“In the regions we serve, our pilots are
specially trained for mountain flying,” con-
tinues Estacaille. “With so many moun-
tains and valleys, quickly changing coastal
weather and the conditions that those can
create, we fly in unique conditions that we
are properly trained for.”
White River Helicopter’s fleet is equipped
to take on any need— including heavy lifts
of up to 1,800 pounds required for preci-
sion long-line delivery of drills and crews
into remote locations.White River Helicop-
ters are often relied on for support in mov-
ing supplies, crew and exploration drills,
aerial construction support, fire suppres-
sion and infrared scanning in their fleet of
Airbus AS350 B-2, Airbus AS350 BA, and
Bell 206 Jet Rangers.
“Around here there are pretty steep moun-
tains with no easy access to them except
by air,” says Estacaille. “Our customers
tell us what they need, whether it’s mov-
ing crews and supplies or actually bring-
ing in diamond drills to different locations
they may be exploring. Our helicopters
can lift about 1,800 pounds, so we take
those usually in pieces, slung to the top of
a mountain.”
As with almost every business that works
peripherally with the resource sector,
White River Helicopters has not been im-
mune to the challenges within the oil and
gas industry, and has relied on strong cli-
ent service as a port in the storm. “There
has been a fair amount of focus the past
three to four years on this area of B.C.,”
says Estacaille. Pending and cancelled
projects for oil and gas pipelines from the
oil sands to the nearby ports in Kitimat and
Prince Rupert have been difficult for the
region. Estacaille is optimistic, and says
MAY 2017
H
business elite canada 109
