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PETROLEUM DIRECTORY: Evergreen of Alaska Inc. Quality without compromise — helicopters serving industry and humanity Susan Braund Petroleum Directory Contributing Writer
Delford Smith has never wavered from his visionary flight path — to demonstrate that helicopters are both tireless workhorses and angels of mercy.
In 1960 when Smith founded Evergreen Helicopters at Anchorage’s Merrill Field, he was in motion, quickly adding new markets and bases. Today Evergreen operates helicopter bases in Alaska at Anchorage, Deadhorse, Nome, Kotzebue and Cold Bay; additional bases are operated in Oregon, Texas, Rhode Island, Central and South America and Africa. Evergreen provides support to agriculture, construction, forestry, government, health, law enforcement, peacekeeping, petroleum, seismic, timber, and utility organizations.
Over the last 43 years, the company has morphed into a family of nine aviation companies under the rubric of Evergreen International Aviation Inc. A global leader in commercial and heavy transport, helicopter support, ground handling, aircraft sales and trades and maintenance, the group employs 5,000 employees worldwide in 168 countries, with revenues topping $600 million. Newer entrepreneurial additions to the family include a nonprofit humanitarian agency and an aviation museum.
Gerard Rock, president, Evergreen Helicopters of Alaska Inc., knows the secret to the company’s steady growth: “Diversity is our key to success, finding niche markets and meeting those unique needs,” he says. “There’s not much that we aren’t willing to do. We don’t limit ourselves to the job or the make or model of aircraft; we match machines to missions.”
With 28 years of aviation experience under his belt, including a 16-year stint with Alaska Helicopters, Rock joined the Evergreen family in 1995. He oversees all operational and financial aspects of the helicopter company.
The interaction of the separate companies increases flexibility. “With the synergistic capabilities of its sister companies, Evergreen mobilizes on a moment's notice anywhere on earth,” claim company promotions. Diverse fleet The company’s diverse fleet has the winning combination of lift, speed and high altitude flying capabilities. Evergreen has received numerous national and international awards for maintenance and safety and consistently has superior safety and airworthiness records.
Heavy lift: Sikorsky S64 and S61
Medium lift: Bell 212, Bell 205, Aerospatiale Lama
Light lift: Bell 206B, Bell 206L, AStar AS350B-2, AStar AS350B-3, BK 117C-1, Hughes 500
Fixed wing: CASA 212, Lear 35, Gulfstream G-II and King Air 200
Rock speaks of the helicopters with enthusiasm, describing them in great detail. “The Bell 212 has been the oil industry workhorse for years. It’s the Cadillac of ships, carrying up to nine offshore passengers. Then, there’s the Bell 206 L (Longranger) — light and efficient, — a low-cost multi-tasker. The BK 117C-1 is special, designed and custom-outfitted for air medical services.” His eyes light up when he talks about the next ship, the Eurocopter AStar. “ This ship is really nice, fast, efficient and smooth and can pick up a lot of weight … very quiet, so quiet you can ride without a headset. And it’s quick. Most go 100 knots, this one goes 130, one-third faster.”
Workhorses The helicopter service earns it workhorse status in various applications: transport, heavy lift, power transmission aerial application, marine pilot transfer, wild-land fire fighting and petroleum support.
Transport — Evergreen provides personnel and cargo transport to work sites, staging areas and remote camps and coordinates transport services throughout Alaska and provides transport of scientific and drilling equipment, passengers, large survey parties and their supplies, or major construction supplies.
Heavy lift — The company provided the heavy lift to build the remote trans-Alaska pipeline, helping complete the line a year ahead of schedule.
Petroleum support — Wherever you find oil, you’ll find Evergreen’s helicopters hard at work. “Evergreen Helicopters’ aircraft and crews have supported the petroleum industry in every oil patch in the free world,” reports Journeay. “And, Evergreen was a leader in seismic exploration for oil on Alaska’s North Slope.”
Over-water experience has taken Evergreen into the Bering Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean, offshore Africa, the Middle East, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Alaska. Evergreen provides offshore platform support including delivering parts and supplies, shuttling crew and making emergency medical transports.
Over the years Evergreen has transported thousands to the North Slope and continues to provide onshore support to the oil and gas industry in seismic exploration, pipeline construction, patrol, drilling, and production.
Power line Transmission — Evergreen has extensive experience building power lines across the United States, Asia, Europe, Central America and South America. One project in Sweden placed 1,131 power line towers over a 200-mile distance in 179 flight hours. Traditional cranes and trucks would have taken over a year.
Government Contracts — From its beginning, Evergreen has worked extensively with the U.S. government, serving over 23 agencies, including the departments of defense, energy, commerce, transportation and the postal service. Angels of mercy Evergreen Helicopters provides notable humanitarian relief around the world. In the areas of peacekeeping, disaster relief, search and rescue and emergency medical services, the company makes a difference in dark corners of the world.
In addition to high-profile mountain search and rescue work, the Evergreen crews assist in locating lost hikers, stranded boaters and overdue aircraft. Evergreen provides evacuation during political crises, hurricanes, fires and drops needed food and medical supplies.
In 2000, the company established Evergreen International Aviation Relief and Humanitarian Services, a nonprofit with the goals of assisting countries in improving and healthcare delivery, eradicating disease and promoting economic development. Through funding medical research, seeks to promote the health and well being of children worldwide.
In combination with national and international agencies, Evergreen provides disaster relief worldwide. During the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989; Evergreen Helicopters mobilized immediately to survey the spill, carry biologists to the site, transport oil-soaked animals and provide medical evacuation services for clean-up crews.
Evergreen Helicopters has a long history in search and medical evacuations. “Our personnel’s bravery and expertise in the face of challenging conditions has not gone unnoticed,” says Rock. “Deservedly, they have been recognized repeatedly with national and international awards.”
Evergreen has been providing air ambulance services since1979, and today supports Providence Medical Center’s LifeGuard air-medical program with a BK 117 and a Bell 212 flying out of Anchorage.
For U.S. military and United Nations peacekeeping missions around the world, Evergreen Helicopters’ aircraft and crews provide support. “ Our activity has almost doubled since the beginning of Afghanistan, then rolled over into Iraq … we’re busy,” says Rock. “We started hauling and positioning six to eight months before the war.” Expect the unexpected “At Evergreen, we’re known for our creative solutions,” explains Journeay. “The only thing that limits you is your creativity, and we’ve got it in abundance. We give the service that customers want and need.”
The founder’s enthusiasm and quest for excellence can mean expanding into new venues — like developing the largest hazelnut orchard in the Pacific Northwest, starting a new wine label, or founding a new aviation museum that houses the renowned Spruce Goose.
Evergreen’s list of unusual tasks is interesting. On one project, Evergreen Helicopters was tasked with delivering everything except ammunition to the U.S. Navy’s USS Kennedy. On one trip, Evergreen gingerly delivered 40,000 dozen eggs without cracking a single one!
On tower-setting projects, Evergreen helicopters place and bolt 18,000-pound, 100-foot tall electrical towers on ground bases with only a 3/8-inch clearance. Using experienced pilots, the precision maneuvers and placements are completed without a hitch.
“We do what we say!” says Rock. “Our rule is: if we tell a customer we are going to do something, that’s what we do!”
Editor's note: Susan Braund owns Firestar Media Services in Anchorage, Alaska.
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