This privately owned rotary-wing carrier is formed in 1964 as Autair Helicopters (South Africa), Ltd. to provide passenger, cargo and charter services throughout South Africa. A subsidiary of the U. K.-based Au-tair, Ltd., the operator also undertakes crop-spraying assignments with its fleet of Bell 47s.
During the remainder of the year and into 1965, Autair surveys the Durban-Johannesburg pipeline and undertakes game conservation work in Kruger National Park. In 1966, the company is awarded a contract by Marine Diamonds to provide services to the diamond barges off the South West Africa coast; crews and supplies are flown by Sikorsky S-55s.
As the result of the 1967 closing of the Suez Canal and the February 1968 grounding of the oil tanker Sivella at Green Point, South Africa, company officials devise a new service. It is designed to help ships avoid the dangers that arise from an increasing number of vessels navigating close to the coastline as they cruise past the Cape of Good Hope.
On June 12, a trial is undertaken by Capt. Theodore Huddlestone, who flies an S-55A netload of tomatoes, wine, mail, etc. out to the passing Dorcasia. The logistic mission is a success. On September 6, the world’s first commercial ship service by helicopter is inaugurated when another S-55A flies to the tanker Mobil Libya in the first of a continuing number of supply flights to be conducted in the years that follow and that will become one of the company’s mainstay missions.
In 1971, the carrier’s parent company is renamed Court Line Aviation, Ltd. Upon the liquidation of Court Line Aviation, this subsidiary is acquired as a fifty-fifty partnership from its liquidators in November 1974 by the South African engineering firm of Murray and Roberts (M&R), together with a consortium of investors known as the Van Zyl Group, named after its leader.
The previous name, minus the “Line Aviation,” is retained; however, emphasis is now placed on support of the oil industry, including specialization in resupply flights to oil tankers passing off the coasts. International political sanctions inhibit company growth as Court is excluded from flying in many parts of the world. Still, possibilities exist.
In January 1975, Court joins with a local Argentine operator to form a company that will engage in seismic work, as well as the offshore support of Shell, Mobil, Total, and the national oil company. In 1976-1977, Chairman J. J. M. Van Zyl’s company also expands to South West Africa and establishes subsidiaries in Bahrain, as well as other Mideast and African nations. These operations must be conducted “quietly,” in order to avoid sanctions and political difficulties.
In 1978, airline employment stands at 120 and the fleet comprises 2 Sikorsky S-61Ns, 2 S-62As, 3 S-58Ts, 1 S-55,2 Bell 206 JetRangers, and 2 Aerospatiale SA-318C Alouette IIs. When a New York Helicopter Airways S-61N crashes on the roof of the Pan Am building, the wreckage is purchased by Court and transported to Cape Town, where it is converted into the world’s only S-61NC.
In 1979, Court obtains a contract to supply the Argentine oil rig General Mosconi and the S-61NC is sent out to handle the task. At the same time, a West German Navy S-58ET is acquired and is employed to extend the ship service out from Durban. By year’s end, the line is servicing upwards of 150 ships per month rounding the Cape.
The Argentine arrangement is concluded in 1980 when Court’s shareholding is sold to the French operator Heli-Union, S. A. Widening of the Suez Canal now begins to cut into the number of oil tankers and bulk carriers passing the Cape.
Following acquisition of Johannesburg-based Republic Helicopters (Pty.), Ltd. in 1981, the fleet grows to include 15 Bell 206s, 5 Bell Model 47s, 1 Sikorsky S-61N, and 5 Sikorsky S-58Ts. The workforce averages 125 during 1982-1983. In 1984, Court’s Mideast interests are sold to the Dutch carrier Schreiner Airways, B. V. Although fleet elements will change, the overall support and transport mission remains the same for the remainder of the decade.
In 1989, a pair of S-61Ns are leased to the new Hummingbird Helicopters, Ltd. of the Republic of Maldives. Jeremy Labuschagne becomes managing director in 1990 and, in January 1991, the company begins to employ the global positioning system (GPS) to locate ships rounding the Cape of Good Hope in poor weather. From George, 2 S-61s service a production field on behalf of the South African oil company Soekor.
