Story ID: 374
PHI Celebrates Its 75th Year
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Helicopter services company has grown to a fleet of more than 200
Word Count: 252
PHI is celebrating its 75th year. Founded in 1949 as Petroleum Bell Helicopters with three Bell 47s and seven employees that transported seismic crews in South Louisiana, the company is now headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, and has grown to more than 200 helicopters from a variety of OEMs and 2,500 employees worldwide. Its fleet has logged more than 12 million flight hours.
The company currently has four main components: global energy services division PHI Aviation; U.S.-based air ambulance provider PHI Air Medical; logistics services division Helipass; and PHI MRO Services.
“PHI has a rich history of innovation and performance—one we are extremely proud to continue today,” said PHI CEO Scott McCarty. “Thank you to all our customers, past and present, for your continued trust; thank you to the communities in which we operate for welcoming us with open arms; and of course thank you to all past and present employees for making PHI what it is today.”
Late last year, PHI filed the necessary documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to become a publicly traded company. For 2022, it posted revenues of $760 million. For the first nine months of 2023, it posted revenues of $659.6 million and claimed a net income of $74.58 million for the period.
In September, PHI signed a deal with Airbus Helicopters to acquire 20 super-medium twin H175s and eight intermediate twin H160s to serve the worldwide energy field, including in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.