What Custom Helicopters does

Custom Helicopters Ltd. is a Winnipeg, Manitoba-based rotary-wing aviation services operator founded in 1977, providing helicopter charter, aerial services, and scenic tours across Canada and internationally. The company operates a diversified fleet of over 35 single- and multi-engine helicopters (Bell 407, Bell 205, Bell 206, Airbus AS350/H125, Leonardo AW139, Bell 412, Sikorsky S-76C+, Eurocopter AS332), staffed by 230+ pilots, technicians, and support personnel across approximately 10 operational bases in Manitoba, Nunavut, British Columbia, and Newfoundland & Labrador. It serves mining and mineral exploration, power and telecommunications utilities, oil & gas, emergency medical services (HEMS/air ambulance), military, government, and tourism clients.

The company's core technical capabilities include IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) and white phosphor NVG (Night Vision Goggle) operations enabling 24/7 and night missions; Category A, Performance Class 1 multi-engine capability required by oil & gas clients; Class D external load certification for hoist and cargo-hook rescue operations; and VTEM electromagnetic survey attachment capability for mineral exploration. It also runs a Transport Canada-certified maintenance and overhaul facility (AMO 75-91) providing MRO services, and holds BARS Gold safety certification.

Custom Helicopters monetizes primarily through per-flight and project-based charter contracts across its industrial verticals, quote-based commercial/government contracts (often multi-year), 24/7 air ambulance/HEMS services, MRO professional services, unit-priced Churchill tourism flights (30–120 minutes), military support, forest fire suppression, and parts/inventory sales. Go-to-market is direct B2B enterprise and government field sales conducted through its operational bases, with no reseller or distribution intermediaries. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exchange Income Corporation (TSX: EIF), a diversified conglomerate whose aviation portfolio includes Calm Air, Perimeter Aviation, Bearskin Airlines, Keewatin Air, PAL Aerospace & PAL Airlines, Regional One, and Carson Air; it also operates the Air Borealis joint venture serving Labrador since 2020.

Name

Custom Helicopters

Legal name

Custom Helicopters Ltd.

Website

https://customheli.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Custom Helicopters is a Winnipeg-based rotary-wing operator (founded 1977, owned by Exchange Income Corporation) running 35+ helicopters across Canada, serving mining, utilities, oil & gas, air ambulance, military, and tourism clients with charter, HEMS, and maintenance services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Helicopter Charter Services

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate) (TLAFACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Helicopter Crew Change & Offshore Passenger Transfers (Oil & Gas / Wind) (TLAFACAH), Helicopter Sightseeing & Scenic Tours (TLAFACAD)

Keywords

• Helicopter charter services
• Air ambulance services
• Aerial survey operations
• Helicopter maintenance services
• Search rescue operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Helicopter Charter Services: Core revenue from providing helicopter charter services across multiple industries including mineral exploration, power line maintenance, oil and gas support, wildlife surveys, drill support, and aerial photography. Services are contracted on a per-flight or project basis with both VFR and IFR/NVG capable aircraft.
2. Air Ambulance / HEMS Services: Emergency medical transportation services operating 24/7 with specialized medical crews including paramedics, flight nurses, and respiratory therapists aboard Sikorsky S-76C+ helicopters configured as flying ICUs.
3. Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul: Transport Canada certified maintenance and overhaul facility (AMO 75-91) providing aircraft modifications, refurbishing, structural repairs, engine repairs, and component overhaul for transmissions, tail rotor gearboxes, freewheel units, and rotor heads.
4. Tourism Services: Polar bear and sightseeing tours in Churchill, Manitoba with flights ranging from 30 to 120 minutes, accommodating groups of 2-5 passengers with weight-based duration limits.
5. Military Support: International helicopter services for military operations including personnel transport, cargo support, and specialized missions with experience across multiple global regions.
6. Forest Fire Suppression: Aerial firefighting support services using diverse helicopter fleet for fire suppression operations worldwide.
7. Parts & Inventory Sales: Sales of helicopter parts including rotor blades and entire aircraft from company inventory at competitive prices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Custom Helicopters operates a diversified fleet of over 35 helicopters providing charter and aerial services across Canada and internationally. The company delivers air ambulance/HEMS, mineral exploration, power and telecommunications line construction and maintenance, oil and gas support, search and rescue, military support, Class D external loads, forest fire suppression, wildlife surveys, drill support, aerial inspection/photography, humanitarian relief, and Churchill tourism. It also operates a Transport Canada certified Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul facility (AMO 75-91).

