NorthStar Helicopters (NorthStar Trekking)

NorthStar Helicopters, which operates as NorthStar Trekking, LLC, offers helicopter glacier tours and charter flying from Juneau, Alaska. The company was founded in 1998 by Bob Engelbrecht, described on its site as a pioneer of helicopter glacier tours in Alaska. Its stated tour standard is a maximum guide to client ratio of 1:6, and its safety philosophy is that if something cannot be done safely, it should not be done at all.

Tours

• Helicopter Glacier Trek
• Glacier dog sledding, run with partner Alaska Icefield Expeditions from the Douglas base
• Taku Glacier helicopter and airboat adventure, run with Airboat Alaska since 2017
• Helicopter glacier ice climbing tour and glacier walkabout
• Heli-ski in the Chugach Range

Charter and contract work

The charter page describes year-round charter and contract helicopter services across Alaska. Listed uses include animal survey and tagging, crew transport, drill moves, fire control and support, forestry, government contracting, heli-ski operations, mineral exploration support, photography, precision long-line and external load work, and search and rescue and medical support. The company says its pilots, mechanics and aircraft are OAS and USFS carded, and that its aircraft carry satellite tracking, GPS navigation and satellite communications. It also reports wildfire response contracts with the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Aviation Services and the State of Alaska Division of Forestry.

Company facts

• Founded 1998
• Airport base for trekking tours: 1890 Renshaw Way, Juneau, phone 907.790.4530
• Douglas base for dog sledding and airboat tours: 6910 North Douglas Highway, Juneau, phone 907.586.2030
• Acquired a private heliport on Douglas Island in 2018
• Certified through the Adventure Green Alaska program since 2022
• Provides transport to research sites for the University of Alaska Southeast