What VIH Aviation Group does

VIH Aviation Group is a privately held Canadian aviation consortium founded in 1955 (originally as Vancouver Island Helicopters) and headquartered in North Saanich, British Columbia. It operates a fleet of 50+ helicopters — primarily heavy-lift platforms including the Sikorsky S-92, Sikorsky S-61, and Kamov KA-32, plus Bell 407 and Bell 206 BIII light utility aircraft — through five core operating divisions: VIH Helicopters (heli-logging, construction, mining, wildfire suppression), Cougar Helicopters (offshore O&G personnel transport, SAR and EMS for Atlantic Canada and Greenland), VIH Aerospace (Bell-approved MMRO with STC development), VIH Execujet (fixed-wing Challenger 604 charter), and YYJ FBO Services (full-service Fixed Base Operation at Victoria International Airport). The group employs more than 300 people and maintains operational bases across Western and Atlantic Canada plus Greenland, with historical international deployments in Australia, China, Taiwan, Peru, Pakistan, Angola, and Cameroon.

The company's revenue model rests on usage-based helicopter charter (priced by flight hour, aircraft type, and mission), professional-services MMRO work at VIH Aerospace, usage-based fixed-wing charter via VIH Execujet, and FBO service fees at YYJ; pricing is uniformly quote-based with no public rate disclosure. Its go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting major industrial and government clients in oil & gas (BP, ExxonMobil, Shell, Suncor, Hibernia, Ovintiv), forestry (BC Ministry of Forests, TimberWest, West Fraser, Western Forest Products), mining (NovaGold), utilities (BC Hydro), tourism (Mike Wiegele, West Coast Fishing Club), and telecom (Telus).

Recent strategic emphasis has shifted toward aerial wildfire suppression, anchored by the proprietary S-92 Fire Raptor platform (deployed August 2024, unveiled at Verticon March 2025) with a 5,000-litre Helitak carbon fibre belly tank and 48-second hover fills, plus the Power Fill Bucket technology introduced in 2021. The group is family-controlled (Ken Norie, sole owner and President/CEO; daughter Jen Norie, COO), and in 2012 Bristow Group acquired a minority equity interest in subsidiary Cougar Helicopters for $250 million.

Name

VIH Aviation Group

Legal name

VIH Aviation Group Ltd.

Website

https://vih.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

VIH Aviation Group is a privately held Canadian aviation consortium operating since 1955, providing helicopter charter, maintenance, fixed-wing charter, and FBO services through subsidiaries serving oil & gas, forestry, mining, utilities, government, and tourism clients across Canada and Greenland with a fleet of 50+ helicopters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Helicopter and Aviation Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Helicopter Passenger Services (TLAFAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Helicopter Crew Change & Offshore Passenger Transfers (Oil & Gas / Wind) (TLAFACAH), Air Medical Transport (Helicopter/Fixed-Wing) (HLAFANAD), Emergency, Evacuation & Repatriation Charter Operators (THABADAH), Aircraft Management & Part 135/135-equivalent Operators (THABAFAD)

Keywords

• Helicopter charter services
• Helicopter maintenance repair
• Offshore oil gas aviation
• Wildfire suppression helicopters
• Fixed base operator

Headquarters

HQ city

North Saanich

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Helicopter Charter Services: Charter helicopter services across multiple markets including offshore personnel transport, SAR, aerial construction, wildfire suppression, mining, forestry, air ambulance, and tourism. Operating a fleet of 50+ helicopters.
2. Helicopter Maintenance, Manufacturing, Repair and Overhaul (MMRO): VIH Aerospace provides helicopter MMRO services including STC development and integrations, meeting or exceeding OEM specifications. Bell approved Customer Service Facility.
3. Fixed Wing Corporate Jet Charter: VIH Execujet operates private aviation services including luxury charter, aircraft maintenance, management and partnership/ownership solutions. Operates Challenger 604 available 24/7 for private charters.
4. FBO Services: YYJ FBO Services provides corporate aircraft storage, fueling, pilot lounge, car/hotel reservations, executive lounge, catering, flight planning, and passenger waiting services at Victoria International Airport.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

VIH Aviation Group provides helicopter charter services (offshore personnel transport, SAR, aerial construction, wildfire suppression, mining, forestry, air ambulance, tourism), helicopter maintenance, manufacturing, repair and overhaul (MMRO) services through VIH Aerospace, fixed-wing corporate jet charter through VIH Execujet, and full-service fixed base operator (FBO) services at Victoria International Airport. Operations are conducted through a fleet of 50+ helicopters (Sikorsky S-92, S-61, Kamov KA-32, Bell 407, Bell 206 BIII) and a Challenger 604 corporate jet.

Product overview

VIH Aviation Group is a diversified aviation consortium operating since 1955, comprising six main divisions that work together to provide comprehensive aviation services. The core operating units include: VIH Helicopters (Canada's oldest privately owned helicopter company, providing heavy-lift, forestry, construction, wildfire, and disaster relief services); Cougar Helicopters (East Coast operations serving offshore oil and gas with S-92 SAR and passenger transport); VIH Aerospace (Bell-approved maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility); VIH Execujet (fixed-wing private jet charter with Challenger 604); and YYJ FBO Services/Shell Aerocentre (full-service FBO at Victoria International Airport). The Group operates a fleet of 50+ helicopters including Sikorsky S-92, S-61, Kamov KA-32, and Bell models, serving markets across offshore personnel transport, SAR, aerial construction, forestry, air ambulance, fire fighting, mining exploration, and tourism. The S-92 Fire Raptor represents a specialized firefighting variant with rapid-fill tank capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cougar Helicopters: Specialized offshore helicopter services for Oil and Gas sector including SAR and EMS, operating from East Coast Canada
• VIH Aerospace
• VIH Execujet
• VIH Helicopters
• YYJ FBO Services (Shell Aerocentre)