Product overview

Custom Helicopters operates a fleet of over 35 helicopters providing diverse aviation services across Canada and internationally. The company offers a comprehensive suite of helicopter services including air ambulance/HEMS (using Sikorsky S-76C+), power & telecommunications line construction and maintenance, mineral exploration, oil & gas support, search & rescue, military support, Class D external loads, maintenance/repair/overhaul, forest fire suppression, drill support, wildlife surveys, aerial inspection/photography, and humanitarian relief. Their fleet spans single-engine aircraft (Bell 407, Bell 205A-1/A+, Bell 206B Jetranger, Bell 206LR/L3 Longranger, Airbus AS350-B2 AStar, Airbus H125 AStar) and multi-engine aircraft (Leonardo AW139, Bell 412 HP, Sikorsky S-76C+, Eurocopter AS332). The company also operates subsidiary Air Borealis for Labrador services and offers tourism flights in Churchill, Manitoba. As a Transport Canada certified maintenance organization (AMO 75-91), they provide full-service MRO capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Ambulance / HEMS Services 24/7 emergency medical helicopter services using Sikorsky S-76C+ aircraft equipped with cutting edge medical interiors, operated by experienced pilots, advanced care paramedics, flight nurses, and respiratory therapists for patient transport and on-board care.
• Power & Telecommunications Line Services Construction, inspection, and maintenance of power and telecommunications lines using Class D external loads and multi-engine aircraft, including sock pulling operations that reduce construction time and resource requirements.
• Mineral Exploration Services Helicopter-supported mineral exploration services including electromagnetic survey technology (VTEM) capabilities, active since 1977 across Canadian provinces and territories including the high Arctic.
• Oil & Gas Support Multi and single engine helicopter support for seismic exploration, passenger movements, and offshore transport, offering Category A, Performance Class 1 helicopter capability for remote and offshore oil and gas operations.
• Search & Rescue Search and rescue services using white phosphor night vision (NVG) technology with twin-engine Category A, Performance Class 1 helicopters featuring IFR, NVG, hoist capability for Class D rescues, dual hook, and EMS stretcher kit.
• Military Support International military helicopter support with IFR and NVG capabilities for personnel transport, cargo support, and specialized missions; executive team has experience with US DOD and operations across Southeast Asia, Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Central/South America.
• Class D External Loads Certified external carriage of persons using helicopter cargo hook system or hoist for rescue operations and passenger insertion into inaccessible locations, exceeding applicable safety regulations.
• Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul Transport Canada approved maintenance with certified overhaul facility (AMO 75-91) specializing in aircraft modifications, refurbishing, sheet metal work, structural repairs, engine repairs, and component overhauls including transmissions, tail rotor gearboxes, freewheel units, and rotor heads.
• Forest Fire Suppression Aerial firefighting support using diverse helicopter fleet for fire suppression operations worldwide with strict adherence to safety procedures.
• Drill Support Remote drilling operation support with multiple engine and passenger options for equipment transport and crew movements.
• Wildlife Surveys Aerial wildlife survey and habitat inventory services for biologists and conservation professionals to track animals across wide ranges.
• Aerial Inspection & Photography Aerial and remote inspections and photography services for job sites with experienced pilots providing optimal shot capabilities.
• Humanitarian Relief Helicopter services for humanitarian relief efforts worldwide including personnel and cargo support with large-capacity cabin aircraft.
• Churchill Polar Bear Tourism Sightseeing tours over Hudson Bay coast departing from Churchill Airport, Manitoba. Flights ranging from 30 to 120 minutes with free airport shuttle, accommodating groups of 2-5 passengers based on weight calculations.
• Air Borealis Labrador Operations Helicopter services partnership with Innu and Inuit of Labrador providing mineral exploration, powerline maintenance, and wildlife surveys across the Big Land; pilots are knowledgeable of local landscape and weather conditions.
• Parts & Inventory Sales Sales of helicopter parts including rotor blades and entire aircraft from company inventory at competitive prices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 268km/hr cruising speed allows rapid emergency response and reduced patient transfer times
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Air BorealiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Subsidiary partnership operated by Custom Helicopters providing helicopter services throughout Labrador since 2020. Headquartered in Happy Valley Goose Bay with fleet available for mineral exploration, powerline maintenance, and wildlife surveys across the Big Land. Pilots are knowledgeable of local landscape and weather conditions.
• PAL AirlinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company under Exchange Income Corporation. Collaborated with Custom Helicopters and Newfoundland Helicopters to host annual Land & Sea event in Goose Bay celebrating partnership strength and aviation's role in supporting the region.
• Newfoundland HelicoptersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company under Exchange Income Corporation. Partnered with Custom Helicopters and PAL Airlines for annual Land & Sea event in Goose Bay.
• Innu & Inuit of LabradorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership through Air Borealis - 'Bringing the north together' initiative. Air Borealis proudly partners with Indigenous communities of Labrador.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves1 record

