The Sky's the Limit

Helicopters have become a familiar sight in a metropolis like Los Angeles. They carry private passengers, transport ill or injured people for lifesaving treatment, and act as an “eye in the sky” for live breaking news coverage. Each flight carries a story, a powerful narrative about the people they serve and the ripple effect they create.

At the center of Southern California’s bustling helicopter services industry is Helinet, a Van Nuys-based company with a 38-year legacy. Co-founded by the late Alan Purwin and led today by his wife, Kathryn, Helinet is one of the most successful companies in the field.

The company caters to a diverse array of customer needs, from entertainment and private charters to drone technology and emergency medical services. Visionary leadership and a commitment to innovation have propelled Helinet to the forefront of the industry. Their dedication to maintaining family business roots and decades of service to the community helps keep its clients close. Helinet’s rise to the top is not only a testament to its fleet of helicopters but also to its heart.

Exploring new horizons in leadership

Innovation has been an integral part of Helinet’s culture from the beginning. When pilot Alan Purwin launched Helinet (then called West Coast  Helicopters) in 1987, he had a clear goal. While many competitors offered a narrow selection of services, he saw an opportunity to create a more diverse business model. The intention was to build a comprehensive portfolio that would establish the company as a “one-stop shop” for the region’s private aviation market. Helinet quickly garnered a reputation as a premier provider of personal and corporate charter services and expanded its reach through partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, film studios, healthcare organizations, utility companies, and others.

Following Alan’s death in 2015, Kathryn, a skilled pilot herself, took the helm. Her input had long influenced Helinet’s strategic direction. As CEO, she became a driving force for safety, service, growth, and dynamic leadership.

In 2024, Allison Rakun was appointed president after a decade in key positions within the company. It’s rare to find two women running an aviation company, but under their leadership, Helinet is thriving, demonstrating that female leadership can succeed in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

“Kathryn’s been a great leader. It was amazing to see her step in,” Rakun says. “She rolled up her sleeves, got to work, and made sure she had the right people in place to really see the company succeed. We’ve been very thoughtful about the team that we hire. Everybody on our leadership team brings unique skill sets, and that helps us stay at the forefront of the industry.”

That leadership team is continually exploring ways to boost the company’s offerings to keep pace with the evolving needs of its customers. For example, Helinet recently installed satellite internet tech that enabled its helicopter-mounted cameras to broadcast live, a significant advantage to production clients. Directors and filmmakers can now view feeds in real-time from the ground during a shoot instead of from the helicopter. Helinet also conducts regular reviews, site visits, product demos, and collects feedback to maintain a strong connection with customers and ensure ongoing innovation.

“It’s always about how we can enhance the customer’s experience, how we can take it to the next level and make sure that their experience is what they’re looking for,” Rakun says. “A lot of our customers have worked with us for decades. We want to make sure we’re continuing to meet their needs.”

A company dedicated to making a difference

One of Helinet’s longest and most impactful partnerships is with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Helinet pilots are available around the clock to transport pediatric patients across the city, state, or country to receive specialized care. When Helinet receives a call from the hospital requesting transport, the pilot is provided with the location, then immediately springs into action, checking the weather to ensure it meets flight minimums, reviewing aircraft performance, weight and balance calculations, and completing a flight risk assessment.

“It’s a very special mission that’s close to our hearts—one that many of our employees rally around, even if they’re not directly involved,” says Rakun.

“Generally, we don’t know a lot of the stories due to medical privacy laws and the fact that pilots must remain focused on the safety of the mission. But a couple months ago, we had one of the leaders at Children’s Hospital reach out,” she continues. “They shared about 20 social media posts or comments featuring our helicopter, many of which included stories from parents. One wrote, ‘You helped save my kid five years ago.’ Another said, ‘I’ll never forget the flight we took with your team.’ Many specifically mentioned the pilot by name. That was incredibly meaningful for us to see.”

The program was founded by Alan Purwin in  Helinet’s early days and was named in his honor. To date, the Alan Purwin Emergency Transport Program has helped more than 11,000 critically ill or injured children. True to its core value of serving others, Helinet operates the program at no cost to the hospital or the patients’ families.

Helinet also plays an important role in the broader healthcare ecosystem. Its helicopters transport doctors to perform organ procurement and ensure that the donated organs are quickly and safely delivered to patients.

“We were fortunate enough to be able to meet a young boy who came in with his family not too long ago, and we had the privilege of transporting his new heart,” Rakun shares. “It was incredible to meet him. He’s still facing medical challenges, but he’s got the best spirit, and his family does, too. We even had the opportunity to take him on a helicopter flight just for fun. It was a special moment; we don’t often get to see the people behind our work and see firsthand the impact it has on their lives.”