Products and services

• VIH Helicopters Charter Services Helicopter charter services for forestry, aerial construction, mining, oil and gas exploration, and disaster relief using Sikorsky, Kamov, and Bell helicopters; serves domestic Canadian operations and international contracts.
• Cougar Helicopters Offshore Services Full-spectrum helicopter services for the Oil and Gas sector, including offshore personnel transport, offshore aerial construction, emergency medical service (EMS), and search and rescue (SAR); bases in St. John's Newfoundland, Halifax Nova Scotia, and Greenland, operating Sikorsky S-92 helicopters.
• VIH Aerospace MMRO Services Helicopter maintenance, manufacturing, repair and overhaul (MMRO) services delivered to OEM specifications, including STC development and integrations; serves both internal fleet and external clients as a Bell-approved Customer Service Facility.
• VIH Execujet Private Aviation Full-service private aviation company offering luxury charter services with a Challenger 604 available 24/7, aircraft maintenance, aircraft management, and aircraft partnership/ownership solutions; serves Vancouver, Victoria, Tofino, Seattle, Whistler, and Nanaimo.
• YYJ FBO Services (Shell Aerocentre) Full-service Fixed Base Operation (FBO) at Victoria International Airport offering corporate aircraft storage and fueling, pilot lounge, car and hotel reservations, executive lounge, catering services, flight planning room, and passenger waiting lounge.
• S-92 Fire Raptor Wildfire Suppression Helicopter Specialized firefighting variant of the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter equipped with a 5,000-litre (1,320 US gallon) Helitak FT5000 carbon fibre retractable belly tank, 48-second hover fills, precision multi-drop system, NVG-compatible cockpits, HUMS and FDM standards. Provides 4+ hour endurance and can transport up to 19 firefighters.
• Power Fill Bucket Technology Technologically advanced power fill bucket developed for use with Sikorsky S-61 helicopters to enable faster and more effective water fill operations during wildfire suppression missions.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the industry's best safety records for over five decades
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sikorsky HelicopterscoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor helicopter manufacturer supplying S-92 and S-61 aircraft. VIH became Sikorsky's first S-92A+ kit launch customer. Sikorsky recognized as world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service.
• Bell HelicoptercoreTechnology or IntegrationBell is an established helicopter and tiltrotor manufacturer. VIH Aerospace is a Bell approved Customer Service Facility (CSF), providing maintenance and repair services.
• Kamov Design BureaucoreTechnology or IntegrationRussian manufacturer of military helicopters recognized for distinctive coaxial rotor configuration. VIH utilized Kamov Ka-32A11BC helicopters for heavy-lift operations and helped obtain Canadian certification for heli-logging use.
• Helicopter Association of CanadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHAC ensures financial viability of Canadian civil helicopter industry while promoting awareness, education, flight safety and best practices among members, civil servants and Canadian public. VIH's COO Jen Norie serves on HAC Board of Directors.
• Vertical MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe only magazine dedicated to extensive, in-depth coverage of the civil helicopter industry in North America.
• Helicopters MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCanada's only national helicopter magazine providing comprehensive coverage of commercial, corporate, general and military rotary-wing aviation in Canada and around the world.
• Vertical Aviation InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization dedicated to the advancement of the international helicopter community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bristow Group: Global helicopter services leader focused on offshore oil & gas crew change, SAR, and government services. Already a strategic minority owner of VIH's Cougar Helicopters subsidiary; competes head-to-head in the North Sea and Atlantic Canada offshore markets.
• CHC Helicopter: One of the world's largest helicopter operators serving offshore oil & gas, search and rescue, and emergency medical services. Directly comparable in mission profile, fleet composition (heavy S-92 class), and customer base to VIH's Cougar Helicopters.
• Helijet International: British Columbia-based helicopter operator focused on scheduled passenger service, EMS, and corporate charter. Regional competitor to VIH Helicopters and VIH Execujet in the Pacific Northwest market.
• Eagle Copters: Calgary-based helicopter operator and Bell-authorized MRO facility serving utility, forestry, and oil & gas sectors in Western Canada. Direct Western Canadian competitor to VIH Helicopters on light/medium helicopter work and to VIH Aerospace on Bell MRO.
• Summit Helicopters: Western Canadian helicopter operator providing utility, forestry, and mining support. Direct peer to VIH Helicopters in heli-logging and resource-sector missions across BC and Alberta.
• PHI Aviation: U.S.-based helicopter operator with comparable offshore oil & gas, air medical, and helicopter MRO businesses. Overlaps directly with VIH Helicopters and VIH Aerospace in service lines and Sikorsky fleet composition.
• Heli-One: World's largest independent helicopter MRO provider and a CHC subsidiary. Directly comparable to VIH Aerospace in helicopter maintenance, repair, overhaul, and STC development, competing for third-party fleet MRO contracts.
• Canadian Helicopters (HNZ Group): Canada's other major publicly listed helicopter operator with offshore, utility, and MRO operations across Canada. Most direct Canadian-headquartered competitor to VIH Helicopters, sharing customers and base geography.

Broad incumbents

• StandardAero: Large diversified aerospace MRO provider serving both fixed-wing and rotary-wing operators. Overlaps with VIH Aerospace in helicopter component and engine MRO, though as part of a much broader service portfolio.

Regional players

• Air North: Yukon-based scheduled and charter airline serving remote Northern Canadian communities. Comparable to VIH's northern/remote operations mission profile, though focused on fixed-wing rather than rotary-wing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vih-helicopters-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

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 VIH Aviation Group