Helijet

Helijet is a British Columbia aviation brand operating scheduled helicopter passenger services, helicopter charter operations, air ambulance missions, and related aviation services. Based at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, the company combines an urban air-transit network with a diversified charter business serving commercial, industrial, medical, and tourism customers. The company was established in 1986 as Helijet Airways and began flying scheduled services between Vancouver and Victoria in November of that year. It started with one Bell 412 helicopter and a staff of 14. The original proposition was to provide a fast, city-centre-to-city-centre alternative to surface travel between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Rather than relying only on conventional airports, Helijet uses harbour heliports located close to downtown business and transport districts. Its Vancouver Harbour Heliport is a floating facility on Burrard Inlet near Waterfront Station, while its Victoria operation serves the harbour area at Ogden Point. Over time, Helijet expanded beyond the Vancouver–Victoria route. Scheduled passenger service has also included Nanaimo, and the company has historically operated services to destinations such as Seattle, Abbotsford, Langley, Victoria International Airport, and Campbell River. Some of these markets have been served through charter rather than continuing scheduled operations. The company’s aircraft history has included Bell helicopters, Sikorsky S-61 and S-76 helicopters, Bell 206L LongRanger aircraft, and fixed-wing aircraft such as the Beechcraft 1900 and Beechcraft King Air. Helijet’s scheduled passenger operation has generally emphasized twin-engine, instrument-flight-rules-capable Sikorsky S-76 helicopters flown by two pilots. The service is designed for short regional journeys, business travel, tourism, and passengers seeking direct access to urban centres. In addition to scheduled flights, the company offers sightseeing and harbour or city tours, as well as corporate and general helicopter charter services. Its charter division, Helijet Charters, serves a broad range of customers and uses. Activities described for the business include film and television work, aerial tours, industrial assignments, corporate aviation, helicopter and jet charter, and passenger or cargo transfers in remote areas. The company has also operated fixed-wing and rotary-wing air ambulance services and is described as British Columbia’s largest air medical service provider. These medical operations include helicopter missions and fixed-wing medevac aircraft, including Learjet aircraft. Helijet also operates aviation infrastructure through Pacific Heliport Services, its wholly owned subsidiary. This subsidiary operates the Vancouver and Victoria Harbour Heliports, giving the group a role not only as an airline but also as a heliport operator. Beyond the main urban network, Helijet has maintained operations in northern and coastal British Columbia, including a year-round base at Sandspit Airport and seasonal helicopter services linking Masset Airport with fishing lodges in the Haida Gwaii area. These services support passenger and cargo movement to locations with dedicated lodge helipads. The brand’s present identity is therefore broader than that of a conventional scheduled airline. Helijet combines urban helicopter transportation, aviation infrastructure, emergency medical flying, remote-area logistics, tourism, and specialist charter work. Its core geographic focus remains British Columbia, particularly the Vancouver, Victoria, and Nanaimo corridors, while its charter and medevac activities extend across additional parts of the province.

Helijet was founded in 1986 as Helijet Airways and commenced scheduled operations in November of that year on the Vancouver–Victoria route. Its initial operation consisted of a single Bell 412 helicopter and 14 employees. The business was created around the practical advantage of helicopter travel between downtown locations: passengers could avoid much of the time and surface access burden associated with conventional airport travel and ferry connections. The company developed its network around harbour heliports. Vancouver Harbour Heliport is located on Burrard Inlet near Waterfront Station and uses a floating structure in the harbour. In Victoria, the scheduled operation serves the harbour area at Camel Point near Ogden Point. These facilities enabled Helijet to position itself as an urban regional transport provider rather than simply a small-airport airline. During its development, Helijet diversified its aircraft and destinations. Its historical fleet has included the Bell 412, Sikorsky S-61N, Sikorsky S-76, Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III, Beechcraft 1900D, Beechcraft Super King Air, and other helicopter types. The company has operated large Sikorsky S-61 helicopters, including aircraft configured for up to 19 passengers, as well as fixed-wing turboprop services. At different times, scheduled or other passenger services reached destinations including Seattle-Boeing Field, Abbotsford International Airport, Langley Regional Airport, Victoria International Airport, and Campbell River Airport. Some former scheduled markets remain available through charter activity. The main scheduled service has historically relied on Sikorsky S-76 helicopters. These twin-engine aircraft are capable of instrument flight rules operations and are flown by two pilots. Helijet temporarily used Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III aircraft for Vancouver–Victoria scheduled flights during the summer of 2013, before returning to Sikorsky S-76 aircraft in the autumn of that year. Helijet expanded its scheduled network to Nanaimo on March 11, 2015. The new route connected Vancouver Harbour with Nanaimo Harbour and initially offered seven round trips on weekdays. The addition strengthened the company’s role in linking the Lower Mainland with multiple Vancouver Island population and tourism centres. Alongside passenger operations, Helijet built a substantial charter business. Helijet Charters serves film and television production, aerial touring, industrial work, corporate travel, general helicopter assignments, and corporate jet charter. This diversified model allows the company to deploy aviation assets beyond fixed scheduled routes and to serve customers requiring specialized aircraft, crews, or operating locations. Medical aviation became another major part of the company’s activities. Helijet operates rotary-wing and fixed-wing air ambulance services in British Columbia and has been described as the province’s largest air medical service provider. Its medical fleet and capabilities have included helicopter operations and fixed-wing medevac aircraft, including Learjet aircraft. Air ambulance activity has included operations associated with Vancouver International Airport and Prince Rupert’s Seal Cove facility. The company also serves remote coastal markets. It operates a year-round base at Sandspit Airport and provides seasonal helicopter links between Masset Airport and fishing lodges in Haida Gwaii. These flights can carry passengers and cargo, using lodge helipads to support access to locations away from conventional airport infrastructure. Helijet’s infrastructure role expanded through Pacific Heliport Services, a wholly owned subsidiary responsible for operating the Vancouver and Victoria Harbour Heliports. This gives the wider business control over key facilities supporting its scheduled network. Over its operating history, the company grew from a single-aircraft operation carrying approximately 22,000 passengers in its early period to a diversified organization described in reference material as operating approximately 15 aircraft, employing more than 150 people, and carrying more than 100,000 passengers annually. The exact timing of those scale figures is not specified in the available material. Today, Helijet remains a British Columbia-focused aviation brand whose activities span scheduled urban helicopter transportation, charter aviation, sightseeing, industrial and production flying, air ambulance services, remote-area logistics, and heliport management.

