HeliService USA
The leading operator in offshore helicopter services in the United States
“Offshore wind is new to the US, Harbor Pilot transfers are new to the US, AW169s are not widely used in the US,” explains Chief Pilot Zach Leggett, making it clear that HeliService USA is not a company afraid of new challenges or being the first.
It’s September 26th, 2023, and HeliService USA performed their first hoisting trial at a wind farm off the Rhode Island coast – the first time, in North America, that a commercial helicopter has conducted a hoist to an offshore wind turbine. HeliService USA was founded in response to the rapidly growing offshore wind industry off the East Coast.
“Hoisting in the AW169 is our core business.”
Today, HeliService USA is the leading offshore helicopter services and offshore hoisting operator in the United States – annually performing over 16,000 hoists. Their missions include offshore wind operations, offshore search and rescue services in the northeast, harbor pilot transfers, and helicopter air ambulance services (HAA).
There was no question in their choice of fleet aircraft to take on their operation – the Leonardo AW169. Director of Operations, Paul Russo shared that “the AW169 is one of only a few aircraft available that can provide us with the performance and payload that we require to meet our operational needs.”
The AW169 provides HeliService USA with multi-mission versatility, and a unique blend of size and capability.
“The aircraft is small enough to get in and out of smaller spaces, i.e. alongside vessels or wind turbines, but big enough to offer significant personnel movement,” Zach explained that “it's versatility allows us to take on these new operations and complete them to a very high level.”
While the AW169 is certified for single-pilot IFR operations, HeliService USA opts for flying with two pilots for every mission, and certified hoist operator. They operate 24/7 across their hoisting operations including harbor pilot transfers, HEMS/SAR, and helicopter air ambulance services. With their bases across the nation, their teams can fly and hoist in the humidity and thunderstorms in Texas, or the winter storms in the northeast. Their teams need to be ready for the most demanding situations.
Trained to be prepared for anything
“We are taking on new challenges within the US helicopter industry such as Offshore Wind, Harbor Pilot Transfers and SAR. Since these operations do not exist here, we are having to develop the training as we go.”
As HeliService USA flies multiple mission types, their training program covers a vast variety including; Initial AW169 Training (done at Coptersafety), Recurrent Training, Part 133 Hoist and Cargo Hook Training, and specific RRS, HAA, Harbor Pilot, and NVG Training.
“We use simulators to incorporate real word emergencies into safe learnable training sorties. Simulation allows us to train to a much higher level. We can incorporate real mission sets and introduce emergencies in a safe teachable environment.”
In their simulator training at Coptersafety, HeliService USA pilots train with custom visuals from their various nationwide operations to ensure the highest level of sim training.
While HeliService USA “is relatively new to Coptersafety”, as Coptersafety’s AW169 Phase 8 full-flight simulator was qualified to Level D by the FAA in February 2026, Zach states that “the instructors, managers, and facilities are second to none.”
Whether it’s hoisting wind technicians to wind turbines, or SAR technicians down with equipment, or transferring harbor pilots to vessels, HeliService USA is prepared for any mission with the highest standards of safety.
This article was written with comments from Zach Leggett, Chief Pilot, and Paul Russo, Director of Operations, from HeliService USA.
