Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

Helicopter services company Era Group this week reported a wider first-quarter loss on lower revenues. The downturn is attributable mainly to the continuing softness in the offshore energy market. Its quarterly loss grew to $5.6 million on operating revenues of $54.5 million, versus a $3.8 million loss and revenues of $62.6 million in the same period last year. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization were also down $7 million in the current quarter, from $12.2 million a year ago.


Era blamed the lower revenues on “lower utilization in U.S. oil-and-gas operations, fewer search-and-rescue subscribers and the end of certain dry-leasing contracts.” However, Era noted that the Brazilian market is rebounding, although worldwide “we continue to experience excess capacity in our heavy-helicopter fleet.”


The company also noted that its nine Airbus H225s remain grounded following the April 2016 Turoy crash and that its H225 fleet and spares have a net value of $158.6 million. The company said the long-term financial impact of this grounding is yet to be determined as the H225’s residual value remains uncertain.

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Helo Operator Era Group Posts Another Loss

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