Alpine Helicopters has selected SkyTrac's ISAT-200A solution for the Western Canadian rotary operator's fleet upgrade programme. As Alpine sought solutions, the ISAT-200A's host of capabilities coupled with SkyTrac's expertise and role as Canadian-based service provider, made the solution a natural fit.

With a diverse mission profile and a growing operation, Alpine Helicopters was seeking a versatile technology solution that could grow with its diverse fleet operations. Due to the seasonal nature of its work, Alpine's fleet of 39 rotorcraft, comprising 15 Bell 212s, 14 Bell 407s, seven Bell 206Ls, one Bell 412 and two Airbus AS350s, switches between aerial firefighting, heli-skiing and other commercial activities on a regular basis. This meant it was necessary to find a scalable solution that could enable the communication, flight following and data transmission capabilities it sought in the short-term, while still including opportunities for expanded use in the long-term.

Installed across the fleet, the ISAT-200A will help ensure Alpine meets the varied operational and regulatory requirements across the industries it serves. The introduction of the ISAT-200A to its fleet will provide Alpine with the flight following, communications, data capture and transmission capabilities it requires for its forestry, mining, heli-skiing and aerial firefighting missions.

“As an operator always looking to improve safety and efficiency, we're excited to roll out the ISAT-200A across our fleet,” says Scott Hayward, director of operations at Alpine Helicopters. “We wanted a scalable, reliable solution backed by local expertise, and SkyTrac's support throughout installation and troubleshooting has been invaluable.”

The ISAT-200A's global connectivity will also enable reliable communications in areas of Western Canada where VHF radio coverage is unavailable through its push-to-talk (PTT) functionality. Following a successful in-flight demonstration between Alpine Helicopters' in-flight aircraft and its ground crews in British Columbia and Alberta, Alpine is exploring expanded use of PTT for forestry and aerial firefighting operations.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Scott and the Alpine team as we introduce the ISAT-200A to its fleet,” shares Mandi Skinner, business manager at SkyTrac. “As an aviation technology leader, Alpine Helicopters understands very well the exploring, testing and refining required to find the most effective solutions for its operations. We value the opportunity to support its evolving fleet.”

With majority of the upgrades completed on its Bell 212 fleet, Alpine Helicopters will continue to integrate the ISAT-200A into its operations in the coming years as it finishes its fleet upgrade.