PHI
PHI Group is a privately-held global helicopter solutions provider operating a fleet of 213 aircraft across six continents, serving energy, air medical, government, and law enforcement customers with passenger transport, MRO, and emergency medical services since 1949.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1949
- HeadquartersLafayette, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PHI does
PHI Group, Inc. is a privately-held global helicopter solutions provider headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, founded in 1949 as Petroleum Bell Helicopters with three aircraft and seven employees. The company operates a fleet of 213 helicopters spanning six continents, delivering passenger transport, search and rescue, wind farm support, and marine pilot transfer services primarily to energy companies operating offshore platforms. Beyond energy aviation, PHI runs three structured business lines: PHI Air Medical (emergency medical transport across the United States with its own FlyPHI dispatch app and Family Trax real-time tracking), PHI MRO Services (third-party maintenance, repair, overhaul, completions, and engine support from a 230,000 sq ft facility in Lafayette), and a growing portfolio of OEM-authorized service capabilities (Sikorsky, Leonardo, Rolls-Royce, Garmin).
The company monetizes primarily through long-term enterprise contracts with multinational energy customers — including bp under a 10-year Gulf of America agreement, Shell SEPCO (H160 fleet), Woodside for the Scarborough JV in Western Australia, OMV Taranaki, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority — supplemented by air medical transport revenue from hospitals and MRO revenue from external helicopter operators. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales through regional offices in the Americas (Lafayette/Phoenix/Houma/Galveston), APAC (Perth/Broome/Karratha/Exmouth/New Plymouth/Pasay City), and EMEA (Camberley/Nicosia/Accra/Trinidad). The company holds FAA AS9110 and EASA Part 145 certifications and operates under multiple OEM authorizations.
PHI's competitive position rests on 75+ years of operating history, 12 million+ cumulative flight hours, a 10-year average pilot tenure, and proprietary safety frameworks (Destination Zero, Safety Management System, Human Dimension of Safety, Life-Saving Behaviors). Capital intensity is high — 213 aircraft, the Lafayette MRO campus, and a newly opened 26,000 sq ft Houma passenger terminal with 40,000 sq ft hangar (2025) — and the 2019 corporate restructuring, combined with subsequent multi-year warrant adjustments, indicates ongoing capital structure refinement. PHI Group is led by Chairman and CEO Scott McCarty, with a divisional leadership structure spanning PHI Aviation (Americas/EMEA/APAC), PHI Health, and PHI MRO Services.
PHI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PHI
- Legal name
- PHI Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://phihelico.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1949
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- PHI Group is a privately-held global helicopter solutions provider operating a fleet of 213 aircraft across six continents, serving energy, air medical, government, and law enforcement customers with passenger transport, MRO, and emergency medical services since 1949.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PHI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Helicopter Aviation Services
- NAICS
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)
- SIC
- Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724)
- akta.pro primary industry
- VIP/Executive Helicopter Transport (THABAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Aviation Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) (THABAFAI), Component MRO (Avionics, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Electrical) (TLAKAJAC)
Keywords
Where PHI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lafayette
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices17 records
Markets served
PHI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Helicopter Transportation Services: PHI provides helicopter transportation services for energy providers, including passenger transport, search and rescue, wind farm support, and marine pilot transfer. Revenue is generated through long-term contracts with energy companies and government organizations. The company operates a fleet of 213+ aircraft across six continents.
- MRO Services: PHI MRO Services provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for helicopters from its state-of-the-art facility in Lafayette, Louisiana. Services include completions, modifications, component shop capabilities, and engine maintenance. The company serves both internal fleet and external third-party customers.
- Air Medical Services: PHI Air Medical provides emergency medical helicopter transport services across the United States, operating as a separate business unit.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
PHI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PHI Group provides helicopter transportation and aviation services to the global energy, air medical, government, and law enforcement sectors through a fleet of 213+ helicopters operating across six continents. Offerings include offshore passenger transport, hoist/rescue, marine pilot transfer, wind services, integrated air medical transport, and third-party helicopter maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. The company combines a multi-mission fleet, in-house MRO capability, and dedicated safety and dispatch technology to deliver contracted aviation services.
