Helicol

Helicol S.A. (Spanish acronym: Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia) is a helicopter operator based at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia. It is a subsidiary airline of Avianca.

==History== Helicol was founded on July 3, 1955, as a response to the needs of the oil exploration activities in Colombia. Initially it was a joint venture between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based Keystone Helicopters Corporation, and Avianca; as Keystone had signed a contract with Shell Oil Company to run oil exploration activities in the north side of the Country. In order to fulfill the air laws in force back then, Keystone searched for a Colombian partner who could take control of 51% of the stakes of the company, a role taken by Avianca. It was the creation of the first non-regular air services supplier in Colombia.