Helicol

Helicol S.A., short for Helicópteros Nacionales de Colombia, is a Colombian specialist aviation company based at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá. Although it is associated with Avianca and is described as a subsidiary airline of that group, its business is distinct from scheduled passenger aviation. Helicol provides rotary-wing and fixed-wing services for industrial, governmental and emergency-response customers, with most of its activity conducted onshore in Colombia. The company was established on July 3, 1955, in response to the logistical demands of oil exploration in Colombia. Its original structure was a joint venture between Avianca and Keystone Helicopters Corporation of Philadelphia. Keystone had obtained a contract from Shell Oil Company to support exploration in northern Colombia, but Colombian ownership rules required a local partner to hold a controlling stake. Avianca therefore held 51 percent, and Helicol became Colombia’s first supplier of non-scheduled air services. Its initial fleet consisted of three Keystone-leased Bell 47G helicopters, and Avianca executive Alberto Farías Mendoza served as the first general manager. During its early decades, Helicol developed capabilities well beyond basic helicopter charter. The company supported oil exploration, crop dusting, pipeline construction, mining, electrical-transmission projects, hydroelectric construction and other operations in difficult terrain. In 1964, it used Bell 204 helicopters to assist Texas Petroleum and Gulf Oil in building a trans-Andean pipeline from Orito in Putumayo to Tumaco on Colombia’s Pacific coast. Comparable pipeline and industrial assignments followed in Ecuador and Peru, while additional work was carried out in Central America. By 1980, Helicol was described as the largest helicopter operator in Latin America. The company progressively added fixed-wing and executive-aviation capabilities. It introduced IAI 1124 Westwind business jets in 1978, becoming the first operator of that type in Colombia. Four de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters entered service in 1979, principally for coal-mining and oil-industry work. Helicol also supplied crews for Dash 7 aircraft operated for Drummond’s coal-mining activities and provided aviation support to public-health, media and corporate customers. In the early 1980s, Grumman Gulfstream I aircraft were leased and later purchased for contracts involving Colombia’s central bank. Its technical infrastructure included a maintenance center in Barranquilla, where piston engines and Bell helicopters were supported under manufacturer authorization. The fleet historically included a wide range of Bell helicopters, Russian-built Mil Mi-8 and Mi-17 aircraft, Aerospatiale AS350 and AS355 helicopters, executive jets and utility aircraft. Helicol also operated a helicopter link between central Medellín and the city’s high-altitude airport until one of the Bell 212 aircraft used on that service was hijacked. Avianca reorganized Helicol in the mid-1990s. The Mil and AS350 fleets were sold, Twin Otters were transferred to sister airline SAM, and the company’s business-jet operations were reduced after the Westwind fleet had already been disposed of. Following Avianca’s post-bankruptcy restructuring and acquisition by Synergy Group in 2004, Synergy acquired Helicol in 2007. Later fleet and organizational changes included the addition of Beechcraft 1900D aircraft, associated with the recently established sister company Petroleum Aviation Services. Helicol’s current service portfolio includes oil exploration and drilling support, pipeline construction and maintenance, offshore work, cargo transport, executive transportation, aerial electrical-network inspection, seismographic surveys, air ambulance services, search and rescue, firefighting and helicopter rescue support using Bambi buckets. The company’s identity remains that of a mission-oriented aviation contractor rather than a mass-market airline. Its long-term value to the Avianca group lies in specialized flight operations, aviation expertise and access to customers in energy, mining, infrastructure, public safety and emergency services.

Helicol was founded on July 3, 1955, as Helicópteros Nacionales de Colombia, responding to the needs of oil exploration in Colombia. The company began as a joint venture between Avianca and Keystone Helicopters Corporation of Philadelphia. Keystone had contracted with Shell Oil Company to conduct exploration-related operations in northern Colombia, but local aviation rules required a Colombian partner to control at least 51 percent of the enterprise. Avianca assumed that controlling position, making Helicol the first provider of non-scheduled air services in Colombia. The initial fleet comprised three Bell 47G helicopters leased from Keystone. Alberto Farías Mendoza, an Avianca executive, became the first general manager. The fleet had grown to six helicopters by 1957. In the 1960s, Helicol diversified into helicopter crop dusting and major industrial assignments. Its 1964 contract with Texas Petroleum and Gulf Oil involved construction of a pipeline across the Colombian Andes, from Orito in Putumayo to Tumaco on the Pacific coast. Bell 204 helicopters lifted heavy pipe sections and positioned them along a route crossing irregular and difficult terrain. Similar work followed in Ecuador during construction of the Trans-Ecuadorian pipeline in 1969 and in Peru in 1970. The company also undertook assignments in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Helicol expanded into mining, power-line work, hydroelectric construction and other utility operations. By 1980, it was regarded as the largest helicopter operator in Latin America. It entered business aviation in 1978 with IAI 1124 Westwind aircraft, reportedly becoming the first Colombian operator of that type. Its technical organization included a maintenance facility in Barranquilla that repaired and overhauled piston engines and supported Bell helicopters under manufacturer authorization for the armed forces of Argentina and Panama. The company added fixed-wing utility aircraft in 1979 when four de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters entered service. These aircraft supported coal mining in La Guajira and the oil industry. Helicol also provided flight and ground crews for two Dash 7 aircraft owned by Drummond Company for operations connected with large open-pit coal mines. Other third-party activities included operating a Bell 206 for the Antioquia Department’s health services and supplying a helicopter for Caracol news operations. In 1981, Helicol leased two Grumman Gulfstream I aircraft from North American Air Service and later purchased them for contracts with Colombia’s central bank. Additional Gulfstream aircraft were leased. Between August 1982 and May 1985, an IAI Arava 201 supported oil and mining work conducted by American, Canadian and British companies. A Bell 214ST was added in the mid-1980s. During the following years, the fleet included Russian Mil Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters as well as Aerospatiale AS350B and AS355F1 aircraft, enabling the company to broaden its industrial and utility portfolio. By 1994, Helicol operated a helicopter connection between downtown Medellín and the airport situated on a mountain at approximately 8,000 feet. The service used Bell 212 helicopters until one aircraft was hijacked. In 1996, Avianca concluded that Helicol needed to be reorganized. The Mil Mi-8 and Mi-17 aircraft and AS350B helicopters were sold, while the Twin Otters were transferred to sister airline SAM. The Westwind fleet had already been sold, leaving a much smaller operation that included Cessna Citation III activity. Avianca underwent a broader restructuring after entering Chapter 11 protection. Its reorganization plan was confirmed on December 10, 2004, with financial support from Synergy Group and Colombia’s National Federation of Coffee Growers. After Synergy acquired Avianca in 2004, it acquired Helicol in 2007. Beechcraft 1900D aircraft were later added to the reduced fleet, with those aircraft associated with the newly established sister company Petroleum Aviation Services. Helicol continues to be presented as an Avianca subsidiary and specialist operator. Its listed capabilities encompass onshore and offshore operations, oil exploration and drilling, pipeline work, mining and infrastructure support, electrical-network supervision, cargo, executive transport, emergency medical flights, search and rescue, firefighting and aerial support for rescue operations. The company’s historical development shows a shift from a small oil-exploration helicopter venture to a diversified industrial aviation provider, followed by fleet consolidation and closer integration with Avianca’s corporate structure.

