Blackcomb Helicopters

Background

For over 35 years, Blackcomb Helicopters soared across Western Canada with the majestic Coast Mountains of British Columbia as its backdrop. Managing a fleet of twenty helicopters and a dedicated team of sixty aviation professionals across seven main bases, the company carries out missions that include adventure tourism, search-and-rescue, heli-skiing, construction, film, mining, fire-fighting, and specialized industry support.

At the core of their operations is a commitment to safety, where specialized teams and high-standard equipment navigate expertly through remote and rugged environments. Chris Haslock, Director of Operations, looks at tools and processes that lifts the company's standards of service and safety. By advancing the technology and day-to-day operations, he reinforces an ethos of care and expertise that gives Blackcomb Helicopters its trusted reputation in the aviation industry.

The Challenge

"Our number one priority is safety. Aircraft operations run 365 days a year, with maintenance happening in the evening and night.”

Safety and operational integrity are at the heart of every mission as Chris and his team move through a highly dynamic industry. As Canada’s premier helicopter company, they run multiple bases in Whistler, Pemberton, Squamish, Lillooet, the Bridge River Valley, Metro Vancouver, and Calgary. Recognizing the necessity for a centralized security system with crisp video monitoring, Chris deployed Verkada to elevate efficiency and, most importantly, safety.

Partnering with Neish Networks, the deployment was carried out smoothly and effectively, leading to immediate improvements. Neish Networks' expertise facilitated a seamless installation, allowing Chris and his team to quickly benefit from greater security and operational oversight.

Why Verkada?

“We have eyes on the ground and in the sky. Verkada helps us maintain visibility over airports, landing areas, and weather conditions in the mountains for added safety. As people come and go, we can manage and keep track of who's onsite at any time.”

No matter where they are located, the team maintains vigilant oversight of their widespread facilities. Security operations across Canada are centralized to the cloud-based Command platform. Behind the intuitive software interface, AI-enabled devices empower teams with actionable insights and faster incident detection.

"We started with cameras, then expanded to access control, alarms, sensors, guest software, and intercom. Verkada brings all our security under one simple dashboard so it’s fast and easy to access.”

Monitoring Airport Operations from Anywhere

"Previously, we’d have had to fly over to Calgary to check the site and see what's there. Now we can look on the Command mobile app and see exactly what's going on through the cameras."

Positioned in critical locations, Verkada cameras aid in logistical planning and safety assessments, particularly in challenging weather conditions.

Chris empowers his team to conduct live investigations from a single vantage point with the CP52-E Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras, which provide dynamic coverage of aircraft operations and vast environments across the mountainside of British Columbia. The vandal-proof IK10 and weather-resistant IP66 ratings withstand extreme conditions, while the wide-angle 360-degree pan, 220-degree tilt, and 28x zoom capture crisp details from afar, such as the writing on a helicopter wing.

"We're super impressed with the quality of the cameras, the easy installation, and the ability to interface with it through a web browser and the app on your phone."

Door-to-Door Visibility and Control

“Just like how video meetings revolutionized working from home, Verkada has done the same for our physical security. Managing everything remotely saves so much time; it takes seconds to see and investigate what’s happening at any door.”

Cameras are natively integrated with access control, providing instant visibility into any door event. Active directory and single sign-on streamline user management, while access groups make it easy to assign door permissions. The team creates custom designs through Verkada’s badge printing software, before assigning credentials across both physical badges and the Verkada Pass mobile app. Guest cards with thematic designs add a unique touch to their security measures.

“Every team member has a user profile, and we can print out guest cards that are Mario-themed. We’ll have Princess Peach, Luigi, and Yoshi visiting us once in a while. It’s all been really easy to use and manage, the feedback has been great.”

Certain doors are always locked, requiring a tap-in managed through granular role-based access. This tailored approach ensures that only authorized personnel can access specific areas, maintaining security without sacrificing convenience.

Embracing Modern Access Control with Apple Wallet

To improve security without compromising convenience for employees, Blackcomb Helicopters has integrated Apple Wallet for access control across their facilities. Employees have the option to access secure locations with their mobile devices rather than carrying multiple badges. "Turning on and using Apple Wallet to unlock doors is effortless," says Erick Leclerc, Flight Simulator Technician."You just tap your phone and walk in."

Even if an iPhone needs to be charged, employees can still use their badge in Apple Wallet to unlock doors for up to five hours, ensuring that access is not hindered in critical situations.

The Apple Wallet integration provides additional security benefits to protect against unauthorized entry:

• NFC technology: Apple Wallet uses NFC, which has a scan range of less than 10cm. This prevents unintentional unlocks by requiring explicit user intent to unlock a door.

• Multi-factor authentication: For high-security areas, users can be required to unlock their mobile device when badging in, similar to Apple Pay. This can prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access with a stolen phone.

Intercom Communications and Access Management

"We have some managed gate services – deliveries or trucks that need to get inside. When they ring the intercom to come in, we’re notified on our phones and we can either grant or deny access remotely.”

Verkada intercom systems facilitate efficient communication and access management, which is particularly crucial for their diverse locations with managed gate services. This feature ensures controlled access and operational fluidity across their diverse sites, from Pemberton to the south of Vancouver.

“Intercom allows us to control and keep track of “who” and “what” can go into restricted areas of the airport. The whole Verkada product suite comes together to help us run our day-to-day activities more efficiently, and be more aware of everything that’s happening.”

Integrating Safety Protocols with Check-In Flows

"Through audits and for various companies that we work for, we have to help us manage people for work safety. The Guest system can keep track of who comes and goes in the building and clearly identify them."

Piloted at the main office, the Guest system modernizes visitor management and reinforces safety protocols. The software retains a digital visitor log, ensuring people who enter the aircraft facility complete documents and meet safety objectives. The team has the option to enforce policies by sending visitor details to a human approver before granting them entry. Contractors can also be screened automatically against a known vendor list before allowing access.

Real-Time Environmental Alerts

"The air quality sensors in Calgary monitor temperatures and environmental factors. It's crucial for preventing damage and ensuring our facility's integrity, especially during cold temperatures in the winter. Through proactive alerts, we’re notified right away if we need to make different arrangements.”

In Calgary, temperatures may drop 20 degrees Celsius in less than an hour. To prepare for sudden and unpredictable changes, the team proactively tracks environmental conditions with dedicated air quality sensors. If a certain threshold is met, team members are notified immediately to prevent infrastructure damage – particularly during extreme weather events, thus safeguarding their assets and personnel.

Looking Ahead

"We keep our operations secure, efficient, and future-ready. The system is always getting smarter and updating with new innovations, so we have the latest and greatest in security.”

As Blackcomb Helicopters completes Verkada installations across Canada, Chris and the team look forward to finding new ways to bring value to the organization. New features and security enhancements are released through over-the-air, automatic software and firmware updates. The alignment of Verkada's evolving technology with the company's needs reinforces their operational excellence and commitment to safety.

"The sky’s the limit, we're continuing to raise the bar for safety and efficiency  with the help of Verkada.”

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