Era Aviation opens new Louisiana facility

Feb. 12, 2003
Era Aviation Inc., a subsidiary of Rowan Companies, has opened a new facility in Port Fourchon, Louisiana. On Friday, February 7, Era president Charles Johnson officially opened the new 36-acre base for business.

Era Aviation Inc., a subsidiary of Rowan Companies, has opened a new facility in Port Fourchon, Louisiana. On Friday, February 7, Era president Charles Johnson officially opened the new 36-acre base for business.

According to Al Meyer, senior vice president and manager of Era's Gulf Coast division, Port Fourchon was the obvious choice for the new base. "Port Fourchon is a rapidly growing deepwater port," Meyer said. "The base was built as close as possible to deepwater activity in the Gulf of Mexico."

The new Port Fourchon base is designed to handle 500-600 people per day and can accommodate 3,100 cars, with a maximum planned capacity for 500 vehicles. The site features camera surveillance, secured access, and manned security.

Era currently has four S61N and two S223L 19-passenger helicopters capable of serving deepwater facilities. And according to Meyer, plans are in place to augment the fleet with a new $15-million S92 that will have even greater capabilities. "The larger helicopters have the range and the payload to serve rigs 200 miles offshore on a single tank of fuel and to return to the base with safety reserves in the tank," Meyer said.

Era's Gulf Coast division headquarters is in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

02/12/03