Direct peers

• Cougar Helicopters: Fellow EIC portfolio helicopter operator based in Atlantic Canada, providing offshore O&G crew change, HEMS, SAR, and utility support with similar Sikorsky S-92 fleet, making it the most comparable peer under shared corporate ownership.
• Newfoundland Helicopters: Sister EIC aviation subsidiary operating rotary-wing services in Newfoundland and Labrador, overlapping on mining, utility, SAR, and crew change missions with comparable aircraft mix and same parent conglomerate.
• NHV (formerly HNZ Group): Belgian-headquartered helicopter operator with significant Canadian operations (formerly HNZ Group); competes directly for O&G crew change, EMS, and SAR contracts in the same Canadian basins with similar heavy twin-engine fleet.
• Alpine Helicopters: Western Canada helicopter operator covering BC and Alberta with charter, mining, utility, and firefighting services; direct competitor on many of the same industrial and emergency response tenders Custom Helicopters pursues.
• Helijet: BC-based helicopter operator providing scheduled and charter passenger services, air ambulance, and tourism flights; directly comparable on British Columbia operations and HEMS service offerings.
• Summit Helicopters: Canadian helicopter operator with a multi-mission fleet serving utility line construction, mining, firefighting, and forestry across Western Canada and Ontario; directly comparable on core industrial charter and government services.
• Eagle Copters Ltd. Alberta-headquartered helicopter operator offering charter, EMS, firefighting, and training services with a comparable single and twin-engine fleet; directly comparable on Canadian HEMS and utility sector contracts.
• VIH Aviation Group: Canadian helicopter operator providing offshore O&G crew change, EMS, and industrial services primarily from a BC base; competes directly on Western Canadian oil & gas and utility work with overlapping fleet capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• CHC Helicopter: Global helicopter services incumbent (formerly CHC Helicopter Corporation) with the largest offshore O&G crew change footprint worldwide; broader and more diversified than Custom but directly competes on Canadian offshore and SAR tenders.
• PHI Aviation: Global helicopter operator focused on O&G crew change, EMS, and air medical services across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia; broader reach but directly comparable on offshore transportation and HEMS service lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/customhelicopters

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Custom Helicopters