Columbia Helicopters
U.S. helicopter operator and aircraft-support company specializing in tandem-rotor heavy-lift services.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Columbia Helicopters, Incorporated is an Oregon-based helicopter operator and aircraft-support company known for its specialized tandem-rotor fleet and heavy-lift operations. The company was founded on April 24, 1957, by Wes Lematta with a single Hiller 12B. In its early years, Lematta combined flying work with employment as a truck driver and accepted a wide variety of assignments while building the business. A 1957 rescue of 15 sailors from a sinking dredge near Coos Bay, Oregon, brought early public attention and resulted in recognition from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The company gradually developed expertise in precision external-load work. During construction activity at the John Day Dam on the Columbia River, Lematta refined a method that gave the pilot a direct view of the load and its placement area. This approach became associated with the company’s operating philosophy and helped it undertake demanding lifting jobs. Columbia also developed an enclosed pilot bubble window after one of Wes Lematta’s brothers encountered severe cold while operating a Sikorsky S-61 in the Colorado Rockies. The modification improved the pilot’s ability to observe external loads while remaining protected from the elements. Columbia became particularly associated with helicopter logging. In 1971, Wes Lematta and Jack Erickson demonstrated a commercially successful helicopter-logging operation in California’s Plumas National Forest using a Sikorsky S-61. Columbia supplied the helicopter, while Erickson purchased the timber, and both organizations subsequently became associated with the early development of financially viable heli-logging. The company’s heavy-lift work later expanded beyond forestry into stream restoration, aerial firefighting, oil exploration, construction, government support, disaster response, and film production. In contemporary operations, Columbia is centered on Boeing Vertol tandem-rotor aircraft. Its principal fleet consists of Boeing Vertol 107-II and Boeing Vertol 234 helicopters, with the latter being a civilian heavy-lift derivative commonly associated with the Chinook family. The company also operates a substantial FAA repair station that supports its own fleet and external customers internationally. In addition to flight operations, Columbia has pursued the capability to support and potentially manufacture parts for its aircraft. It acquired the Model 107 and Model 234 type certificates from Boeing in 2006 and has sought FAA production certification, initially for parts and potentially later for complete aircraft. The company’s work is project-based and often requires deployment of aircraft, crews, maintenance personnel, and logistics equipment to remote or international locations. Its helicopters have supported wildfire response, infrastructure work, forestry, environmental restoration, and specialized lifting. Columbia has also provided aircraft for government-related missions and has supplied helicopters and support personnel for firefighting in Turkey. Its aircraft have appeared in numerous motion pictures and television-related productions, giving the company visibility beyond the aviation and industrial-services sectors. Columbia remains a privately held, active operator headquartered at Aurora State Airport in Oregon. The airport’s home field was formally designated Wes Lematta Field at Aurora State Airport by an Oregon legislative resolution in 2009. The company’s identity continues to rest on specialized heavy-lift capability, tandem-rotor expertise, maintenance support, and the ability to conduct complex aviation projects in difficult operating environments.
