Story ID: 
Bandy To Lead Columbia Helicopters
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Columbia is the leading civil operator of tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopters.
Word Count: 149
Oregon-based Columbia Helicopters has appointed Steve Bandy president of the company. Bandy joined Columbia in April 1989 and has since served in a variety of roles across the company, starting as a pilot and including his most recent role of senior vice president of operations. Bandy replaces Jim Rankin, who resigned effective June 30 after leading the company for two years.

Columbia operates a mixed fleet of Columbia Model 234 Chinook helicopters, Columbia Vertol 107-II helicopters and Boeing CH-47D helicopters in a variety of heavy-lift, logging, firefighting and logistics operations worldwide.

Rankin led Columbia through the turbulent oil-and-gas downturn and expanded the company's aerial lift services, government services and MRO businesses. “While most of our competitors have been significantly impacted by the economic conditions in our industry, we have been able to grow our business while others have struggled,” said company board chairman Stan Wilson.