• 2020

  Parent-company Chapter 11 filing

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  Avianca files for Chapter 11 protection in the United States during the COVID-19 crisis; the supplied reference does not report a separate Helicol filing.

• 2007

  Synergy acquires Helicol

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  Following Synergy Group’s acquisition of Avianca, the group acquires Helicol.

• 2004

  Avianca exits Chapter 11

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  Avianca’s reorganization plan is confirmed on December 10 with backing from Synergy Group and the National Federation of Coffee Growers.

• 1996

  Avianca-led reorganization

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  Avianca reorganizes Helicol, selling several helicopter types and transferring Twin Otters to sister airline SAM.

• 1994

  Medellín helicopter link

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  Helicol provides helicopter service between central Medellín and the city’s high-altitude airport.

• 1981

  Gulfstream I operations begin

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  The company leases and later purchases Grumman Gulfstream I aircraft for contracts involving Colombia’s central bank.

• 1980

  Largest helicopter operator in Latin America

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  Helicol is described as the largest helicopter operator in Latin America.

• 1979

  Twin Otters enter service

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  Four de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters are introduced for coal-mining and oil-industry operations.

• 1978

  Entry into business-jet operations

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  Helicol introduces IAI 1124 Westwind aircraft, becoming the first operator of that type in Colombia.

• 1964

  Trans-Andean pipeline support

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  Bell 204 helicopters support construction of the Orito–Tumaco pipeline across difficult Colombian terrain.

• 1957

  Early fleet expansion

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  The company’s helicopter fleet grows from its initial three Bell 47G aircraft to six helicopters.

• 1955

  Helicol is founded

  [1]Helicolen.wikipedia.org

  Avianca and Keystone Helicopters Corporation establish Helicol on July 3 to support oil exploration and provide Colombia’s first non-scheduled air services.

A specialized Colombian aviation contractor focused on demanding industrial, emergency-response and logistics missions rather than scheduled passenger service.

• Industrial aviation · 1955

  Industrial helicopter operations

  Helicol’s core offering is contracted helicopter support for oil exploration, drilling, mining, pipeline construction, power-line work, hydroelectric projects and other infrastructure assignments. These missions involve transporting personnel and cargo, lifting equipment, surveying routes and operating in remote or rugged terrain.

• Emergency aviation

  Emergency and rescue aviation

  The company provides air ambulance, search-and-rescue, firefighting and rescue-support capabilities. Firefighting work can use Bambi-bucket equipment, while rescue operations may involve aircraft, crews and logistical support tailored to difficult access conditions.

• Specialist air transport · 1978

  Cargo and executive transportation

  Helicol operates or has historically operated rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft for cargo movement, executive transportation and corporate contracts. Its past fleet included business jets, utility aircraft and regional turboprops used for industrial and institutional customers.

• Aerial survey

  Survey and network-support flights

  Specialist missions include long- and short-line seismographic surveys, electrical-network supervision and related aerial inspection. These activities support energy, utilities and infrastructure customers requiring observation, measurement or equipment deployment from the air.

• 2007

  Synergy Group acquires HelicolM&A

  Background

  The transaction followed Synergy Group’s acquisition of Avianca after Avianca’s post-Chapter 11 restructuring.

  Action taken

  Synergy Group acquired Helicol and brought the specialist operator further into Avianca’s ownership structure.

  Aftermath

  Helicol continued as an Avianca-associated industrial aviation operator.

  Source

• 1996

  Avianca restructures HelicolStrategy

  Background

  Avianca determined that Helicol required organizational and fleet restructuring after years of diversification into helicopters, utility aircraft and business aviation.

  Action taken

  Helicol sold its Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-17 and AS350B fleets, transferred Twin Otters to sister airline SAM and continued with a substantially reduced operation.

  Aftermath

  The move concentrated Helicol on a smaller specialist aviation platform after the disposal of several major fleet categories.

  Source

1. 1Helicolen.wikipedia.org