TOPS celebrates 30th anniversary of operator-led safety leadership This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Tour Operators Program of Safety (TOPS), one of the helicopter industry’s earliest sector-specific, operator-governed safety initiatives. Founded in 1996 by a group of leading helicopter tour operators, TOPS was built on a simple premise: safety is not a competitive advantage — it is a shared responsibility. At a time when air-tour operations were expanding rapidly, industry leaders recognized that public confidence depended on standards that went beyond minimum regulatory compliance. Among the founders was Elling Halvorson, founder of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters. Halvorson is widely credited with shaping the modern helicopter tourism sector and later served as Chairman of the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Board of Directors, bringing an operator’s perspective to national industry leadership. David Chevalier, founder of Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, also served as HAI Chairman and played a significant role in advancing structured training and operational discipline within the tour sector. The creation of TOPS formalized a commitment to exceed Federal Aviation Administration Part 135 requirements. Member operators agreed to adopt enhanced standards covering pilot experience, training protocols, aircraft equipment, operational procedures, and independent auditing. The program remains governed by its operators and supported by external audits to verify compliance. Today, TOPS members include: Blue Hawaiian Helicopters Coastal Helicopters NorthStar Helicopters Heli NY Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopter TEMSCO Helicopters Together, these operators represent a substantial portion of U.S. helicopter sightseeing activity and collectively carry hundreds of thousands of passengers annually. Thirty years after its founding, TOPS continues to meet regularly to evaluate standards, share safety data, and address emerging challenges including workforce development, training modernization, operational sustainability, and maintaining public trust. That leadership tradition remains visible today. Papillon’s current CEO, Jake Tomlin, is a nominee for the VAI Board of Directors. As leader of one of TOPS’ founding companies, Tomlin represents the continuation of an operator-led approach to safety governance that has defined the program since its inception. As the industry gathers at Verticon 2026 in Atlanta, TOPS will hold a member meeting on Monday, March 9, and will exhibit in the Safety Zone during the conference reinforcing its ongoing role in collaborative safety leadership. Three decades after its founding, TOPS stands as a reminder that some of the most durable safety advances begin with operators willing to hold themselves to higher standards.
