Company
Sequoia helicopters was founded in 2004 with one Bell 212. Since then we have expanded to nine helicopters, four Bell 212’s, three AS350B2’s, one Bell 206 L3, and one Bell 206 BIII. Along with our original 8,000 square foot Abbotsford facility we now have three satellite bases in Alberta located in Whitecourt, Red Earth Creek, and Lac La Biche. All bases are large enough to house any of our aircraft and have proprietary fuel bowsers to better facilitate our customers requirements. With customer service as our cornerstone, all of Sequoia Helicopter’s actions and intentions reflect this customer-focused approach. We have the intention of going above and beyond the industry standard and provide our employees with the tools required to fulfill their duties with a professional manner. This has helped us to attract and retain a dedicated group of professionals and we enjoy very little employee turnover. We believe that the excellent condition of our aircraft reflects the pride and dedication we take in our commitment to quality.
Sequoia Helicopters also has a commitment to the environment and has made every effort to be an environmentally responsible company. We have installed systems in our machines that reduce fuel drainage / spillage and allow for safe and proper oil disposal. We have also upgraded the helicopters to have a reduced power demand requirement, which translates into less fuel consumption and, therefore, a reduced carbon imprint. Also all soaps and engine cleaners we use are biodegradable to reinforce our continued commitment to be environmental stewards.
Management
Ralph Wagner – CEO / Operations Manager
Having flown Helicopter since 1987, Ralph is an exceptionally experienced pilot, bringing his know-how to every aspect of his business. With his high level of professionalism and accessibility, Ralph takes pride in his “open door” approach that he takes with both his employees and customers. Ralph encourages and empowers his employees and attributes the success of Sequoia Helicopters to the people behind Sequoia Helicopters, our staff.
Dave Paisley – Director of Maintenance
Dave has over 25 years of aircraft maintenance experience and brings his expertise to Sequoia Helicopters as the Director of Maintenance. Dave is dedicated to implementing and improving the maintenance program at Sequoia Helicopters. That, coupled with a state of the art facility and a highly experienced maintenance staff, Dave has a solid foundation that ensures the best possible product and services for our customers.
Rod Drake – Chief Pilot
Starting his aviation career in aircraft maintenance in 1996 and transitioning to flying in 2004, Rod has accrued 8000 hours of flight time on several helicopter types, including Bell JetRanger Series, Airbus AS350/H125 Series, and Bell 212. He has extensive flight experience throughout Canada serving a wide range of customers in several industries, primarily Oil and Gas, Environmental Reclamation & Remediation, Wildlife Surveys, Forest Products, Film, Thermal imaging, and Wildfire Suppression. Rod’s priorities are safety and reliability, he prides himself on being efficient and finding solutions for Sequoia’s customers.
