crew transport, search and rescue, emergency medical services, and MRO (via Heli-One) to oil & gas, offshore wind, and government customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Offshore Helicopter Services

NAICS

Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

Helicopter Crew Change & Offshore Passenger Transfers (Oil & Gas / Wind) (TLAFACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Air Medical Transport (Helicopter/Fixed-Wing) (HLAFANAD), On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate) (TLAFACAB)

Keywords

• Offshore helicopter transportation
• Search and rescue services
• Helicopter maintenance MRO
• Offshore crew change
• Emergency medical aviation

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Offshore Helicopter Transportation: Long-term crew change and personnel transport contracts with major offshore energy companies. Revenue generated through dedicated aircraft availability and flight operations. Major contracts include Equinor (NOK 1.7B), Aker BP ($500M strategic partnership), and multiple Petrobras contracts totaling over $300M.
2. Heli-One MRO Services: Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul services through Heli-One division serving both CHC's own fleet and third-party operators. Includes Bell Textron Canada contract for CH146 Griffon helicopters (over $150M CAD over 5 years).
3. Search and Rescue Operations: Government and commercial SAR contracts providing specialized emergency response services in challenging environments across multiple regions.
4. Emergency Medical Services: HEMS operations providing life-saving medical care and medical evacuation services.
5. Utility Services: Diverse range of industrial support services including offshore wind crew transport and specialized aviation support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CHC Helicopter is a global provider of vertical flight services, delivering offshore personnel transportation, search and rescue (SAR), emergency medical services (EMS/HEMS), utility services, and helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) through its Heli-One division. The company operates a mixed fleet of approximately 150 aircraft (S-92, AW139, AW189, H175) from bases across six continents under long-term enterprise contracts with energy companies, governments, and other operators.

Product overview

CHC Helicopter is a global provider of vertical flight services and technical support operating as a single unified platform with multiple integrated service lines. The core offerings include Offshore Transportation (crew changes for oil & gas, offshore wind, and energy projects), Search & Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, Utility Services, and Maintenance & MRO through the Heli-One division. Supporting these core services are proprietary technology products including ClearSkies (proprietary flight planning software for CO2 reduction), iSAR (real-time mission reporting), SQID (safety and quality database), and AMOS (maintenance records). Flight Standards provides compliance and audit services. CHC operates a mixed fleet including Sikorsky S-92, Leonardo AW139, AW189, and Airbus H175 helicopters from bases across six continents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Offshore Transportation Global crew change and personnel transportation to offshore oil & gas platforms, offshore wind farms, and energy installations, operated under long-term dedicated aircraft availability contracts (e.g., Equinor NOK 1.7B, Aker BP $500M, Petrobras $300M+).
• Search and Rescue (SAR) Specialized search and rescue helicopter operations for government agencies and commercial customers in hard-to-reach and challenging environments, including maritime SAR and installation-based SAR (e.g., Equinor Heidrun SAR).
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS/HEMS) Helicopter Emergency Medical Services providing life-saving medical care, medical evacuation, and critical care patient transfer in time-sensitive situations for healthcare providers and emergency services.
• Utility Services Diverse industrial support helicopter services using state-of-the-art equipment and innovative technologies for industries including offshore wind construction support, infrastructure projects, and specialized aviation support.
• Heli-One Maintenance & MRO Global helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul services through Heli-One division, serving CHC's own fleet and third-party operators (e.g., Bell Textron Canada $150M+ CAD CH146 Griffon support contract for Canadian Department of National Defence).
• Flight Standards Aviation compliance and audit services including comprehensive oversight of flight standards and operations, supporting IOGP compliance for operators across global operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average reduction of at least 5% CO2 emissions through ClearSkies flight optimization
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, emerging and minor.

• EquinorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Extended helicopter services agreement exercising two contract options worth NOK 1.7 billion ($177 million) through January 31, 2030. CHC provides personnel transport and SAR services for Equinor's Central Norway operations from Kristiansund and Brønnøysund bases plus SAR at Heidrun installation.
• Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026CHC awarded crew change transportation contract for Northern Endurance Partnership developing pioneering offshore CO2 transportation and storage infrastructure for the UK's East Coast Cluster. CHC operates H175 from Norwich base supporting decarbonisation projects in Teesside and Humber, marking CHC's first CCS contract.
• Sikorsky, Heli-One, Milestone AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Initiative to establish S-92 Center of Excellence in Brazil led by Heli-One. Combines expertise to provide comprehensive support services, embedded maintenance capabilities, and enhanced mission readiness for S-92 operators in Brazil and South America.
• Milestone AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Partnership with Sikorsky and Heli-One for S-92 Center of Excellence in Brazil, providing comprehensive support services and embedded maintenance capabilities for S-92 operators.
• Court HelicoptersemergingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025MoU signed to explore strategic collaboration for SAR and crew change solutions in Namibia. CHC brings global fleet and operational expertise; Court Helicopters contributes local knowledge and established presence.
• LeonardocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2025Multiyear support and training framework programs for operators' AW139 and AW189 helicopter fleet. Strategic collaboration for fleet support and training.
• ITP AerocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2025CHC pioneers AI-powered engine diagnostics and health monitoring with DigitAI Aero service. Processes over 3 million data points per flight hour for S-92. First helicopter operator to embrace this technology; over 214,473 S-92 flights analyzed.
• Aker BPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025$500 million strategic partnership over 5 years with options to extend to 15 additional years. CHC operates aircraft from Sola and Valhall bases including three Sikorsky S-92s and three Leonardo AW189s. Partnership emphasizes flight safety, continuous improvement, and productivity.
• Bell Textron CanadacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2024Heli-One appointed to provide In-Service Support for CH146 Griffon helicopters operated by Canadian Department of National Defence. Contract valued at over $150M CAD over 5 years plus 5 optional years. Heli-One provides first and second-line maintenance at military bases across Canada.
• HeliOffshorecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Founding member and board member of HeliOffshore, the leading global safety organization for the offshore helicopter industry. Actively involved in all workstreams supporting development of best and recommended practices.
• Air bp and Swire Energy ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Strategic partnership for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) availability at CHC bases in Norway, UK, Netherlands, and offshore locations. SAF reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by around 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.
• ØrstedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023CHC awarded contract for Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm crew transport. Continued partnership for offshore wind construction support.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Bristow Group: Bristow Group is the most direct competitor to CHC in offshore helicopter services globally, providing crew change, SAR, and utility helicopter operations to IOC customers across the North Sea, Brazil, Africa, and the Americas. Operates a similar mixed S-92/AW139 fleet and pursues the same oil & gas, offshore wind, and government SAR contracts.
• PHI Aviation (PHI Group): PHI Group is a major direct competitor in offshore helicopter transportation, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico and internationally, serving oil & gas customers with crew change and medevac services. Operates a similar S-92/AW139 heavy fleet focused on offshore energy.
• Era Group: Era Group is a US-listed helicopter operator providing offshore crew transport, utility, and search & rescue services primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and internationally. Comparable offshore helicopter model with overlapping customer set (oil & gas, government SAR) and similar fleet of S-92 and AW139 aircraft.
• NHV (Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen): NHV is a European offshore helicopter operator headquartered in Belgium, providing crew change and SAR services primarily in the North Sea and West Africa. Direct competitor for Equinor-adjacent and North Sea contracts and a participant in HeliOffshore alongside CHC.
• Avincis: Avincis (formerly Bond Aviation/Inaer) is a European helicopter operator specializing in emergency medical, SAR, and offshore crew change services, with operations overlapping CHC's EMS, SAR, and utility lines. Babcock completed acquisition of Avincis in 2024, intensifying the competitive overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Babcock International: Babcock International is a large, diversified aerospace and defense services company that previously operated the OHS UK business that CHC acquired and then divested. Overlaps with CHC in offshore helicopter services, SAR, and defense aviation support across multiple geographies.
• Leonardo Helicopters: Leonardo is the OEM of the AW139 and AW189 helicopters that make up a large portion of CHC's fleet and a strategic training/support partner. While not a direct operating competitor, Leonardo overlaps with Heli-One in MRO services and shapes the supply and lifecycle economics of CHC's fleet.

Emerging players

• StandardAero: StandardAero is a major independent MRO provider with helicopter engine and airframe capabilities overlapping Heli-One's third-party MRO offering. Competes with Heli-One for S-92, AW139, and H175 maintenance contracts and represents a credible alternative service provider for CHC's external customers.

Regional players

• Air Methods: Air Methods is the largest US air medical transport operator, providing helicopter EMS services comparable to CHC's HEMS segment. Geographic overlap is limited (US-centric) but product line and customer base (hospitals and emergency services) are directly comparable.
• DRF Luftrettung: DRF Luftrettung is a leading European helicopter emergency medical services operator, primarily serving Germany and surrounding regions. Comparable to CHC's HEMS/EMS offering with similar mission profile and customer base (hospitals, public health systems), but operates in a different geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat8 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chc-helicopter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CHC Helicopter