Airlines

Discover the 40-Year History of HeliJet: From Small Regional Air Charter to Major North American Airline





HeliJet is a Canadian-based airline that has been in operation since 1981. Founded by Canadian aviation entrepreneur Larry Berg, HeliJet began as a small, regional air charter service based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. Over the years, the airline has grown to become one of the largest regional carriers in North America, with a fleet of over 30 aircraft and scheduled services to airports throughout the Pacific Northwest.

HeliJet's fleet consists of a variety of aircrafts including the Bombardier Dash 8-100, Dash 8-200, and Dash 8-400, as well as the Beechcraft 1900 D. The Dash 8-200 and Dash 8-400 feature leather seating, in-seat power outlets, and complimentary snacks and beverages. The Beechcraft 1900 D is a larger, twin-engine aircraft that is popular for charter services.

The airline's history is marked by a series of milestones, beginning with its first flight in 1981. At that time, HeliJet operated out of a single location in Vancouver and only had two aircraft. In 1982, the airline began to expand its services and launched a scheduled flight service to Victoria, British Columbia. In 1983, the airline added its first international route to Seattle, Washington, and in 1984, they added a route to Portland, Oregon.

In 1987, HeliJet made history by becoming the first airline in Canada to be certified to carry passengers, cargo, and mail. That same year, the airline added service to the United States, with flights to Los Angeles, California and San Francisco, California.





Over the next decade, HeliJet continued to expand, offering flights to a variety of destinations throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 1998, the airline added its first international route to Tokyo, Japan and in 2000, the airline expanded its fleet with the purchase of the Beechcraft 1900 D.

In 2004, HeliJet experienced one of its most significant milestones when it became the first airline in Canada to receive a license to operate on a daily basis. This license allowed the airline to offer flights to new, international destinations, including Mexico City, Mexico, and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Over the years, HeliJet has been involved in a number of incidents, the most serious of which occurred in 2002 when one of their aircraft crashed in Alaska, killing all nine passengers and crew on board. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the crash was due to pilot error. In 2003, the airline was also the subject of a federal investigation after two of its planes were involved in a mid-air collision over the Pacific Ocean. The investigation revealed that the pilots were not following proper procedures and that the airline had failed to adequately train its personnel.

Despite these incidents, HeliJet has continued to grow and evolve over the years. Today, the airline operates a fleet of over 30 aircraft and offers scheduled services to cities throughout North America, as well as internationally to Tokyo, Japan, and Mexico City, Mexico. HeliJet has also implemented new safety measures in order to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew.





Overall, the history of HeliJet is one of growth and evolution, with a number of important milestones marking the airline's progress. From its beginnings as a small regional charter service in 1981, to its current status as one of the largest regional carriers in North America, HeliJet has come a long way in its nearly 40-year history.