WITH THREE NEW aircraft added in recent years and a commitment to being 100-per-cent carbon neutral, Whistler's Blackcomb Helicopters (BH) is staying focused on the future. As it looks to expand its operations, the company also has a new general manager at the helm.
"We've added three Bell 212s to our fleet over the last two years. We have quite an aggressive upgrade and modernization program for those aircraft," said new general manager Tim Boyle. "We're working with Alpine Aerotech out of Kelowna and Abbotsford, and we are refurbishing those aircraft with new wiring, new paint, some advanced avionics in the form of some traffic awareness, terrain and obstacle avoidance technology that wasn't originally in these helicopters."
Founded in Whistler more than 30 years ago, BH has been spreading its wings of late, expanding operations from the Sea to Sky to include fire suppression work in Ontario and Alberta.
"Basically by adding these aircraft we're enabling ourselves to continue the present level of support in the Sea to Sky corridor, and also expand our operations to do a little more in Alberta, in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, as far as fire suppression and utility construction," Boyle said.
That being said, the company's emphasis isn't on "big," but more about levelling out business in slower periods through things like fire suppression and powerline construction.
"We are developing some partnerships and relationships outside of B.C. to do more powerline construction and maintenance. That is an area that Blackcomb is well known for experience and expertise in," Boyle said.
"So along with doing a little more firefighting outside of B.C., we also would like to be able to take the highs and lows out and do a little more powerline construction when there aren't projects going on in B.C."
In 2018, BH began purchasing carbon offsets for its tourist flights, and in 2019 became 100-per-cent carbon neutral.
"This is not just fuel for flying the helicopters—that is the largest portion—but our truck fuel, our heat for our buildings, and our complete travel of all of our employees is calculated, and we are purchasing offsets with a company that is protecting existing forest on Quadra Island," Boyle said.
"It's a huge commitment for our company, and it is one that we stand behind for the long haul, but we feel that it's the right thing to do. It's not something to be taken lightly."
While the cost to offset is "substantial," Boyle said he thinks it will pay off.
"I have to say, I didn't expect a return at the level of recognition for what we're doing. I think a lot of people respect it," he said, adding that BH has also recently started working with another "major resort" in the province to share what it has learned about offsets.
"They've made it a priority as well, and we have shared that information, fully ... We're not using it as a competitive advantage," he said.
While flights for emergency services or firefighting are easily justified, heli-skiing is not essential, Boyle said.
"But it's sure enjoyable for many, so we better be responsible about the fuel we're burning, and the environment we're working in," he said.
"The owners of this company believe they have a responsibility to the community and to the environment, and they're serious about it, so they're also looking to see other operations follow in the same [footsteps]. It's better for the industry, it's just a good thing."
At its Jan. 21 meeting, Whistler council supported a proposed survey plan for the Whistler Heliport that would allow BH to consolidate two of its existing leases.
The new survey plan consolidates two existing, side-by-side blocks into one, allowing for BH to build a large hangar building on the new block.
The building will allow the operator to store helicopters indoors, extend the service life of equipment and improve working conditions, according to a report to council.
BH says it will also explore a fire suppression system that could benefit all heliport users as part of the capital improvement.
The heliport is on Crown land that is leased by the RMOW, which in turn is leased to the Whistler Heliport Society, and further subleased to individual helicopter operators.