Elling Halvorson, the founder and chairman of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters who was a pioneer in helicopter tourism and at the forefront of elevating the safety of the sector, died on April 16. He was 88.
Halvorson established Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters in 1965, giving the company claim to “the world's oldest and largest” aerial sightseeing company, typically flying some 600,000 passengers each year on tours.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on Jan. 2, 1932, Halvorson had moved numerous places as his father was in the construction business. After graduating from Willamette University in Oregon with a degree in economics, he followed his father into construction, establishing his own company that specialized in geographically remote projects, according to the Helicopter Association International (HAI).
Halvorson bought his first helicopter, a Bell 47G-3B-1, in 1960 for a project his construction company was undertaking for AT&T in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. His air tour company, initially Grand Canyon Helicopters, was born out of a project in which Halvorson and his team used helicopters to lay pipe into the Canyon. The project involved the building of a 13.5-mile water pipeline connecting the North and South Rims of the Canyon. Halvorson used several helicopters for the project, including a Sikorsky S-61, Bell 204B, and Sikorsky S-55, along with a fleet of Bell 47G-3B-1s and Hiller SL-4s, he told HAI’s Rotor magazine.
After a flood swept away nine miles of completed pipeline and destroyed construction equipment, Halvorson surveyed the damage. But his helicopter struck a wire radio antenna, and he was severely injured from the ensuing crash. HAI said his recovery took six months.
The backdrop of the flights left a strong impression on Halvorson and his team, who began asking for chartered helicopter flights during off-hours, HAI added. This was the genesis of his foray into air tourism.
As his business evolved, Halvorson ventured into different technologies, asking the top helicopter manufacturers to develop quieter aircraft and developing “Whisper Jet" technology for helicopters that sported rotor systems with more blades and passive noise-reduction features that quieted the engine.
In 1986, he co-founded the Tour Operators Program of Safety that drew together air tour operators in an initiative to develop operating standards and safety best practices that surpassed regulatory requirements.
Throughout his career, he remained active in the industry, serving two terms as chairman of HAI’s board of directors and participating in NBAA, the American Helicopter Society, National Parks Overflight Advisory Group, US Travel Association, and US Air Tour Association. In 2016, he was inducted into the Vertical Flight Hall of Fame as part of the Living Legends of Aviation Awards.
Married to his wife Barbara in 1953, Halvorson had five children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. His daughter Brenda is CEO of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters and Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines, and son Lon is CEO of Rainier Heli Lift International. His other children are Kent, Randal, and Rodney.