Professional Documents
Culture Documents
News
Volume 28, No. 1 Spring 2006
vision for the future, what behaviors we want to characterize, and how we can become more efficient in all
areas of our operation.
I think it’s important that we bring this focus, our vision, to Columbia Helicopters. We want to begin
expanding our operations smartly and we need to define that direction to the organization. But direction
alone is not sufficient to make us grow. We must go back to the companies I mentioned before and learn
from their success and failures. We must get out of the “not created here” syndrome and open our minds
to new and exciting ways of doing business. For example, we must look at improving internal processes
so we can be more competitive. We must investigate how we can be more efficient and reduce costs.
This new vision and focus is an important, major piece of the mosaic that is Columbia Helicopters.
We have always been dedicated, hard working, and truly caring of our fellow employees. We must garner
these strengths and use them to catapult us to the next level.
In summary, creating a new vision, thinking about behaviors, and fixing processes is not something
that we can undertake lightly, nor is it something that Columbia Helicopters can achieve at a two-day
seminar. It needs strategic thinking, the creation of something that everybody can buy into, and it needs
time. But most of all, it needs passion! I think we have that passion and I cannot wait to roll up my sleeves
and get started. Will you join me?
3
CHI Attains 600,000 Flight Hours In Vertol Fleet
Columbia Helicopters bought the first of our Boeing Vertol 107-II helicopters in 1969, so it’s taken a few years
to reach this milestone. However, milestones like this are usu-
ally worth the wait.
The company’s current active fleet of 14 Vertol 107-IIs re-
cently surpassed the 600,000-flight hour milestone with its fleet
of Boeing/Kawasaki Vertol 107-II helicopters. The aircraft and
crews accomplished the feat on January 23, 2006, when nine
of Columbia’s Vertols were working in California, Oregon, West
Virginia, Canada and New Zealand.
The Vertol 107-II is powered by two GE CT58 turbine en-
gines. Consequently, Columbia has now surpassed 1.2 million
flight hours with these engines.
As a comparison, 600,000 flight hours are the equivalent of
spending 25,000 days, or about 68.5 years in the air.
“This is a truly significant milestone for us,” said President
Mike Fahey. “One of our Vertols is the world’s highest time he-
licopter, and this latest benchmark proves that this is one of the
most durable helicopters ever made.”
“We’ve always said that Boeing designed and built a truly
amazing helicopter,” continued Fahey. “This milestone proves
this statement correct once again.”
“We are also very pleased with the reliability and performance
of the GE powerplants,” added Fahey. “Once again, we wouldn’t
be at this point without a very dependable, very well built prod-
uct.”
“We would like to take this opportunity to salute both Boeing
and GE - Aviation for their part in helping us to achieve this
milestone,” finished Fahey.
Columbia acquired the first of its fleet of 14 active Vertols in
1969, when founder Wes Lematta purchased three aircraft that had been flying for Pan-Am in New York City. The
company also owns several inactive Vertols, including six CH-113 Labradors acquired from the Canadian govern-
ment late in 2005.
Production Certificate, Columbia Helicopters could conceivably build and sell the massive helicopters to
commercial operators around the world.
“Our mission is to be the provider of choice for helicopter operations and maintenance solutions world-
wide,” said Mike Fahey, President of Columbia Helicopters. Acquiring the Type Certificates will compliment
our ability to serve our maintenance customers in a cost-effective manner, and will significantly streamline
Columbia’s work with vendors and the FAA.”
“We operate one of the most comprehensive maintenance programs and facilities in the industry,”
added Fahey. “These certificates will significantly enhance our position within the industry.”
The Type Certificate transfer ceremony will also celebrate Columbia’s 30th Anniversary at the company’s
headquarters in Aurora. The company moved from Swan Island to the current facility in 1976. Since then
the facility has been expanded several times to accommodate the company’s fleet growth, and its growing
outside maintenance services for both commercial and military customers.
4
CHI Helicopter Works In GNCP
Continued from Page 1
5
Columbia Crew Helps to Recover Grounded Fishing Vessel
It happens usually at least once
during the winter, somewhere
along the hundreds of miles of
Pacific Coastline.
A vessel – whether a fishing
boat, cargo ship or barge – meets
the wrong circumstances and
goes aground.