Balancing risk and innovation in helicopter aviation

Safety is paramount for Helinet. The company’s maintenance team inspects its fleet of state-of the-art Sikorsky S76, Leonardo A109, and Airbus AS350 helicopters at the start of each day. Once the pilot arrives, they perform a thorough preflight inspection, which includes checking fluid levels, the rotor system, landing gear condition, and all major components, wiring, and connections. The pilot also reviews the weather and completes a flight risk assessment prior to departure.

Additional precautions are taken if a mission involves a landing that is not at an airport or established helipad. The crew must evaluate the location—especially if it hasn’t been used previously—identify obstacles or wires that could potentially hinder the landing, confirm a safe approach from the correct direction, and ensure the ground is suitable for helicopter operations.

Comprehensive insurance coverage serves as a safety net, protecting both Helinet’s people and equipment, and opening the door to additional safety support tools. Helinet partnered with Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) and parent company, Marsh, to develop a robust program that addresses every possible contingency.

MMA also negotiates with various carriers to help Helinet gain credits, which in turn enables the company to access invaluable safety resources to support its missions. Helinet’s MMA representatives also understand that its critical missions operate 24/7, so they’re able to accommodate the occasional weekend or after-hours request.

“MMA and Marsh have been outstanding partners for us,” says Rakun. “I know I can count on MMA to deliver what we need.”

TJ Johnson, MMA client executive, notes that insuring a business like Helinet means “always expecting the unexpected.” Marsh, which has extensive expertise insuring aviation fleets, and MMA leveraged their experience and resources to provide the best possible solutions for a business with both common needs—such as workers’ compensation, employment practices coverage, and cybersecurity—and more specialized coverage considerations. For instance, they may need coverage for a stunt landing for a movie production or a critical organ transplant flight.

“Helinet is an incredible client to work alongside and partner with. They’re an awesome group of people, and they’re doing amazing things. Their most prized operation is with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, but they have a fleet of helicopters that do everything from aerial cinematography and stunt work to critical news coverage for breaking events, such as the recent L.A. wildfires, to VIP charters that transport clients to premier events and experiences, like Coachella or the L.A. Super Bowl. But there are only so many carriers that would have an appetite for the unique risks involved with Helinet’s operations,” Johnson says.

“One of the key reasons they partnered with us is because we have aviation expertise and a local presence in L.A.,” he continues. “We have a phenomenal team on the aviation side with strong relationships with underwriters. By sharing their story and highlighting their culture of safety, we’re able to bring the right insurance carriers to the table.”

As Helinet’s broker, MMA acts as both an advocate and trusted advisor, ensuring compliance with contracts and certificates that empower the company to effectively engage with a diverse range of clients.

Strategic planning fuels future growth

A comprehensive insurance policy is also a must-have as Helinet looks to the future of aviation. Kathryn Purwin is known for her passion for investing in new technology, and the company recently began exploring the possibility of integrating electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology into its operations. Emerging eVTOL aircraft are being considered for many uses, including passenger and cargo transport, emergency medical services, and military applications.

“It’s still early on in the development of these aircraft, but we’ve been meeting with manufacturers, traveling across the country to see what’s out there and what might be a good fit in the future for our customers,” Rakun says. “These aircraft are going to be better for the environment and much quieter.”

Helinet is focused on growth and intends to explore the significant potential across all the business lines it operates in, says Rakun. Each segment offers opportunities for expansion, particularly in the medical sector, which has seen substantial growth in recent years through partnerships with hospitals. 

Helinet’s strategic vision also prioritizes advancing unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) technology and includes expanding capabilities surrounding Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), a continually evolving laser-imaging technology used for utility mapping that creates highly accurate three-dimensional models. LiDAR can be especially beneficial for determining flood risks and emergency response.

Above all, Helinet is committed to continuing its legacy of safe operations and outstanding customer service, and MMA will be there to support Helinet as it charges into the future. 

“It’s an exciting time in aviation,” says Rakun. “As we focus on growth, we aim to advance our technology, enhance the services we provide, and deliver the best possible products while maintaining a customer-centric approach and staying true to our company’s values.”

“Our goal is to grow in a methodical, thoughtful way with the right safety protocols in place and a team that’s well-trained to take on new opportunities,” she adds. “We are exploring new missions that stretch beyond our traditional scope, but we will carefully approach these options in a way that sets us up to succeed.”