Heavy Lift Helicopters, Inc. - Helicopter Association International

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has worked with the United States Forest Service (USFS) for many seasons, providing support with Sikorsky CH54A Skycranes equipped as Helitankers. The company has the ability to mobilize and respond to wildfires anywhere on the North American continent. Another important focus of the company is their construction and utility work. The use of helicopters as aerial cranes presents numerous challenges. Each lift job is unique and requires job-specific assessments and techniques to accomplish the mission safely and efficiently. Sales personnel, pilots, and engineers work closely with customers to meet their individual needs. Heavy Lift, which is appropriately named, uses CH54s for aerial crane projects. The airframe was specifically designed by the Sikorsky factory to meet external lift requirements. In many cases, helicopter lift applications are safer, less expensive than conventional lift methods, and they are capable of conducting a wider range of construction and lift operations, than the fixed-lift operations, which are limited by lack of mobility. The company's experience and capabilities enable it to give professional advice, and to perform precise execution in its many heavy lift missions. The pilots and maintenance technicians of Heavy Lift are some of the most experienced helicopter crews in the industry. Many have military experience. Some in the Korean War, as well as Vietnam, with over 30 years experience flying helicopters. Each of them has flight time totaling between 15,000 and 20,000 hours. Add to that high level of experience, 11 years of fire suppression missions, and you have the nucleus of a very professional operation. Such experienced personnel help to establish the foundation for a great training program that enables the company to pass on this experience to their new employees. Mike Gilpin is the company Chief Pilot, and he brings many years of military instructor experience and precision external load flying to the organization. The Chief of Maintenance is Richard Proctor, a maintenance specialist retired from the U.S. Air Force. Copilot positions are filled with talented pilots that are being nurtured to fill a command seat. They are learning the aircraft and its systems, as well as other skills, such as customer relations, fire suppression, construction, logging, and specific missions unique to the heavy lift and external lift environment. Heavy Lift's fleet of aircraft Photos courtesy of Mark Fisher Roger’s Main Office at Fresno Yosemite International Airport. View of the flightline at Rogers Helicopters includes the CH54A and newly acquired CH53D aircraft. Three Heavy Lift CH54A aircraft are currently on contract with the U.S. Forest Service in California and Arizona. They are configured with a self-filling, 2,600-gallon external tank, that can carry a payload of up to 20,000 pounds. The tank can be filled from a water source as shallow as 18 inches, in less than a minute. The aircraft was originally designed and built by Sikorsky Aircraft. They are redesigned and rebuilt under FAA TCDS (Type Certificate Data Sheet) Number H16NM and certificated for civil use in the Restricted Category. Operations are authorized by the FAA under FAR Part 133 and Part 137. This Type Certificate is exclusive to the aircraft operated by Heavy Lift Helicopters, Inc. The CH53D aircraft are newly acquired from excess Navy equipment for humanitarian purposes and are in the process of certification and conversion to meet the fire suppression mission. The fleet of CH54s will continue to have a firefighting role, but will also be more readily available for timely scheduling for heavy lift construction projects. As holder of an FAA Repair Station certificate, Heavy Lift Helicopters is able to maintain and support it's unique fleet of Sikorsky CH54A Skycranes. A new and wellequipped service center has been constructed in the dry and aircraft friendly climate of the high California desert. Heavy Lift facilities include an FAA-approved Certificated Repair Station, and houses component and engine overhaul and repair facilities. Their parts supply warehouse is equipped with millions of dollars worth of spare engines, components, and parts. Skilled maintenance staff helps to keep the company's aircraft in excellent condition. The experience and lessons they have learned, combine to form many of their maintenance policies and procedures. The aircraft crew chiefs have spent many seasons in the field supporting the company's aircraft. Their leadership position enables them to coordinate their crew's efforts and to groom the crew chiefs of tomorrow. The company plans to slowly and carefully expand its capabilities in the industrial market. It is expected that this expansion will strengthen the company's maintenance support capabilities, both internally, and to support other operators. There is more. Heavy Lift's parent company is Rogers Helicopters, an HAI member since Summer 2005 21
1972, and one of the largest helicopter operators in California. The company has been in business for more than 42 years. The company headquarters and main maintenance facility are located at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT). Additional facilities are located at their Clovis, California heliport, Angels Camp, and of course, Apple Valley. The city of Clovis is located near the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, a short drive to Yosemite and Sequoia National parks, and just minutes to Fresno. Rogers was established in 1962 by Harry and Wanda Rogers, and the company operates a fleet of 24 helicopters that includes seven Bell 212s, one Agusta 109 K2, a Super UH1B, several light Bell helicopters, two Twinstars, and an Astar. Rogers Helicopters also operates six fixed-wing aircraft (two Turbo Commanders, a Piper Navajo, a Beech Bonanza, a Cessna 210, and a King Air A100). The company is an authorized service Flightline ramp at Rogers Helicopters. Photos courtesy of Mark Fisher Rogers Helicopters ramp with an Agusta 109 EMS aircraft at the ready. Heavy Lift’s CH53D on the ramp at Southern California International Airport. Heavy Lift helicopter battling flames at the old fire in Devore, California. Photo courtesy of the San Bernadino Sun. 22 Summer 2005
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Heavy Lift Helicopters, Inc. - Helicopter Association International

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