Provine Helicopters - Services

Aerial Application
Operating under an FAR part 137 Certificate, Provine's combination of state-of-the-art equipment and experienced pilots and ground crews guarantees the most professional aerial application program money can buy. In order to better serve the needs of its clients, Provine offers a wide range of aerial application services including forestry, row crop, aquatic and utility right-of-way.

Opportunities to enhance forest productivity through vegetation management are estimated to exist on more than 40 percent of commercial forestland. Numerous studies indicate that volume growth can be doubled when competing vegetation is controlled.

Why use aerial application?

Safety
Herbicide applications require far fewer workers and less heavy equipment, reducing the chance of accidents. Forest applicators also have an exceptional record of safe use. There have been no documented cases of adverse health effects associated with the proper use of these materials in forestry.

Versatility and Time Savings
Provine can apply herbicides under conditions where alternate mechanical and burning methods would be destructive, unsafe or impractical. Chemical site preparation can be done on large and small acreages, in a number of ways and in a much shorter time. For example, whereas several hundred acres per day can be treated with one of our helicopters, less than 50 acres per day can be cleaned with a bulldozer.

Return on Investment
Profitability remains one of the key issues in selection of a site preparation method. Chemical site preparation is less expensive then mechanical site preparation on most sites. Stems and rootstocks of residual vegetation are controlled more effectively with chemical site preparation, thus increasing conifer seedling survival, volume growth and stands.

Herbaceous Weed Control
Historically, foresters have not considered herbaceous competition as a major growth or survival impediment in conifer stands. The fact is that the first several years following planting are critical to stand development and volume growth. The composition of vegetation on a site during the early years of establishment often determines its growth potential and long-term productivity. Grasses can severely slow growth of pine seedlings in the first two years, while competing hardwoods limit growth later in the rotation. It is best, easiest and least expensive to control hardwoods and herbaceous plants when pines are small, preferably during the first two years of stand establishment.

Aerial Survey
Through the use of any of our 11 helicopters, Provine Helicopters offers the service of aerial surveying. Most commonly used to survey forest land, we also have the abilities to assist in surveying of personal property, road ways and much more.

Burning
Provine offers services for prescribed fires that are often set using a helicopter. The aircraft carries a supply of incendiary devices the staff refers to as "ping pong balls." As the balls are dropped from the helicopter, small spot fires are started in a tight pattern along a predetermined fire line. This allows for a very predictable and accurate prescribed burn.

Charter
Operating under an FAR Part 135 certificate, Provine Helicopters offers business travel in both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. One Bell LongRanger is available for charter seating four to five passengers. In addtion, a Beechcraft King Air C90A can comfortably carry six to seven with a range of 1,200 miles and crusing speed of 270 mph.

Provine Helicopters has 30 years of experience in the business of aircraft operations and boasts an impeccable record of safety and dependability. All aircraft are serviced on a regular basis by our highly-skilled, in-house maintenance staff, who uphold the highest standards in safety. Our pilots are all FAA certified professionals with more than 20 years of experience.

Firefighting
Provine Helicopters is capable of aiding in firefighting by hauling water, retardant, or foam mix that acts as an extinguishing agent.

Lifting
Operating under an FAR Part 133 Certificate, Provine's JetRangers can lift up to 700 lbs., while our LongRanger can lift up to 1,000 lbs. Provine Helicopters can safely lift and transport items ranging from commercial air conditioners to debris.