Coastal Helicopters
In the summer of 1988, Coastal Helicopters began as a division of Alaska Coastal Airlines providing services to the US Forest Service using a Bell Jet Ranger.
In the fall of that year, Jim Wilson joined the company and began flying air taxi jobs in the winter months. He generated additional business and as a result, a second Jet Ranger, was purchased and Jim became a partner in the company. Later that same year Jim and Dot Wilson purchased all assets of Alaska Coastal Helicopters and became Coastal Helicopters, Inc. In 1996, Jim became the first Alaskan since 1960 to receive the Helicopter Association International ‘Pilot of the Year’ award.
Since then, Coastal Helicopters has grown to the 13-helicopter fleet it is today. We now offer helicopter tours to the travel industry, we provide local support doing work for the US Forest Service, AT&T, Alaska Electric Light & Power, Alaska Power & Telephone, and many more. During the winter, we also provide helicopter services for Pulseline Adventures and Seaba Heli for their heli-skiing operations.