In Columbia Helicopters’ storied
history, the company’s helicopters
have repeatedly responded to
assist in recovering these stranded
vessels.
The most recent was the Sea
Toi, a 62-foot fishing boat that went
aground a few miles south of
Waldport, Oregon. The commer-
cial fishing vessel ran aground
shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday,
March 26. All four crew members
safely reached the beach.
On the following Tuesday, one
of Columbia’s Vertol 107-II helicop-
ters, working with salvage legend
Mick Leitz of Fred Devine Diving & Salvage, successfully towed a synthetic line from the beached vessel to a
waiting tug.
Columbia’s crew on this project included Project Manager
Don Patterson; Pilots Andre Hutchings and Tim Booth;
Assistant Crew Chief John Decker, and mechanic Aaron
Nims.
Above: N189CH hovers over the beach near the grounded
Sea Toi, as ground crews hook the tow line to the hook on the
helicopter. Left: N189CH approaches the tug waiting off
shore, and prepares to lay the counter-weight on to the deck.
Below: with the counter weight already onboard, the helicop-
ter tows the line against the pull of the surf and tide.
6
MS Walk Portland 2006
Dick Baker
7
REMINDERS FROM PERSONNEL
MEDICAL INSURANCE:
Open enrollment for PacificSource & Kaiser Insurance is
November of each year; January is the effective date of any
changes.
If you acquire a new dependent as a result of marriage,
birth, and/or adoption, you must notify the Personnel Dept.
i
and complete and return any required forms so that your new a pp
l
dependent may be enrolled in your plan. For PacificSource
S ch
members, your dependent must be enrolled within 31 days of
a ne
the date of the marriage, birth, and/or adoption. For Kaiser J
members, your dependents, except new born babies and
adopted children, must be enrolled within 31 days of acquiring
the dependent; new born babies and adopted children must
be enrolled with 60 days from the date of birth and/or the date
the adopted child is placed with you for adoption.
LIFE INSURANCE:
Effective May 1, 2006, Hartford has increased supplement
life insurance to $400,000 (was $200,000). Anyone who
wants to increase their current coverage to any amount over $200,000 (in $10,000 increments) up to
$400,000 will need to provide Evidence of Insurability to Hartford. These forms are available in Personnel.
A Supplemental Life Insurance Change form is also required.
BENEFICIARY CHANGES:
If you get married, remarried or divorced please remember to make the necessary changes to your
beneficiaries for your life insurance and 401(k)/Profit Sharing. Life insurance beneficiaries can be changed
at any time; 401(k)/Profit Sharing beneficiaries do require a divorce decree or settlement agreement.
WORKERS COMP INJURIES:
Please be sure to immediately notify Donna Ford in Personnel (x302), George Warren, Safety VP
(x215), Jeff Kerr (x406) and Roger Lansden in Logging (x250) of any on-the-job injuries.
FMLA/OFLA MEDICAL LEAVES, SICK LEAVE & SHORT TERM
DISABILITY (STD): Intercompany News is published by Columbia
Call the Personnel Manager (x285) for all questions regarding medical Helicopters, Inc. It is written for employees of the
company and serves as a direct line of communi-
leaves, Short-term & Long Term disability policies. cation among all headquarters and field person-
Medical leaves such as parental leave or pre-scheduled medical nel. Articles and article ideas are invited. The
company grants permission to any other publica-
procedures/surgeries require a 30-day notice. Unexpected or emer- tion to reprint articles provided credit is given to
gency medical conditions require a phone call to Personnel at the Columbia Helicopters. The company reserves the
earliest possible time. right to publish any material received unless
marked not for publication. Send correspondence
Notify the Personnel Manager immediately if you have a non-work to Intercompany News, Columbia Helicopters,
related injury or illness that may last longer than 7 days, as you may Inc., P.O. Box 3500, Portland, OR 97208.
be eligible for Short Term disability.
Jon Lazzaretti Vice President, Marketing
MISCELLANEOUS: Dan Sweet Editor, Media Services Manager
If you have changed your residential address recently, please Marci Abel Editorial Assistant
notify Personnel and fill out Form #PER-124.
Make sure you have current Emergency Contact Phone Num-
bers. (Form #PER-081)