Evergreen International Aviation

  1960 to 2014

  United States of America

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TYPE: Airline, governmnent contractor, CIA front company & airwork operator

IATA/ICAO CODES: 1E / EIA

HEADQUARTERS: McMinnville, OR

OTHER NAMES: Evergreen Helicopters, Evergreen International Aviation, Evergreen International Airlines, Evergreen Spur

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

Delford M. Smith founded Evergreen Helicopters in 1960. The company was involved in the development of the commercial use of helicopters, and it was one of the first to use helicopters for spraying fertilizer and herbicides, spreading seeds and fighting forest fires. In 1972, the company expanded into the use of heavy lift helicopters, acquiring a number of Sikorsky S-61. In March 1973, the massive Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane was added to the fleet, with a lift capacity of 20,000 pounds.

In 1974 Smith became aware that the Johnson Flying Service was looking to sell its assets. The business was a small airline that was operating two passenger Lockheed L-188 Electras. More importantly, it held a supplemental air carrier operating certificate which allowed it to operate as an airline. After significant deliberation, the Civil Aeronautics Board approved the transfer in 1975. Evergreen International Airlines was officially formed and incorporated on 16 April 1975 as a subsidiary of Evergreen Helicopters, Inc, and started operations on 18 November. That same year, it purchased CIA front airline Intermountain Aviation, and later acquired the assets of disolved Air America's parent company Air Asia.

Evergreen's business subsequently continued to expand and split into a number of subsidiary divisions. The main subsidiary was Evergreen International Airlines, which operated the Boeing 747 as a cargo or tanker aircraft to destinations around the world. It also conducted some scheduled passenger operations with Douglas DC-8s and Lockheed L-188 Electras, and operated a commuter airline in Southern California as Evergreen Airspur with DHC-6 Twin Otters.

Evergreen was part of the US Civil Reserve Air Fleet and the International Peace Operations Association. It was known to do work for the US Federal Government, including fire suppression for the US Forest Service, troop transportation in the Gulf War of 1991, as well as helicopter transportation for oil rig firefighters at the end of hostilities. The company provided aviation services for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as well, including transporting the Shah of Iran from Panama to the United States in 1980.

Evergreen Helicopters was sold to Erickson Air-Crane in March 2013 for $250 million. The sale provided Evergreen International Aviation with the liquidity needed to continue operations. However, on 8 November 2013, Evergreen International Airlines that all operations would cease effective 29 November 2013. The company went into Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2014 and liquidated its assets.

January 1975 to February 1978

Evergreen inherited Commandos from Intermountain Aviation, after it purchased it in [January?] 1975.

Smith Super 46C Commando: N9900Z