Universal Helicopters

{{Infobox airline

| airline = Universal Helicopters Group

| logo = Universal Helicopters Newfoundland.png

| image_size = 200px

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| image = C-GIZY Universal Helicopters Bell 206L (B06) 03.JPG

| image_alt =

| caption = A Bell 206 at Cambridge Bay Airport

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| founded = 1963

| commenced =

| ceased = 2020

| aoc = 18146{{TCAOC|2019-09-08|Universal+Helicopters}}

| bases = Happy Valley-Goose Bay, St. John's, Pasadena, Gander, Lakelse Air Bases in Terrace, Dease Lake, Prince Rupert, Hazelton

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| fleet_size = 21, 35

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| headquarters = St. John's, Newfoundland

| key_people = Shane Cyr, President and COO

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| website = http://www.uhgroup.ca/

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}}

Universal Helicopters was a commercial helicopter company located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.{{cite web|url = http://www.uhnl.nf.ca/about.htm|title = Universal Helicopters Profile|access-date = 2009-01-24|last = Universal Helicopters|year = 2003}} While operating primarily in Newfoundland and Labrador with operations sometimes extending into the Ungava Peninsula and the Arctic, Universal Helicopters held an International Operating Certificate and completed several contracts in Greenland.

History

The company started operations in 1963 and was a subsidiary of Okanagan Helicopters.{{cite book|last=Endres|first=Gunter G|title=World Airline Fleets 1983|date=1982|publisher=Aviation Data Centre|location=Feltham|isbn=0946141029|page=66}} It was last owned by a partnership of companies formed by Nunatsiavut Group of Companies, Tasiujatsoak Trust and CAPE Fund.{{cite web|url=http://www.uhnl.nf.ca/event/universal-helicopters-signs-agreement-nunatsiavut-group-companies|title=Universal Helicopters Signs Agreement with Nunatsiavut Group Of Companies|work=uhnl.nf.ca|access-date=11 June 2015}}

On September 10, 2018, the company announced it had finalized the purchase of Lakelse Air,{{Cite press release |title=Universal Helicopters announces purchase of Lakelse Air|url=https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/universal-helicopters-announces-purchase-of-lakelse-air/|access-date=2020-06-19|website=Skies Mag|language=en-US}} as part of plan to double their revenue. Based in Northwest British Columbia, Lakelse Air had been seen as a strategic purchase to build and strengthen Indigenous relations across Canada for future job prospects. Shortly after acquiring Lakelse Air, Universal Helicopters began shifting its focus to work internationally and overseas. Pushing for Global growth along with their September 6, 2018 investment in South Coast Helicopters{{Cite press release |title=Universal Helicopters invests in U.S. company|url=https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/universal-helicopters-invests-in-u-s-company/|access-date=2020-06-19|website=Skies Mag|language=en-US}} proved to be unsustainable, leading to their eventual financial difficulty.

The company announced its sudden closure due to financial insolvency on May 27, 2020.{{cite web|url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/universal-helicopters-closes-1.5586297|title = Universal Helicopters shuts down after almost 60 years in N.L.|access-date = 27 May 2020|author = CBC News|author-link = CBC News|work = cbc.ca|date = 27 May 2020|archive-url = https://archive.today/20200527211126/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/universal-helicopters-closes-1.5586297|archive-date = May 27, 2020|url-status = live}}

Bases

Universal Helicopters corporate head office, main stores and accounting services were situated in Goose Bay, Labrador with other bases situated at St. John's, Pasadena and Gander. Each location had permanent base personnel and hangar support facilities for year-round operations and maintenance.

Fleet

Universal Helicopters had the following aircraft registered with Transport Canada:{{TCregister|UNIVERSAL+HELICOPTERS|Universal Helicopters|2019-09-08}}[https://www.uhnl.nf.ca/profile Profile]

Image:EnstromF28FC-GHRS.jpg used by Universal Helicopters for training, 1988]]

class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse" \|+
bgcolor=lightblue !Aircraft	No. of aircraft	Variants	Notes
Aerospatiale AS350	5	AS350B, AS350 B2, AS350 B3, AS350 BA	Listed at Universal as Airbus
Bell 206	10	LongRanger	Nine Bell 206L LongRanger and one Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV
Bell 212	1	Bell 212	Not listed at the Universal site
Bell 407	5	-

The Transport Canada list also shows that they once had a Bell 407.[https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/ADet.aspx?id=511882&rfr=RchSimpRes.aspx?cn=%7c%7c&mn=%7c%7c&sn=%7c%7c&on=UNIVERSAL+HELICOPTERS%7c&m=%7c%7c&print=y Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Aircraft Details C-FMEL]

Customer reception

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador had had extensive contracts with the company, using them for medical evacuation, clinic support, forest fire surveillance and suppression, aerial searching, survey and mapping and personnel transport.{{cite web|url = http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2006/tw/0301n02.htm|title = Government extends contract with Universal Helicopters Newfoundland Limited|access-date = 2009-01-13|last = Salter|first = Dave|date=March 2006}}