Mountain View Helicopters
Mountain View Helicopters is a privately held helicopter flight training school, tour operator, and charter service based at Springbank Airport near Calgary, Alberta, serving aspiring commercial pilots, tourists, and industrial clients across Western Canada through Transport Canada-certified programs established in 1995.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersCalgary, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Mountain View Helicopters does
Mountain View Helicopters (MVH) is a privately held, Alberta-based helicopter aviation company operating from Springbank Airport (CYBW) approximately 15 minutes west of Calgary. Founded in 1995, the company runs three integrated business lines: (1) a Transport Canada-certified helicopter flight training school offering Private Pilot Licence (PPL(H)), Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL(H)), Instrument Rating, Night Rating, Approved Mountain Course, IIMC (Inadvertent IMC) training, and Foreign License Conversion, with a self-reported 83% post-graduation employment rate; (2) scenic helicopter tours across Southern Alberta and the Canadian Rockies covering Calgary, Banff, Canmore, Kananaskis, Lake Louise, and Mount Assiniboine, plus a seasonal tour base in Drumheller; and (3) helicopter charter services for aerial photography, VIP transport, media flights, forestry, oil and gas support, cinema, and special events. Fleet equipment consists of Robinson R22, R44, and Bell 206 JetRanger helicopters supported by an in-house Aircraft Maintenance Organization (AMO 68-07) and a certified Robinson Service Center, with a FLYIT flight simulator for instrument and IIMC training.
The company's revenue model is asset-heavy and operationally intensive, with four income streams: training tuition (ranging from $475 for IIMC to $89,382 for a commercial R44 course), per-tour ticket pricing ($450-$2,160 fixed per tour for up to 3 passengers), charter hourly rates ($625-$1,250 per hour by aircraft), and AMO maintenance services for both internal and third-party aircraft. The customer base is hybrid: individual consumers (aspiring pilots, tourists, gift-card purchasers), commercial operators (Yellowhead Helicopters, Forest Helicopters, Phoenix Heli-Flight, Synergy Aviation, Valhalla Helicopters, Bighorn Helicopters, Global News, Red Bull Canada, CTV, CBC) that hire MVH graduates or contract charter services, and media/film clients (e.g., Ennis Films Inc. for Brokeback Mountain, Spruce Meadows). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the Springbank facility, an e-commerce store for gift cards and tour booking, phone/email inquiries, and a secondary seasonal Drumheller base and is restricted to Western Canada.
Artistically, MVH holds Transport Canada approvals as a Private Vocational Institution, AMO, and Robinson Service Center — the latter being a distinguishing regulatory barrier. The company is founder-led by President Paul Bergeron (35 years of helicopter experience) with a nine-person leadership team largely composed of MVH-trained instructors, indicating a self-perpetuating talent pipeline. There is no evidence of external investment, institutional ownership, or M&A activity; the company appears to be a stable, founder-owned operator with three decades of sustained operations.
Mountain View Helicopters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mountain View Helicopters
- Legal name
- Mountain View Helicopters
- Website
- https://mvheli.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mountain View Helicopters is a privately held helicopter flight training school, tour operator, and charter service based at Springbank Airport near Calgary, Alberta, serving aspiring commercial pilots, tourists, and industrial clients across Western Canada through Transport Canada-certified programs established in 1995.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mountain View Helicopters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Training and Charter Services
- NAICS
- Flight Training (611512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Helicopter Charter & Sightseeing (TLAFABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate) (TLAFACAB), VIP/Executive Helicopter Transport (THABAGAH), Helicopter Crew Change & Offshore Passenger Transfers (Oil & Gas / Wind) (TLAFACAH), Scenic & Sightseeing Helicopter Tours (THABAGAE)
Keywords
Where Mountain View Helicopters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Calgary
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Mountain View Helicopters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Flight Training: Commercial and private helicopter pilot training programs with various course options using Robinson R22, R44, and Bell 206 helicopters. Revenue generated through tuition fees, flight hours, ground school, and licensing fees.
- Helicopter Tours: Scenic helicopter tours of Southern Alberta and Canadian Rockies including Calgary City, Bragg Creek, Ghost Lake, Banff/Canmore, Lake Louise, Mount Assiniboine, and Crowsnest Mountain tours. Revenue from fixed per-tour pricing.
- Helicopter Charters: Charter services for aerial photography, VIP transport, media flights, forestry, oil and gas support, and special occasion flights (weddings, engagements). Hourly rates by aircraft type.
