Family-run Bell helicopter charter operator based in Hope, British Columbia
Valley Helicopters Ltd. is a family-owned helicopter operator headquartered in Hope, British Columbia, with satellite bases in Merritt and Kamloops. Fred Fandrich founded the company in 1985 with a single Bell JetRanger, and his son Brad Fandrich, a pilot and aircraft maintenance engineer, took over as president and owner in 2015.
The company flies its own aircraft. An industry profile lists eight Bell helicopters: four 206Bs, one 206 L4, two 407s and one 429. The 429 joined in spring 2023 and was described as the first Bell 429 used in a utility role in Canada. The same profile put staff at 18, including nine pilots and five engineers.
Most of its work is commercial and government flying, such as hydro and powerline construction, pipeline patrol, firefighting support, fisheries contracts, railway track inspection, search and rescue and mineral exploration support. It also offers charter transport for the public, scenic tours, heli-skiing support and avalanche control.
For private flyers, the main use is point-to-point helicopter charter and sightseeing in southern British Columbia, flown by pilots who work regularly in mountain and coastal conditions.
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