Grizzly Helicopters Ltd.

Grizzly Helicopters Ltd. is a family owned helicopter charter company that has operated since 2008. It is based in Campbell River and Port McNeill on north central Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and serves commercial and government clients as well as tourists and anglers. Services are offered anywhere on Vancouver Island or the central West coast of British Columbia.

Services

• Charter transport and remote access for crews and clients
• Medevac
• Fire fighting
• Power line patrols
• Forestry projects
• Fish and wildlife counts and management projects

Tours

Glacier tours with a landing and an optional picnic, heli fly-in fishing trips, and custom tours. Tours take up to five guests. The website lists a sunset tour offered Monday to Friday between 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm, taking about two to two and a half hours with one landing, and a full day adventure with multiple landings, depending on availability.

Fleet

Grizzly operates two Astar 350 B2 helicopters, based at Campbell River and Port McNeill. The fleet page lists an AS350 B2 and an AS350 B3, each seating five passengers. Both show a cruise speed of 120 knots, a maximum range of 320 nautical miles and 2.7 hours of endurance with VFR reserve, and both are capable of a single patient air medical transfer using a Lifeport. The B2 is listed with a nominal sling load of 2,200 lb and the B3 with 2,861 lb. The company says the Astar keeps its performance from sea level to the top of the coastal mountain range and gives good visibility from all seats.

Company facts

• Family owned, operating since 2008
• Hangars at 4000 Midport Rd, Campbell River, and 1488 Beach Drive, Port McNeill
• Team includes an owner and chief pilot, a Person Responsible for Maintenance who is also a pilot, a second pilot, an aircraft maintenance engineer and an office manager