investing in the future The oil-and-gas industry may be in the midst of a downturn, but Canadian offshore operator Cougar Helicopters is preparing for a bright future with the opening of its new C$43-million hangar in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Story by Oliver Johnson | Photos by Heath Moffatt T here’s no getting away from it: these are challenging times for the helicopter industry. While those supporting the oil- and-gas sector have been the most directly affected by the downturn in oil prices, the knock-on effect has been felt throughout the industry, from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities (MROs) and those offering ancillary products and services. Which is perhaps why it’s refreshing to see someone in the industry — and especially someone working in the offshore oil-and- gas sector — that’s not only talking optimistically about the future, but preparing for the eventual upturn with a multimillion-dollar outlay. In November, Cougar Helicopters — a giant in the Canadian offshore oil-and-gas transport world — celebrated the grand opening of its new C$43-million headquarters in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The facility has significantly increased its capacity to serve the oil-and-gas industry off Newfoundland’s coast, in a region that presents some of the most challenging condi- tions encountered by regular helicopter service anywhere in the world. The new development spans two enormous buildings at St. John’s International Airport, with one containing a passenger process- ing terminal and the company’s offices, and the other a hangar and office space for the company’s maintenance team. Combined, the two facilities span close to 100,000 square feet, and, together with Cougar’s existing search-and-rescue (SAR) hangar and its two ramps, give the company a footprint of about 17.46 acres across the “Cougar campus” it has created at the airport. The buildings were officially opened Nov. 18 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony that saw Cougar’s chief operating officer, Hank Williams, joined by executives from parent company VIH Aviation Group, partner Bristow Group, oil company customers, and Newfoundland and Labrador Finance Minister Cathy Bennett. 100 Ver tical Maga zine