NorthStar Helicopters (NorthStar Trekking)

Name: NorthStar Helicopters (NorthStar Trekking)
Telephone: +1 907 790 4530

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About NorthStar Helicopters

NorthStar Helicopters, operating as NorthStar Trekking, LLC, is a helicopter tour and charter company based in Juneau, Alaska. Founded in 1998 by Bob Engelbrecht, one of the pioneers of helicopter glacier tours in Alaska, the company offers a variety of guided glacier trekking and flightseeing adventures. Their tours focus on exploring the glaciers of Southeast Alaska and provide guests with close encounters of the icefield environment.

The company operates from two main bases in Juneau. The primary base at 1890 Renshaw Way serves as the airport base for their trekking tours. Their Douglas Island base caters to glacier dog sledding and airboat tours. Since 2018, NorthStar has operated a private heliport on Douglas Island to support these specialized tours and partnerships. They work closely with partners like Alaska Icefield Expeditions, offering glacier dog sledding trips, and Airboat Alaska, providing unique air and water tours of the Taku Glacier.

NorthStar Helicopters provides a range of helicopter sightseeing adventures, including glacier treks, glacier walks, glacier dog sledding, a combined helicopter and airboat Taku Glacier adventure, ice climbing tours, and heli-skiing in the Chugach Range. Their tours emphasize small group sizes with a maximum guide to client ratio of 1:6. Safety is a core principle, with a company philosophy that if a task cannot be done safely, it should not be done at all.

In addition to tours, NorthStar offers year-round charter and contract helicopter services across Alaska. These include wildlife survey and tagging, crew transport, drilling support, fire control, forestry, government contracts, heli-ski transport, mineral exploration, photography, precision long-line work, search and rescue, and medical support. Their pilots and mechanics are certified by the U.S. Forest Service and Office of Aviation Services, and their helicopters are equipped with satellite tracking, GPS navigation, and satellite communications. They hold wildfire response contracts with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the State of Alaska Division of Forestry.

NorthStar is also committed to environmental responsibility. The company has been certified through the Adventure Green Alaska program since 2022. They operate using efficient infrastructures, minimize waste, use locally sourced packaging, and contribute to local community and environmental projects. Their operations support environmental research by providing transport for the University of Alaska Southeast.

The company’s services combine professional guiding, personalized experiences, and a strong safety culture. Their operations cover Juneau and the surrounding regions of Southeast Alaska, particularly focusing on remote glacial landscapes. Guests can choose from a broad selection of helicopter tours and wilderness adventures throughout the year.