History
Columbia Helicopters was established in Oregon on April 24, 1957, by Wes Lematta. Its first aircraft was a Hiller 12B, and the young company initially accepted a broad range of flying assignments while its founder continued working as a truck driver. One of the company’s earliest defining events occurred on September 15, 1957, when Lematta rescued 15 sailors from a sinking dredge near Coos Bay. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers later awarded him the Army Air Medal for the rescue. As the company acquired more capable aircraft, it moved toward specialized lifting and utility work. After purchasing a Hiller 12E, Lematta undertook larger external-load assignments, including precision lifting connected with construction of the John Day Dam on the Columbia River. These operations encouraged the development of direct visual operational control techniques in which the pilot could look from the aircraft toward the load and its destination instead of depending entirely on ground signals or mirror systems. The company also developed an enclosed pilot bubble window after cold-weather experience with a Sikorsky S-61 demonstrated the need for better pilot visibility and protection. Forestry became one of Columbia’s most important areas of expertise. In 1971, Lematta and Jack Erickson carried out a commercially successful helicopter-logging demonstration in the Plumas National Forest near Taylorsville, California. The operation used Columbia’s Sikorsky S-61, registration N318Y. The following year, Columbia used Boeing 107 helicopters in logging work. Because Columbia supplied the aircraft and Erickson acquired the timber, both organizations have been linked to the emergence of commercially successful heli-logging, although their roles were different. Over subsequent decades, Columbia expanded its work into aerial firefighting, construction, oil exploration, environmental restoration, government support, disaster response, and film production. The company also developed a reputation for operating tandem-rotor helicopters in demanding external-load assignments. Its historical fleet included Hiller, Bell, MD, Sikorsky, and Boeing Vertol aircraft. The modern fleet is concentrated on the Boeing Vertol 107-II and Boeing Vertol 234, aircraft that provide substantial lifting capacity and are suitable for transporting loads in remote locations. Fleet expansion included the acquisition of surplus Canadian Forces CH-113 Labrador helicopters in 2005, although the company’s current operational identity is primarily associated with its Boeing tandem-rotor aircraft. Columbia bought four Boeing Vertol 107II-14 helicopters from the Swedish government in 1991. In 2012, it acquired additional Swedish-operated 107-series aircraft, including former Swedish Air Force and Swedish Navy machines. In 2014, it purchased five U.S. Army Chinooks for utility service; those aircraft were not permitted to carry passengers. The company also operates a Beechcraft 200C Super King Air for fleet support. A major strategic development occurred on December 15, 2006, when Columbia acquired Boeing’s type certificates for the Model 107 and Model 234. The company has pursued FAA production certification to manufacture parts and has expressed a longer-term objective of obtaining authorization to produce both aircraft. This effort complements its established FAA repair-station activity, which supports customers and aircraft operators around the world. Columbia’s international project work includes firefighting support in Turkey. Beginning in 2021, it provided Model 234 helicopters, flight crews, and maintenance support through CMC Savunma Sanayi A.S. for work connected with Turkey’s General Directorate of Forestry. Reference material reported that four helicopters were being supplied in this role as of August 2025. The company’s aircraft have also appeared in films including Coogan’s Bluff, Demolition Man, King Kong Lives, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, More American Graffiti, Runaway Train, Starman, Under Siege, and X2: X-Men United. In 2009, Oregon formally recognized the company’s aviation base by designating its home airport Wes Lematta Field at Aurora State Airport. Columbia Helicopters remains an active private company whose principal capabilities are heavy-lift helicopter operations, specialized aerial work, international deployment, and aircraft maintenance and support.
- 2021
Turkish firefighting deployment begins
[1]Columbia began supplying Model 234 helicopters and operational support for firefighting work in Turkey.
- 2014
U.S. Army Chinook acquisition
[1]The company bought five U.S. Army Chinooks for utility operations; the aircraft were not authorized to carry passengers.
- 2012
Further Swedish fleet acquisition
[1]Columbia acquired ten additional 107-series helicopters formerly operated by Swedish military services.
- 2009
Home airport receives Wes Lematta Field designation
[1]An Oregon legislative resolution recognized Columbia’s home airport as Wes Lematta Field at Aurora State Airport.
- 2006
Acquisition of Boeing type certificates
[1]Columbia acquired the Model 107 and Model 234 type certificates from Boeing.
- 2005
Canadian CH-113 acquisition
[1]The company purchased eight surplus Canadian Forces CH-113 Labrador helicopters for fleet expansion.
- 1991
Acquisition of Swedish Boeing Vertol helicopters
[1]Columbia acquired four Boeing Vertol 107II-14 aircraft formerly operated by the Swedish Air Force.
- 1982
Hoverbarge operation
[1]The company undertook the unusual task of pulling a hoverbarge across snow, ice, and water.
- 1971
Commercially successful heli-logging demonstration
[1]Columbia and Jack Erickson conducted an early financially successful helicopter-logging operation in California’s Plumas National Forest.