Product overview
PHI is a global helicopter solutions provider operating a portfolio of complementary businesses across aviation services, MRO, and air medical transport. The core business delivers helicopter transportation services (passenger transport, SAR, wind, marine pilot transfer) to the energy industry via a fleet of 200+ helicopters spanning six continents. Supporting this is a third-party MRO Services division offering maintenance, completions, modifications, and component/engine support. PHI Air Medical provides dedicated air ambulance transport. All divisions are anchored by PHI's Safety Management System and share operational infrastructure across the Americas, APAC, and EMEA regions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PHI Air Medical: Air medical transport services operating across the United States
- PHI MRO Services
- PHI Air Europe
- PHI Century
Products and services
- Energy Aviation Services Integrated helicopter transportation services supporting offshore and onshore energy operations, including crew change, hoist/rescue, marine pilot transfer, and wind services, delivered to oil & gas and renewable energy operators.
- Passenger Transport Scheduled and on-demand helicopter passenger transport service moving personnel to and from offshore platforms, rigs, vessels, and remote sites for energy and other industrial customers.
- Search and Rescue Specialized helicopter search and rescue (SAR) operations supporting offshore energy sites and government customers with hoist-capable aircraft and trained rescue personnel.
- Wind Services Helicopter crew change and personnel transport services supporting offshore wind farm construction, operations, and maintenance activities.
- Marine Pilot Transfer Helicopter-based marine pilot transfer service supporting shipping and port operations, enabling pilots to transfer to and from vessels at sea.
- Helicopter MRO Services Third-party helicopter maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, including heavy maintenance, component overhaul, and modifications, sold to external helicopter operators and owners.
- PHI Air Medical Integrated helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) delivered through hospital-based and community-based programs, serving patients, hospital systems, and communities requiring critical care transport.
Quantifiable outcome
- 12,000,000+ flight hours logged
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use PHI
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
PHI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature9 records
PHI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- Garmin (Aviation Dealer)minorPHI MRO Services appointed as an authorized Aviation Dealer for Garmin, offering customers Garmin's entire product line including the latest equipment for avionics upgrades, modifications, and completions.
- LeonardocorePHI MRO Services selected as an approved supplier for Leonardo. Under this multi-year agreement, PHI MRO Services provides specialized services including comprehensive component shop capabilities to support Leonardo's operations.
- Leonardo (Service Center)corePHI MRO Services appointed as a Leonardo Service Center, providing top-tier maintenance solutions for Leonardo's AW139 series aircraft to operators across the United States.
- Rolls-Royce (Authorized Maintenance Center)corePHI MRO Services appointed as Rolls-Royce Authorized Maintenance Center. The engine facility is over 6,500 square feet with 22 workstations and two state-of-the-art engine test cells.
- Sikorsky (Customer Support Center)corePHI MRO Services announced as Sikorsky-authorized Customer Support Center for S-92 and S-76C helicopter series. This was announced at 2023 HAI Heli-Expo.
- SikorskycorePartnership agreement announced at 2023 HAI Heli-Expo establishing PHI as Sikorsky-authorized Customer Support Center for S-92 helicopter and S-76C series.
- Kaman CorporationminorKaman and PHI announced commercial agreement at 2023 HAI Heli-Expo. PHI to purchase 50 KARGO UAV purpose-built autonomous medium-lift logistics vehicles from Kaman Aerospace Corporation.
- Leonardo (Special Component Plan)coreLeonardo and PHI signed Parts-By-The-Hour agreement providing modern and efficient maintenance support coverage for PHI's AW139 helicopter fleet with global coverage leveraging data-driven approach.
- GE AerospacecoreGE Aerospace and PHI Aviation launched pilot program featuring GE's new digital engine health monitoring technology for CT7-8 engines, through GE's industry-leading fleet support team.
- bpflagshipPHI Aviation extended its contract with bp to provide helicopter transportation services for bp's energy exploration and production efforts in the Gulf of America. The 10-year, multi-aircraft agreement represents a major strategic partnership.
- CareflightminorPHI International and Careflight teams in Broome, Western Australia received Shell Goal Zero Hero award for safety performance.
- Woodside (Scarborough Joint Venture)corePHI International secured a significant aviation services contract with Woodside, as operator for and on behalf of the Scarborough Joint Venture, in Western Australia.
- Massey University School of AviationminorPHI International and Massey University School of Aviation partnered to launch careers of next generation of aviation professionals through education and training collaboration.
