Canada's Helijet has signed a letter of intent to acquire up to six of PHI's Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopters. The first three will be prepared at PHI's base in Lafayette, Louisiana, for delivery in the first and second quarter.
PHI will tailor the aircraft to Helijet’s specifications, including a complete repaint in company livery, avionics changes, and selected aircraft operating equipment before being added to Helijet’s fleet for scheduled and general charter operating services in Canada. Helijet will redesign and refurbish the 12-passenger cabin interiors of the three aircraft.
Additional aircraft deliveries will be subject to respective company board approvals. Helijet currently operates a mixed fleet of 22 helicopters, including 14 older S-76 models. The newer helicopters will be part of a fleet replacement program for those S-76s.
Helijet was founded in 1986 and currently provides scheduled passenger service between downtown Vancouver and downtown Victoria. The company also has operations in Richmond, Nanaimo, Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii. Danny Sitnam, Helijet’s CEO, said the move to upgrade its S-76 fleet had been long planned and was part of the company's commitment to bringing “newer, more advanced technology to the communities it serves.”