The 2 leased Hummingbird Sikorskys are returned to the Cape Town base during the first quarter of 1992. With the introduction of political reforms in South Africa, trade barriers begin to fall away during the year and after several years the carrier is once again able to purchase Bell helicopters from Canada.
In 1993, Court inaugurates fire-fighting activities in Natal and Eastern Transvaal employing 2 leased Russian-made Mil Mi-8MTVs. In Namibia, 2 S-61s support an exploration contract held with Norsky Hydro. Meanwhile, Bell 206B JetRangers equipped with special spray-boom attachments begin the “livewire” washing of electric lines on behalf of the South African utility, Eskom.
In August, the company establishes a fixed-wing subsidiary, Court Air (Pty.), Ltd. at Cape Town; under the direction of J. Labuschagne, the company begins flying a pair of Convair CV-580s on scheduled services.
Airline employment in 1994 stands at 140 and the fleet, based at B. F. Malan Airport east of Cape Town, includes 9 S-61s, 1 S-76, and 15 Bell 206B/Ls. Two Convair 580s conduct fixed-wing charters and a Bell 206B JetRanger is outfitted for search and rescue (SAR) service. The number of monthly ship resupply missions flown now averages 30. In April, Bell 206s are chartered by the United Nations to monitor activities during the national election.
Operations continue apace in 1995. Operating income ascends to $15 million and a $1-million profit is generated.
In 1996, a Sikorsky S-61N is chartered from British International Helicopters, Ltd. In a deal valued at $5.5 million, a third of the company’s shareholding is acquired in July by Norway’s Helikopter Air Service, A. S. HAS is a major component of Helikopter Service Group, which also comprises Bond Helikopters, Ltd. of Great Britain and Lloyd Helicopters (Pty.), Ltd. of Australia.
Won the previous summer, the Shannon-based SAR mission of Irish Helicopters, Ltd. is handed over to Bond Helicopters, Ltd. on January 1, 1997. In an example of industry consolidation, execution of the contract is arranged by Helikopter Service Group employing a Sikorsky S-61N leased from Court.
After some months of negotiation, HAG, in March 1997, wins the right to raise its holding in Court to 100% by the following fall.
That option is exercised on July 1, 1998, with HAG taking over the remaining two-thirds interest in a deal valued at $22.4 million. Operational control is turned over on September 1.
Organized into three divisions—offshore multiengine helicopters, onshore light single-engine helicopters, and fixed-wing operations—the airline continues to provide support to the offshore markets of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa and to support UN peacekeeping activities in Mozambique.
On November 24, Court is awarded a three-year contract by Soekor E&P (Pty.), Ltd. to support oil exploration and production off the coast of South Africa. When the service begins on January 1, 2000, Court provides two Sikorsky S-61s to fly between four installations and the mainland.
In late February, the South African operator signs a contract with the government of Mozambique to undertake relief flights to people displaced by the severe floods in that nation. On February 28, an S-61 is diverted from an offshore oil rig off Cape Town and makes a 10-hour flight to Maputo, where it is joined by a Bell 212 in completing 6-8 hour per day operations into the devastated interior. These flights continue throughout March.
Effective October 19, all of the subsidiaries of Canadian Helicopter Corporation, Ltd. adopt the CHC moniker and are renamed in the manner of CHC Scotia, Ltd. Thus, Court is renamed CHC Helicopters Africa (Pty.), Ltd. Aircraft from all subsidiaries are now repainted in the CHC red, blue, and white livery and a common look is adopted for all company literature. The reason for the changeover is reported in a single key sentence in the CHC newsletter, Rotortales: “The integrated global oil companies which have emerged in recent years seek an integrated global helicopter company to provide services around the world.”
Managing Director Jeremy Labuschagne’s 160-employee concern continues operations as before, employing a fleet of 29 aircraft. The main focus remains support of oil and gas exploration, although a variety of EMS, search and rescue, and charter flights continue to be offered.
World History
