Longline pioneer, producer of the iconic Chinook is a leading global heavy-lift operator.
Based in Aurora, Oregon, Columbia Helicopters is the pioneer of longline helicopter operations. Founded 66 years ago by Wes Lematta, the company perfected longlining by developing line-of-sight operations in which the pilot looks down at the work being done instead of relying on radio calls from ground operators.
Iconic Rotorcraft
Today, Columbia is the primary commercial operator of Boeing’s tandem-rotor helicopters. In 2006, Columbia secured the FAA type and production certificates for two of Boeing’s standard transport helicopters, the Model 234, the commercial variant of the military, heavy-lift CH-47 Chinook; and the Model 107-II Vertol, the commercial variant of the military, medium-lift CH-46 Sea Knight. With these certificates in hand, Columbia became the aircraft’s original equipment manufacturer, with the ability to design modifications and updates to make the helicopters true multimission aircraft.
As standard category aircraft with Columbia modifications, the Columbia Model 234 Chinook and Columbia Model 107-II Vertol can quickly be reconfigured for multiple missions, including internal and external cargo lifts and passenger transportation. In 2014, Columbia received restricted-category type certification for the Boeing CH-47D, allowing the company to modify this workhorse for a variety of external-load missions.
MRO Services
For a number of years, Columbia modified and maintained its aircraft in-house for its global contract operations, building a strong maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capability for the aircraft and their powerplants as a factory-authorized service center for the Honeywell T55-714 engine and as a GE-approved total logistics support center for the GE T58 and CT58 engines.
In addition to regular firefighting, construction, and logging missions, Columbia held a contract with the US Department of Defense’s US Transportation Command to support operations during the last 10 years of conflict in Afghanistan with heavy-lift and passenger transportation operations while maintaining a 97% operational readiness rate. When the contract ended, Columbia began preparing for the next step.
With an infusion of capital from its acquisition by private equity firm AE Industrial Partners in 2019, Columbia began shifting its focus outward toward supporting domestic operators of divested 47D Chinooks and took all its aircraft to market, evolving into a full-production OEM.
In addition to its aircraft sales, Columbia’s full-service MRO side has grown, serving commercial, government, and military aircraft. Columbia isn’t moving away from its roots, however. The operator continues to land long-term, sustainable operations contracts in addition to supporting vital seasonal missions such as firefighting. Currently, the company is conducting humanitarian assistance operations in Africa for the United Nations World Food Programme.
