PHI

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.

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

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

• Helicopter transportation services
• Offshore aviation services
• Helicopter MRO services
• Air medical transport
• Energy aviation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Core 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

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature9 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Garmin (Aviation Dealer)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2025PHI 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.
• LeonardocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024PHI 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)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2024PHI 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)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2024PHI 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)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2023PHI 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.
• SikorskycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Partnership agreement announced at 2023 HAI Heli-Expo establishing PHI as Sikorsky-authorized Customer Support Center for S-92 helicopter and S-76C series.
• Kaman CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Kaman 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)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2023Leonardo 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 AerospacecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2023GE 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.
• bpflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022PHI 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.
• CareflightminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022PHI International and Careflight teams in Broome, Western Australia received Shell Goal Zero Hero award for safety performance.
• Woodside (Scarborough Joint Venture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022PHI 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 AviationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021PHI 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)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2021Airbus 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)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2021PHI Aviation operating four Airbus H160s to service Shell's offshore support contract in the Gulf of Mexico as part of a pioneering H160 operation.
• HNZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017PHI acquired HNZ in 2017, expanding operations in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Century Aviation (PHI Century JV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012PHI 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

Direct 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

• Xfacebook.com/PHIinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/phiinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phi-inc

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries7 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 PHI