Bristow Group history

Operations in Iran, where BHL had been active since 1957, came to a more dramatic end.

In 1958, Economy Helicopters merged with Rotor Aids to form ERA Helicopters.

Acquired by Airwork in 1959

In 1960, Airwork merged with Hunting-Clan to create British United Airways (BUA), which the next year merged with Silver City Airlines and then British Aviation Services.

Bristow began training helicopter pilots for the Royal Navy at Redhill in 1961.

Bristow also ventured into Iran and Bolivia that year (the original Bolivian adventure lasted till 1962). The limited number of companies that could afford helicopter services prompted the firm to look for work on a global basis, said Bristow in the company history Leading from the Front.

Era became the first operator to use a turbine-powered helicopter in Alaska when the Bell 204-B was added to its fleet in 1964.

Starting on 17 February 1965, the company operated the Westland Wessex 60 ten-seat helicopter to support these off-shore installations.

George Fry became head of BHL in December 1967 as Alan Bristow began a two-year stint as joint managing director of British United Airways.

On April 18, 1969, Rowan purchased two S-64E Skycranes for use in Alaska to transport heavy drilling equipment, making Era the first civilian company to operate the aircraft.

BHL set up a school to train its own pilots at Redhill in 1970.

Another important service was begun in 1971--search and rescue (SAR) over the Straights of Dover.

Airnorth commenced operations on July 4, 1978 as Australia's second oldest airline operating Australia's youngest regional jet fleet and began the start of Bristow’s Australia operations.

However, seven aircraft worth $15 million and 22 people had to be surreptitiously evacuated on March 9, 1979 in "Operation Sandstorm," a dramatic rescue that made tabloid headlines in the United Kingdom.

By 1980, Bristow's operations had spread to the Gulf Coast of the United States and the fleet numbered about 170 helicopters.

Bristow decided to place a larger order for 35 Super Pumas, this being the largest civil helicopter order to have been made at the time; the first examples of the type were introduced in early 1982.

In 1985, Bristow Helicopters was acquired by British and Commonwealth Holdings plc.

A plunge in oil prices in 1986 in particular led to a thinning of the ranks of helicopter services companies.

Bristow managed to survive, acquiring British Caledonian Helicopters in 1987.

Financial services company British & Commonwealth Holdings acquired BHL in June 1988 through its Bricom unit.

British & Commonwealth was bought out by Sweden's Gamlestaden group in July 1990.

1991: After being owned briefly by Swedish investors, Bristow undergoes a management buy-out.

In late 1996, FBS won a 15-year contract to train pilots for Britain's Ministry of Defence.

BHL got a new CEO in 1999, former finance director Keith Chanter, who replaced Steve Palframan.

In 2000, lower oil prices had led to the merger of Bristow's British rivals, Bond and British International Helicopters.

In 2004, SEACOR Holdings Inc. (“SEACOR”) purchased then-named Era Aviation Inc. from Rowan to complement its existing aviation business, Tex-Air.

In February 2006, Offshore Logistics decided to re-brand itself as The Bristow Group.

The Bristow Group expanded their portfolio in April 2007 with the purchase of Helicopter Adventures, a Florida-based flight school, Helicopter Adventures was subsequently renamed Bristow Academy.

In January 2010, Bristow announced the retirement of the Air Logistics name and Gulf of Mexico operations would operate under the name Bristow.

Bristow began the UK SAR contract in April 2015.

In November 2017, Bristow Academy came under new ownership and changed its name to United States Aviation Training Solutions, Inc.