[Port Arthur, Texas – June 1, 2025] – Today marks the official launch of helicopter operations with Sabine Bank Pilots and HeliService USA, starting a partnership focused on efficiency and safety in harbor pilot transfer for the U.S. maritime sector. The contract’s commencement follows months of planning, training, and preparation – culminating in a dedicated aviation program using the Leonardo AW169 aircraft.
Sabine Bank Pilots, responsible for one of the most critical and high-traffic shipping routes in the nation – the Sabine-Neches Waterway – is now supported by HeliService USA, the U.S. leader in offshore helicopter logistics and the largest AW169 operator in the country.
“This collaboration is more than a service – it’s a strategic decision in how we move pilots to vessels,” said Andrew Guidry, President of Sabine Pilots. “With helicopter support, we gain reliability, speed, and safety that complements our vessel fleet.
Helicopter Efficiency supporting the Sabine-Neches Waterway
With the two largest refineries in the country operating in the region, Sabine Pilot’s moves vital energy products daily. In total, Sabine serves four public ports and thirteen private terminals – set to grow to fourteen by 2027. Among these is the Public Port of Beaumont, the largest military load-out port in the United States, underscoring the national strategic importance of Sabine’s service territory.
“This program is designed to support all our customers,” said Andrew Guidry. “Whether it’s our public port partners, or private terminals, every terminal benefits from better timing, faster pilot access, and the added flexibility helicopters can offer in time-sensitive or weather-challenged conditions. This isn’t about replacing our pilot boat fleet as they remain essential. But we now have an added layer of responsiveness.”
To put the value into perspective: just under seven hours of cumulative time saved for example across LNG offloads in a year, is enough to offset the annual cost of the helicopter program. In other terms two additional vessels docking and unloading more efficiently due to quicker pilot transfers can make the economics work. Helicopter access isn’t just about speed—it’s about unlocking time where it matters most.
“We’ve proven in offshore wind and HEMS that helicopters offer unmatched access regardless of sea state,” said Michael Tosi, CEO of HeliService USA. “Now, we’re bringing that same reliability to the harbor pilot community. This is about enabling operations 365 days a year, without delays, without downtime.”
A scalable model for Harbor Pilot Associations nationwide
With HeliService USA responsible for maintaining, staffing, and operating the aircraft, harbor pilot associations of any size can access a flexible aviation solution that meets their needs.
Whether a port handles 500 or 5,000 vessels per year, HeliService USA offers customized, integrated aviation programs that align with existing dispatch workflows. A variety of aircraft types and pricing tiers, including shared asset models, ensures scalability for ports of all sizes.
“Not every pilot association needs to own a helicopter,” added Michael Tosi. “But many could benefit from one. What we offer is flexible, safe, and completely aligned with pilot workflow.”
Whether used as a supplement to boat transfers or as the primary mode for urgent transfers, helicopters are fast becoming an essential tool for pilot organizations. With larger vessels, tighter scheduling, and rising demands on port efficiency, aviation is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity.
A new benchmark for U.S. ports
Sabine Pilots and HeliService USA are setting a new benchmark for harbor pilot logistics, ensuring that one of America’s busiest waterways keeps pace with the future of maritime commerce.
For more information, visit www.heliservice-usa.com