- Maintenance Services: Aircraft maintenance organization providing Robinson and Bell 206 maintenance, repairs, and parts services for both company fleet and privately owned aircraft.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | R22 Discovery Flight - 30 min ground briefing + 30 min flight |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | R44 Discovery Flight - 30 min ground briefing + 30 min flight |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Helicopter Tour Packages (30-120 min) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Charter Rates by Aircraft Type |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Private R22 Course - 45 hours flight + ground school |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Private R44 Course - 45 hours flight + ground school |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Commercial R22 Course - 100 hours flight + ground school |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Commercial R44 Course with Advanced Training |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | IIMC Training Course - 5 hours (2.5 hrs classroom + 2.5 hrs simulator) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Night Rating - 10 hours night flight |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Mountain View Helicopters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mountain View Helicopters operates a helicopter flight training school, scenic tour operator, and charter service from its Springbank Airport base near Calgary, Alberta. Core offerings include Private and Commercial Helicopter Pilot Licence training, advanced ratings (Instrument, Night, Mountain, IIMC), foreign license conversion, scenic tours of the Canadian Rockies and Southern Alberta, and on-demand charter flights for media, oil and gas, forestry, and special occasions. The company also runs a Transport Canada-certified Aircraft Maintenance Organization and Robinson Service Center.
Product overview
Mountain View Helicopters operates as a helicopter flight training school, scenic tour operator, and charter service based at Springbank Airport near Calgary, Alberta. The company offers three interconnected service lines: (1) Flight Training programs including Commercial Helicopter Pilot, Private Helicopter Pilot, Discovery Flights, Instrument Rating, Night Rating, Approved Mountain Course, IIMC Training, and Foreign License Conversion; (2) Helicopter Tours featuring various scenic flights over Calgary, the Canadian Rockies, Banff, Kananaskis, and Southern Alberta ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours; and (3) Helicopter Charters for photography, construction, forestry, oil and gas, and special occasions. The company also operates an in-house Aircraft Maintenance Organization certified as a Robinson Service Center and Bell 206 approved facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Commercial Helicopter Pilot Training Full-time Transport Canada-recognized Commercial Helicopter Pilot Licence training program requiring 80 hours ground school and 100 hours flight training, typically completed in 4-6 months. Multiple course options using Robinson R22, R44, and Bell 206 helicopters, including advanced training modules, designed for individuals pursuing careers in firefighting, air ambulance, police, flight instructing, heli-skiing, oil and gas support, and natural resources management.
- Private Helicopter Pilot Training Transport Canada Private Helicopter Pilot Licence training program requiring 40 hours ground school and 45 hours flight training, completed in approximately 3 months full-time. Available on Robinson R22 or R44 helicopters and intended for individuals pursuing personal or recreational helicopter flying.
- Discovery Flights Introductory helicopter flight experience combining a 30-minute ground briefing with 30 minutes of flight time in a Robinson R22 ($325 + GST) or R44 ($450 + GST), including facility tour and one-on-one instructor time. Targeted at recreational flyers and gift purchasers seeking an accessible introductory aviation experience.
- Instrument Rating Group IV Instrument Rating training including 40 hours of instrument time with up to 20 hours on the FLYIT simulator, Transport Canada INRAT exam preparation, and flight test. Prerequisites include PPL(H), CPL(H), or ATPL(H) and 50 hours of cross-country time.
- Night Rating Night flying rating with 10 hours of night flight including 5 hours dual (2 hours cross-country) and 5 hours solo with 10 takeoffs, landings, and circuits. Available on Robinson R22 ($6,250) or R44 ($9,000), plus $200 briefing fee and $30 licensing fee.
- Approved Mountain Course Mountain flying training course with Full (25 hours), Intermediate (10 hours), Basic (5 hours), and 20-hour advanced options for experienced pilots. Covers mountain operations, weather, and techniques for ridges, glaciers, pinnacles, and confined areas.
- IIMC Training Course Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions training course with 2.5 hours of classroom and 2.5 hours of FLYIT simulator training covering human factors, situational awareness, weather avoidance, and recovery techniques. $475 per person with up to 4 pilots per course.
- Foreign License Conversion Conversion program for pilots holding ICAO or FAA helicopter licences to obtain Canadian PPL(H) or CPL(H). Includes written exam and flight test preparation on Robinson R22, R44, or Bell 206 helicopters.
- Helicopter Tours Scenic helicopter sightseeing tours over Calgary, Banff, Canmore, Kananaskis, and Southern Alberta in Robinson R44 and Bell 206 helicopters. Tour options include Calgary City, Bragg Creek, Ghost Lake, Nihahi Ridge, Elbow Falls, Kananaskis Country, Banff/Canmore, Kananaskis Lakes, Lake Minnewanka, Height of the Rockies, Mount Assiniboine, Crowsnest Mountain, and Lake Louise tours ranging from $450 to $2,160 for up to 3 passengers.