- Airbus (H160 Partnership)flagshipAirbus and PHI announced a joint partnership in launching the H160 in the United States. PHI was selected to operate four Airbus H160s to service a support contract for Shell Exploration & Production Company (SEPCO) in the Gulf of Mexico - marking historic innovation in offshore operations.
- Shell Exploration & Production Company (SEPCO)flagshipPHI Aviation operating four Airbus H160s to service Shell's offshore support contract in the Gulf of Mexico as part of a pioneering H160 operation.
- HNZcorePHI acquired HNZ in 2017, expanding operations in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Century Aviation (PHI Century JV)corePHI Century joint venture between PHI and Century Aviation was formed in Ghana to establish Ghanaian aviation operations in support of offshore energy.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves14 records
Expansion highlights8 records
PHI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Air Methods: Largest U.S. air medical transport operator, directly comparable to PHI Air Medical. Operates helicopter EMS fleets serving hospitals and health systems across the United States.
- CHC Helicopter: Privately held global offshore helicopter operator serving oil & gas, search and rescue, and government customers. Directly competes with PHI in offshore energy transport and shared multi-OEM fleet strategy.
- Bristow Group: Global offshore helicopter operator publicly listed, providing passenger transport, SAR, and MRO to energy customers worldwide. Most direct competitor with similar fleet scale, offshore energy focus, and IOC customer base.
- Era Helicopters (formerly, now part of Bristow): Historical direct competitor in Gulf of Mexico offshore helicopter operations. Now integrated into Bristow Group, but the legacy business model mirrors PHI's core offshore aviation services.
Broad incumbents
- Babcock International (Aviation): Multi-sector industrial group providing offshore helicopter transport, SAR, and aerial emergency services globally. Competes with PHI in European and African offshore markets with broader portfolio backing.
- StandardAero: Major independent MRO provider with engine and component services for helicopters, including Rolls-Royce engine support. Directly comparable to PHI MRO Services as a third-party helicopter MRO competitor.
Emerging players
- Milestone Aviation: Helicopter leasing company (GE Capital Aviation Services subsidiary) providing leased aircraft to offshore operators including Bristow and CHC. Overlaps with PHI's lease transactions (e.g., Bell 407 leases to New York Helicopter, Charm Aviation).
- Metro Aviation: U.S. air medical helicopter operator and completion/MRO provider. Comparable to PHI Air Medical and PHI MRO Services in the helicopter EMS and completion segments.
Others
- PHI Aviation (internal segment): Reference point for the anchor company itself. Listed here to clarify internal segmentation between PHI Aviation (energy transport), PHI Air Medical, and PHI MRO Services.
- Leonardo Helicopters (Service Network): OEM partner of PHI MRO Services; comparable as a global helicopter support and MRO network operator with which PHI competes and partners via the Service Center and Special Component Plan agreements.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PHI social profiles
Digital presencePHI compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
PHI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PHI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
PHI subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
PHI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PHI 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 PHI
What does PHI do?
PHI Group provides helicopter transportation and aviation services to the global energy, air medical, government, and law enforcement sectors through a fleet of 213+ helicopters operating across six continents. Offerings include offshore passenger transport, hoist/rescue, marine pilot transfer, wind services, integrated air medical transport, and third-party helicopter maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. The company combines a multi-mission fleet, in-house MRO capability, and dedicated safety and dispatch technology to deliver contracted aviation services.
Is PHI a public or private company?
PHI is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was PHI founded?
PHI was founded in 1949. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is PHI based?
PHI is headquartered in Lafayette, United States, in the North America region.
How does PHI make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Helicopter Transportation Services are the primary driver. The others are MRO Services and air Medical Services.
Who are PHI's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Air Methods, CHC Helicopter, Bristow Group and Era Helicopters (formerly, now part of Bristow). Broad incumbents are Babcock International (Aviation) and StandardAero. Emerging players are Milestone Aviation and Metro Aviation. Others are PHI Aviation (internal segment) and Leonardo Helicopters (Service Network).
Does PHI have an API?
No public API is recorded for PHI.
What industry is PHI in?
PHI's product category is Helicopter Aviation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAGAH, VIP/Executive Helicopter Transport, with a secondary code of THABAFAI, Private Aviation Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO). Its NAICS code is 33641 and its SIC code is 3720.