- 1957
Columbia Helicopters is founded
[1]Wes Lematta founded the company on April 24 with a Hiller 12B and began building a general-purpose helicopter business in Oregon.
Products and positioning
Specialist heavy-lift helicopter operator combining tandem-rotor flight operations, remote-project logistics, and aircraft maintenance expertise.
Heavy-lift helicopter operations
Boeing Vertol 107-II helicopter services
Columbia’s Boeing Vertol 107-II fleet supports external-load work such as forestry, construction, firefighting, restoration, government support, and other utility missions. The aircraft are tandem-rotor helicopters valued for their lifting capability and suitability for operating in locations where conventional ground transport is difficult.
Heavy-lift helicopter operations
Boeing Vertol 234 helicopter services
The Boeing Vertol 234 is Columbia’s principal heavy-lift platform for demanding industrial and public-service assignments. The company uses the type in forestry, aerial firefighting, construction, disaster response, international support, and other missions requiring substantial external-load capacity.
Forestry aviation · 1971
Heli-logging services
Columbia provides helicopter-based timber extraction and related forestry support. Heli-logging allows timber to be removed from steep, remote, or environmentally sensitive areas using long-line lifting rather than extensive road construction. The company’s involvement dates to the early development of commercially successful helicopter logging.
Aircraft maintenance
FAA repair-station services
The company operates a large FAA repair station supporting its own aircraft and customers worldwide. This capability covers the maintenance and technical support needs associated with specialized Boeing tandem-rotor helicopters and helps enable deployments requiring substantial field logistics.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Turkey wildfire firefighting support
Turkey
Columbia supplied Model 234 helicopters, flight crews, and maintenance support through CMC Savunma Sanayi A.S. for firefighting operations associated with Turkey’s General Directorate of Forestry.
Outcome. The deployment established an international operating role for Columbia’s heavy-lift aircraft in Turkish wildfire response; reference material reported four helicopters in the program as of August 2025.
Brand decisions
2021
Expand international firefighting operations in TurkeyStrategyBackground
Turkey required specialized helicopter resources for forestry and wildfire operations.
Action taken
Columbia deployed Model 234 helicopters together with crews and maintenance personnel through CMC Savunma Sanayi A.S.
Aftermath
The company continued supporting the program, with four helicopters reported in service for the operation as of August 2025.
2006
Acquire Model 107 and Model 234 type certificatesStrategyBackground
Columbia’s business depends on a specialized fleet of Boeing Vertol tandem-rotor helicopters, creating a strategic need for long-term technical and parts support.
Action taken
The company acquired Boeing’s type certificates for the Model 107 and Model 234 and pursued FAA authorization to produce parts, with a longer-term objective of producing both aircraft.
Aftermath
The acquisition strengthened Columbia’s role as an operator and technical steward of the aircraft types, although the available reference material does not establish that full production certification was completed.
Recent events
- 2025
Columbia Helicopters continues Turkish firefighting support[1]
Other
Reference material reported that the company was providing four helicopters together with crew and maintenance support for Turkish firefighting operations as of August 2025.
- 2021
Columbia Helicopters begins supplying Model 234 helicopters for Turkish firefighting[1]
Other
The company began providing Boeing 234 helicopters, crews, and maintenance support for firefighting operations in Turkey through CMC Savunma Sanayi A.S., a contractor supporting the Turkish General Directorate of Forestry.
- 2009
Oregon designates the company’s home airport as Wes Lematta Field[1]
Other
The Oregon State Legislature passed a resolution identifying Columbia’s home airport as Wes Lematta Field at Aurora State Airport.
- 2006
Columbia Helicopters acquires Boeing Model 107 and Model 234 type certificates[1]
Other
The company acquired the type certificates for the Model 107 and Model 234 from Boeing, supporting its longer-term plans for aircraft parts production and expanded technical control over the fleet.
Sources2 sources
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