- Helicopter Charters Year-round helicopter charter services for aerial photography, videography, construction, forest fire suppression, forestry, mining, search and rescue, oil and gas, cinematography, VIP transport, media flights, and special occasions. Fleet includes Robinson R22 ($625/hr, 1 passenger), R44 ($900/hr, 3 passengers), and Bell 206 ($1,250/hr, 4 passengers), all subject to GST.
- Maintenance Services Transport Canada-certified Aircraft Maintenance Organization (AMO 68-07) and Robinson Service Center providing R22, R44, and R66 clutch maintenance, 12-year inspections, main gearbox repairs, rotor blade assembly replacement, spindle bearing replacement, and Bell 206 maintenance services for the company's fleet and privately owned aircraft.
Quantifiable outcome
- 83% post-graduation employment rate for commercial helicopter pilot graduates
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Mountain View Helicopters
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mountain View Helicopters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Mountain View Helicopters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Mountain View Helicopters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Blackcomb Helicopters: Whistler, BC-based helicopter tour and charter operator with adjacent training programs. Comparable business mix of mountain scenic tours and helicopter services anchored in a premier Canadian resort region.
- Glacier Helicopters: British Columbia helicopter tour and charter operator specializing in mountain sightseeing in the Rockies/Coast Mountains. Comparable offering of scenic mountain tours with similar fleet profile.
- Alpine Helicopters: Canmore, Alberta-based helicopter operator offering mountain tours, charter, and flight training in the Canadian Rockies. Same geographic anchor (Bow Valley/Canmore corridor) and overlapping product set of tours, training, and mountain courses.
- Canadian Helicopters: Canada's largest helicopter operator providing training, charters, and specialty services across the country. Directly comparable to MVH in offering Transport Canada-approved pilot training alongside charter and tour operations in Western Canada.
- HeliJet: BC-based helicopter operator providing scheduled charter, scenic tours, and helicopter flight training. Directly comparable business model combining tours, charter, and Transport Canada-approved pilot training.
- Phoenix Heli-Flight: Western Canadian helicopter operator offering charter and contract services, and a documented employer of MVH graduates. Comparable fleet, geography, and reliance on the same Western Canadian operator pipeline.
- Yellowhead Helicopters: Western Canadian operator specializing in firefighting, oil & gas, and utility helicopter work and a regular employer of MVH graduates. Similar fleet (R22/R44/Bell 206-class) and shared Western Canadian operating base.
- Forest Helicopters: Western Canadian helicopter operator focused on wildlife, forestry, and utility work, and a documented hirer of MVH pilots. Similar fleet and operating footprint in BC and Alberta.
Broad incumbents
- VIH Helicopters / Cougar Helicopters: One of Canada's largest helicopter operators (formerly Cougar) serving offshore, EMS, and utility markets across the country. Much larger and broader than MVH but overlaps in commercial pilot training pathways and charter capacity.
Regional players
- Edmonton Helicopters: Alberta-based helicopter flight training school and charter operator serving an overlapping customer base of aspiring commercial pilots from a different metro catchment in the province. Comparable training offerings, fleet, and Transport Canada-approved courses.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mountain View Helicopters social profiles
Digital presenceMountain View Helicopters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mountain View Helicopters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Mountain View Helicopters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mountain View Helicopters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mountain View Helicopters
What does Mountain View Helicopters do?
Mountain View Helicopters operates a helicopter flight training school, scenic tour operator, and charter service from its Springbank Airport base near Calgary, Alberta. Core offerings include Private and Commercial Helicopter Pilot Licence training, advanced ratings (Instrument, Night, Mountain, IIMC), foreign license conversion, scenic tours of the Canadian Rockies and Southern Alberta, and on-demand charter flights for media, oil and gas, forestry, and special occasions. The company also runs a Transport Canada-certified Aircraft Maintenance Organization and Robinson Service Center.
Is Mountain View Helicopters a public or private company?
Mountain View Helicopters is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mountain View Helicopters founded?
Mountain View Helicopters was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mountain View Helicopters based?
Mountain View Helicopters is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Mountain View Helicopters make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Flight Training is the primary driver. The others are helicopter Tours, helicopter Charters and maintenance Services.
Who are Mountain View Helicopters's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Blackcomb Helicopters, Glacier Helicopters, Alpine Helicopters, Canadian Helicopters, HeliJet, Phoenix Heli-Flight, Yellowhead Helicopters and Forest Helicopters. VIH Helicopters / Cougar Helicopters is listed as a broad incumbent. Edmonton Helicopters is listed as a regional player.
Does Mountain View Helicopters have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mountain View Helicopters.
What industry is Mountain View Helicopters in?
Mountain View Helicopters's product category is Aviation Training and Charter Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFABAH, Helicopter Charter & Sightseeing, with a secondary code of TLAFACAB, On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate). Its NAICS code is 611512.