Q. What is the official name of your company?
A. Maritime Helicopters, Inc.
Q. Is your firm a subsidiary or affiliate of other companies? If so, please name those firms and their relationship to your company.
A. We are Alaskan family owned and managed.
Q. What do you most want people to know about your company?
A. Maritime Helicopters has been in business in Alaska for 43 years. Safety is our number one priority. We provide experienced service from a variety of bases strategically located statewide with our fleet of 16 helicopters and our 86’ research vessel. We are an approved Bell Helicopter Customer Service Center and FAA approved Bell Repair Station. We utilize Sky Connect automated flight following service with satellite phone capabilities to track and communicate with our helicopters and vessel in real time, creating a safe environment for our customers and crews.
Q. Where is your company located?
A. Our main office and operations base is in Homer, Alaska with satellite facilities in Fairbanks, Kenai, Kodiak, Valdez and Akutan.
Q. What year was the company founded and by whom?
A. 1973 by Donald and Mary Ann Fell.
Q. What is your company’s primary business activity?
A. Our helicopters cover many facets including the oil, mining, construction and survey industries, plus environmental and marine research, volcano monitoring, forest fire suppression and local utilities.
Q. Are there important projects the company is currently a part of or has done recently?
A. Projects include security flights, contributing to essential air service for a remote village, air support for seismic work and working in conjunction with state and federal agencies for wild fire response.
Q. How many employees does your company have?
A. We have a core staff of 46 employees and add personnel seasonally as required.
Q. Describe the equipment your company uses and are there any new equipment purchases planned?
A. Our fleet is comprised of Bell 206L3s, Bell 206L4s, Bell 407s, and twin-engine Bell 412HP and Eurocopter BO 105s. Our 86’ Research Vessel is equipped with a helipad for helicopter assisted charters.
Q. Is your company expanding any of its operations or locations?
A. Maritime Helicopters has expanded to operate out of six locations: Homer, Fairbanks, Valdez, Kenai, Kodiak and Akutan. We now offer a full service facility in Fairbanks similar to our Homer Service Center.
Q. Is the company changing any of its services or products?
Maritime Helicopters is welcoming into its fleet a Bell 412HP. This helicopter will be mission ready for the upcoming 2016 season with our certification for dual pilot IFR operations, including dual digital automatic flight control and state of the art navigation systems. The aircraft has seating for eleven passengers plus two crewmembers. It is equipped to support the oil and gas industry in VFR and IFR conditions and can be quickly configured for cargo, firefighting and utility projects. The Bell 412HP is known for its superior performance above its predecessor the Bell 212 and its reliability in the most extreme climates.
Q. What is your company’s main strength or its edge over the competition?
A. We offer great flexibility to react quickly to our customers’ needs. Our helicopters work statewide, year round, and operate to the highest standards. Our newly acquired Bell 412HP with its larger passenger and lift capacity, external hoist and IFR capabilities, gives us the opportunity to provide our clients a broader scope of services in the medium helicopter market.
Q. What are the biggest obstacles to completing work your company undertakes?
A. The weather and logistics are two of the biggest obstacles we face in the Alaskan environment. Forty-three years of experience along with an established supply chain help us better overcome these challenges.
Q. What is the average length of time employee’s work for the company?
A. 15 years.
Q. What is your company’s safety record? What steps does the company take to ensure a safe work environment?
A. Our company’s safety record is excellent and we employ a full-time Quality Health and Safety Manager. We have a Safety Management System and monthly safety briefs/internal audits are held for all of our programs and staff. All employees undergo annual safety-related training.
Q. Has your company been involved in any community projects or charity events?
A. Yes, we contribute and support numerous local organizations such as Hospice of Homer, The Pratt Museum, West Homer Elementary School, Share the Spirit and Homer Animal Friends. Plus we participate in a local Wounded Warriors support organization.
Q. What is the address of your company’s Web site?
A. Please visit our site at www.maritimehelicopters.com.
