In 1948, an adventuresome young man named Carl F. Brady brought a Bell 47A helicopter to Alaska, establishing what is now the Alaska's oldest helicopter company - a company that by 1998 would boast commercial operations in several countries, fixed-wing service, and a flightseeing service for travelers.
Originally from Arkansas, Brady learned to fly helicopters in Washington state. He formed a company with two partners and based the operation in Yakima, Washington. In 1948, as the U.S. Government was preparing to map the territory of Alaska, Brady saw an opportunity for his Bell 47A.
Brady convinced federal surveyors that a helicopter was the ticket for mapping what later became the 49th state. By 1950, Brady's Alaska-based company had moved into the petroleum-support business as well, working on geophysical jobs. The company was instrumental in helping launch offshore operations in the Kenai area.
As business opportunities in Alaska expanded, it was necessary for Carl Brady’s company to expand as well. The company partnered with a California company to help purchase two large Sikorsky S-55 helicopters.
Responsible for many landmarks in Alaska and international flight, Mr. Brady’s Company opened a base at Merrill Field in 1958, and expanded to Kenai in 1962. In 1964, Brady brought the first turbine-powered helicopter to Alaska - a Bell 204B.
As part of its expansion program, the company agreed to be purchased by a parent company of Houston, Texas, in 1967. At that time, Brady assumed the role of executive Vice President and remained President and CEO of his company. The venture allowed the company to undertake operations in the Gulf of Mexico, the Mideast, and Africa by 1970.
Within five years, the company acquired a Fairbanks helicopter operation, and a small helicopter company in Juneau. The Gulf of Mexico operations base was established in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1978. That same year, 1978, the company established a fixed-wing division in Alaska,. The fixed-wing division expanded in 1980 with the purchase of three 50-passenger Convair 580s for charter/airline service, which joined the company's Twin Otters and a King Air.
Carl Brady’s company became Alaska's largest regional airline, one of the top 25 regional airlines in the United States. Aviation service to communities like Kodiak, Valdez, Cordova, Homer and Kenai, as well as Alaska villages, helped the airline service expand rapidly and establish a solid customer base.
In the 60 years since Carl Brady Sr. made the decision to bring his helicopter to Alaska, much has changed - in Alaska, in the aviation industry, and for Carl Brady’s Company. Alaska has become a leader in petroleum and natural resource production, and Carl Bray’s Company has played a large role in helping the state reach it's economic potential.
The company’s important role in Alaska, and throughout the aviation world, was honored by the Alaska Legislature, which has introduced a citation marking the company's 50 years in business. "It is with the utmost respect and regard that the Twentieth Alaska Legislature recognizes the milestones, accomplishments, and the contributions the company has made to Alaska aviation," the citation reads.
In December 2004, Carl Brady’s company was purchased from the Rowan to Seacor. Currently, Seacor is a global provider of marine support and transportation services, primarily to the energy and chemical industries.
The Company’s contribution to the world of flight continues.
Milestones
1948 |
First use of commercial helicopter in Alaska. |
1956 |
First commercial use of Sikorsky S-55 helicopter on a year-round basis in Alaska. |
1957 |
First use of the Sikorsky S-55 and S-58 for external loads in Alaska. |
1964 |
First use of turbine powered helicopters (Bell 204-B) in Alaska. |
1965 |
First use of turbine powered Sikorsky S-62 in Alaska. |
1967 |
First use of the Bell 206-A turbine powered Jet Rangers in Alaska. |
1967 |
First use of the Swearingen Merlin IIA, twin-turbine powered, airplane in Alaska. |
1968 |
First use of turbine powered, 14-passenger, Bell 205-A-1 helicopters in Alaska. |
1969 |
First commercial use, worldwide, of the Sikorsky S-64E Sky Crane (2O,OOO pound lift capacity). |
1970 |
First commercial use of the Beechcraft Hawker Siddeley DH-125 twin jet aircraft as supplemental air carrier under FAR 121 in Alaska. |
1970's |
The first civil helicopter operator approved for instrument flight in Alaska. AIso the first operator in the USA to be approved for helicopter IFR using Bell 212 helicopters on fixed floats; first helicopter operator in the world to receive FAA approval for radar IFR approach minimums to 200 feet and 1/2 mile. |
1971 |
First Company helicopter operated internationally supporting offshore drilling east of Niaragua (Bell 204B). |
1972 |
First Company helicopter flight in Gulf of Mexico. |
1978 |
Officially opened company Gulf Coast Division in Lake Charles, LA on December 15th. |
1980 |
First use of six-place, Aerospatiale 350 AStar in Alaska.1980: In September of 198O, The Company was granted authority to operate the 50-passenger, Convair 580 Twin turboprop aircraft, as a supplemental air carrier under FAR 121. |
1981 |
First use of Bell 412 (14-passenger) helicopters (four-bladed rotor system) in the world. |
1982 |
Certified the first Airborne Radar Approach in the Gulf of Mexico on April 8,1982. |
1983 |
First commercial use of deHavilland DHC-7, Dash 7, airplane (50-passenger, 10,000 pound payload) in Alaska. First year of scheduled airline operations. |
1984 |
First commercial use of Bell 214 Super Transport (18-passenger) helicopters in Alaska. |
1984 |
First commercial use of Aerospatiale AS-332C/L helicopters in Alaska. |
1985 |
First commercial operator of Boeing Vertol 234, 44-passenger, helicopter in Alaska. |
1986 |
Certified the first civilian external auxiliary helicopter fuel tanks on a Bell 412. |
1990 |
First commercial use of deHavilland DHC-8-10O, 37-passenger airplane in Alaska. |
1991 |
Acquired 49% of KLM Helicopters, based at Schipol Airport East, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. |
1992 |
First western company to operate American commercial helicopters inside the borders of Russia. |
1992 |
Five company helicopters participated as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Croatia. |
1993 |
Awarded one-year United Nations contact for peacekeeping force in Croatia and Macedonia with three Bell 212 helicopters and three Bell 206 Longrangers. |
1994 |
Entered into three year contract for two AS-332L Super Pumas flying offshore support in Peoples Republic of China. |
1997 |
First Sikorsky S-61 in Gulf of Mexico. |
1999 |
First Eurocopter Super Puma in Gulf of Mexico. |
2004 |
New Parent Company purchased The Company from Old Parent company |
