Columbia Helicopters is to acquire the type certificates for the Vertol 107-II and Boeing Vertol 234 Chinook helicopters from Boeing. Columbia, the only commercial operator of the heavy-lift types in the world, uses the Boeing models for logging, construction, firefighting and petroleum exploration operations. The official transfer will take place after engineering details are completed and following FAA approval.

Columbia bought its first Boeing helicopter in 1969, when the company acquired three Vertol 107 helicopters from Pan Am. It purchased its first Chinook in 1985. Columbia now owns seven Chinooks and 15 Vertol 107s, four of which have each logged more than 50,000 flight hours.