History

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Safe, Reliable, Quality Air Since 1980

Founded in 1980 by Don Werner and Pete Moyer, for the first 16 years of our existence our operations were largely local, our fleet was small, and our focus was on our specialization — heavy-lift aerial construction (hence the company’s name—Construction Helicopters Inc.).

In 1996, after the company was acquired by Chris Turner, we began to notch considerable operational milestones with increasing regularity, as we broadened our scope of operating certificates, aircraft, the sectors we serviced, and where we flew. Today, CHI Aviation leads the industry in the provision of aerial crane, US Department of Defense-approved fixed- and rotary-wing passenger and cargo transport, aeromedical services, aerial firefighting, Search-and-Rescue (SAR), logistics support and ad hoc passenger transport services from bases in Howell, MI; Sacramento, CA; Afghanistan; and East Africa.
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CH-47D Deployed to Australia
CH-47D Deployed to Australia
Acquired CH-47Ds
Acquired CH-47Ds
S-92 Deployed to Brunei
S-92 Deployed to Brunei
SARS/HEMS Operations Begin
SARS/HEMS Operations Begin
Afghan Operations Begin
Afghan Operations Begin
Obtained CARB Certification
Obtained CARB Certification
Obtained Part 135 Ten or More Certification
Obtained Class D 133 Certification
Obtained Class D 133 Certification
Acquired Helimax Aviation
Acquired Helimax Aviation
Started Preferred Avionics
Started Preferred Avionics

Read more about the history of CHI:

See the 2014 Vertical Magazine Feature