• 2015

  Nanaimo scheduled service begins

  [1]Helijeten.wikipedia.org

  Helijet begins scheduled passenger flights between Vancouver Harbour and Nanaimo Harbour on March 11, initially offering seven weekday round trips.

• 2013

  Temporary use of Bell 206L aircraft on Vancouver–Victoria

  [1]Helijeten.wikipedia.org

  During the summer season, scheduled Vancouver–Victoria flights are operated with Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III aircraft before Sikorsky S-76 operations resume in the autumn.

• 1986

  Helijet is established

  [1]Helijeten.wikipedia.org

  Helijet Airways is established in British Columbia with one Bell 412 helicopter and 14 employees.

• 1986

  Scheduled Vancouver–Victoria service begins

  [1]Helijeten.wikipedia.org

  The company begins scheduled helicopter operations between Vancouver and Victoria in November.

A premium, time-saving regional aviation provider offering city-centre helicopter connections in British Columbia alongside medical, charter, tourism, industrial, and remote-area aviation services.

• Airline service · 1986

  Scheduled passenger helicopter service

  Helijet operates scheduled helicopter connections centered on British Columbia’s urban waterfront heliports. The best-known services link Vancouver with Victoria and Nanaimo, providing direct downtown-area access for business, leisure, and regional travelers. Operations have historically used two-pilot, twin-engine Sikorsky S-76 helicopters, although the company has used other aircraft at different times.

• Charter aviation

  Helijet Charters

  Helijet Charters provides non-scheduled helicopter and corporate aviation services. Its stated areas of activity include film and television production, aerial sightseeing, industrial assignments, corporate travel, general helicopter work, and corporate jet charter. Charter operations can reach destinations and operating sites beyond the company’s scheduled passenger network.

• Medical aviation

  Air ambulance and medevac

  Helijet provides rotary-wing and fixed-wing air ambulance services in British Columbia. The operation has included helicopter missions and fixed-wing medevac aircraft, including Learjet aircraft, supporting medical transport from urban, regional, and remote locations. Reference material identifies Helijet as British Columbia’s largest air medical service provider.

• Aviation infrastructure

  Heliport operations

  Through wholly owned Pacific Heliport Services, Helijet operates the Vancouver Harbour Heliport and Victoria Harbour Heliport. These facilities support the company’s scheduled passenger flights and provide urban access points close to downtown Vancouver and Victoria.

• Regional and logistics aviation

  Remote-area helicopter services

  Helijet operates remote-area aviation services in coastal British Columbia, including a year-round base at Sandspit Airport and seasonal helicopter flights between Masset Airport and fishing lodges in Haida Gwaii. These operations support passenger and cargo transfers using lodge helipads.

• 2015

  Add scheduled Vancouver–Nanaimo routeProduct launch

  Background

  Helijet’s scheduled network had historically focused on Vancouver–Victoria travel, while Nanaimo represented another significant Vancouver Island market.

  Action taken

  The company introduced scheduled passenger service between Vancouver Harbour Heliport and Nanaimo Harbour Heliport on March 11, 2015, with seven weekday round trips using Sikorsky S-76 helicopters.

  Aftermath

  The launch expanded Helijet’s scheduled Vancouver Island network. The available reference material does not provide later ridership or financial results for the route.

  Source

• 2021.12.02

  Reported2021.12.03

  Blade partnered with Helijet to offer scheduled flights in Canada[2]Blade 与 Helijet 合作在加拿大提供定期航班flyingmag.com

  Blade Air Mobility entered a partnership with Helijet International, gaining exclusive rights to offer scheduled helicopter flights operated by Helijet in Canada and access to passenger terminals at heliports controlled by Helijet subsidiary Pacific Heliport Services.

Read more

1. 1Helijeten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Blade 与 Helijet 合作在加拿大提供定期航班flyingmag.com