Swanson Group Aviation
Encyclopedia
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
operating company based in Glendale, Oregon
Glendale, Oregon
Glendale is a city in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 855 at the 2000 census.-History:Glendale started out as a small settlement called "Stumptown", because of an economy based on logging. After the arrival of the railroad in 1881, the town was named "Julia" in honor of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. SGA operates a fleet of Kaman K-MAX and Aérospatiale Lama helicopters in Heli-Logging, aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers are also classified as aerial firefighters, delivered to the fire by parachute from a variety of fixed-wing...
, construction
Aerial crane
Helicopters used to lift heavy loads are called aerial cranes or skycranes. As aerial cranes, helicopters carry loads connected to long cables or slings in order to place heavy equipment when other methods are not available or economically feasible, or when the job must be accomplished in remote or...
and many other activities. SGA was one of the launch customers of the Kaman K-MAX, the company is considered one of the most experienced operators of this airframe averaging 7,000 flight hours a year.