Disaster Relief

Introduction

Columbia Helicopters Inc. is an Aurora, Oregon based heavy-lift helicopter company. Established in 1957, we have accumulated decades of operational expertise that encompass: Construction, Oil Rig Moves, Oil Rig Support, Timber Removal, Transportation, Salvage, Fire Fighting, Forestry Operations, Government Operations, UN AID Operations and much more.

This wide and varied background provides us with the essential elements necessary to undertake all aspects of lift operations that are required during successful Disaster Recovery Projects.

The decades of Disaster Recovery operations Columbia has carried out, has given it's 750 employees a vast well-spring of experience to draw upon. We have been tasked to provide our services to assist in the recovery of a wide range of disasters. This includes everything from distributing food and medicine for US AID projects in Africa to transporting 'prison in-mates and guards', from marine salvage to pouring concrete, from removing car wrecks from high mountain lakes to timber recovery in the Louisiana swamps!

Successful recovery projects require the skilled utilization of many resources, including experienced personnel and the right tools. Cohesive, flexible and proactive management teams are required to minimize risk, utilize resources effectively, and demonstrate to the public that projects are proceeding quickly, effectively, and with the local area's best interest in mind.

Columbia Helicopters brings this experience to you.
In short, if you want a successful Disaster Recovery Operation that runs smoothly, efficiently, and safely, we're the team that can carry it out.

Infrastructure Recovery

Capacity

With helicopter lift capacity of up to 28,000lbs, Columbia Helicopters offers a wide range of vertical lift capacities.

Experience

With a long experience in lift operations, Columbia Helicopters brings a variety of capabilities to any Disaster Recovery Project. Should your needs be to transport large numbers of crews to remote/inaccessible locations, to install self contained camps, to move large numbers of mobile houses, or remove tons of debris in skips, Columbia Helicopters can provide you with the capability.

Flexibility

Our helicopters can be outfitted to carry up to 18 passengers, or a combination of passengers and cargo. They can be equipped for long-line operations, fire suppression, logging and area clean-up operations. We have the flexibility to give you the ability to fight fire in the morning, move mobile hospitals at noon and conduct area clean up operations in the afternoon. We can haul generators, pumps, even bulldozers and heavy equipment. We can then re-supply the equipment and ground crews with fuel, water, food and most other supplies. We are hazmat qualified so if required we can even move explosives!

Equipment

Columbia Helicopters has a wide array of skids, lift pallets, nets, construction load rigging, long lines, hooks, grapples, concrete buckets, water buckets, tanks, blivets, hoppers and many other types of equipment. All of which can be made available at the Disaster Recovery Zone to assist in rebuilding the infrastructure.

Fire Fighting

Columbia Helicopters has an exemplary reputation for its ability to support firefighting operations. With water capacities from 1100 gallons to 3000 gallons per bucket, we bring outstanding firefighting capabilities to any Disaster Recovery Project.

Powerfill

Our aircraft are equipped with Bambi-Powerfill buckets. These buckets are equipped with their own built-in pumping system. Pilots can now fill the buckets from water sources as shallow as eighteen inches. Here are some of the benefits:

Increase in operational efficiencies as the bucket can be filled from previously inaccessible sources.Allows the bucket to be filled using the conventional dipping method if necessary.Maximizes bucket capacity by filling completely without spillage.Increase in safety as the bucket does not need to be dragged through the water source.Attached to a 200 foot long line it can reach water sources while hovering high above obstacles and surrounding structures.

Equipment. Not only do we bring a long history of helicopter firefighting experience and an outstanding reputation for excellence, additionally, each of our crews is fully equipped to offer all types of long-line lift services. Lastly, our ability to rapidly change roles and adapt to changing priorities is an advantage to Disaster Recovery Operations Teams.

TIMBER REMOVAL

Safety in disaster situations is paramount. No longer do you need to send ground crews into the disaster area to prepare timber for removal. Our helicopters come equipped with Grapples to efficiently remove the timber and clear the disaster zone without the need for any ground crews in the disaster zone.

Waterways, canals, and swamps can prove difficult for Disaster Recovery Operations. Helicopter 'grappling' has proven to be invaluable in clearing out water-logged areas. When the ground water is known to be contaminated or is suspected to be dangerous to ground crews, grappling is often the only way to remove downed timber. It is a safe method of area cleanup with little risk to ground personnel.

The effectiveness of grapples is even more apparent when the downed timber is buried or surrounded by heavy brush. We can move the brush out of the way, piling it in suitable designated areas, allowing access to the larger timber below.

Operational efficiency is increased by using grapples and safety factors are higher. Other major benefits include assignment flexibility, low manning costs, and rapid response times to changing priorities and roles.

35 years of Helicopter Logging, and many thousands of satisfied clients, speaks to our knowledge and experience with Grapple and Long-Line operations. We are considered by many to be the best in the industry and continue to work hard to maintain that position. Columbia Helicopters is the first choice for Timber Recovery Operations.

Construction

More Than Five Decades of Experience

As a pioneer in aerial crane applications, Columbia first worked on construction projects in 1957. Since then, much has been learned in the handling of materials for helicopter lifting. Columbia personnel have years of experience in flying loads. They know how to meet your job requirements and will thoroughly analyze each project prior to its start. Every company command pilot has several thousand flight hours, and is an expert in long line external load applications.

Primary Areas of Construction

Powerlines: foundations, concrete, towers and equipment.Pipelines: pipe, pipe weights, backfill and equipment.Rooftop: air conditioners, chillers, air supply houses, ducting.Steel: Columns, trusses, girders, roofing.Ski lifts: towers, tramways, concrete, and equipment.

The Right Helicopter For The Job

Columbia's fleet of Columbia Model 234 Chinook and Columbia Vertol 107-II helicopters meet a wide array of job applications. The twin rotor system on both types of helicopters provides a high degree of stability, plus all power is directed towards lift. Customers benefit from receiving the optimum helicopter for the job.

Safe Precision Placement of the Load

Large side bubble windows give the pilots a clear view of the external load at all times, including pickup and placement. This Columbia innovation means greater safety and significantly improves handing, speed, accuracy and turnaround time.

Saving Time Means Saving Money

Helicopter transport of external loads can mean savings in time and money. With no major advance setup time, loads can be lifted directly from adjacent staging areas and placed precisely in position.