Helicopter pilot conducting preflight check
About Us

Built on the Mountain Standard.

East Tennessee Helicopters is a FAA Part 135 certified air carrier operating out of the NC foothills. Every flight is personal — because every flight is ours.

Our Story

East Tennessee Helicopters was founded with one conviction: that helicopter aviation in the Appalachian region deserved the same level of professionalism and care that you'd expect from any serious air carrier — not a hobby operation, not a weekend side project.

We're based in the foothills of North Carolina, which puts us at the geographic center of some of the most spectacular and challenging terrain in the eastern United States. That's not an accident. This is where the work is — scenic tours over the high country, utility inspections along remote ridge lines, executive transport between mountain communities that roads make inconvenient.

Every flight we operate is conducted under FAA Part 135 certification — the same standard required of commercial air carriers. That means documented maintenance, regulated crew standards, and a level of operational oversight that goes well beyond what a standard private pilot certificate requires. We hold ourselves to that standard because our passengers deserve nothing less.

NC Foothills

We operate from the NC foothills, which puts us within easy reach of the entire Appalachian corridor. Hickory Regional (HKY) is our primary airport, with operations across all nine airports in our service area.

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FAA Part 135 Certified Air Carrier

FAA Part 135 Certified

What that means for you.

Commercial Air Carrier Standards

Part 135 is the FAA certification required to operate as a commercial air carrier. It's a higher bar than a standard private operation — and it's what we hold.

Documented Maintenance

Every inspection, every repair, every airworthiness directive is tracked and documented. Our Bell 206 is maintained to commercial standards, not just minimum legal requirements.

Regulated Operations

Flight and duty time limits, weather minimums, and operational procedures are all governed by FAA regulation — not personal judgment calls.

Insured & Accountable

We carry commercial aviation insurance appropriate for a Part 135 operation. You're flying with a legitimate air carrier, not a hobbyist.

Get in Touch

Questions, quotes, or just want to talk through a mission — reach out directly.

Base

Brushy Mountains, NC

Primary airport: HKY — Hickory Regional

Send a Message

We'll get back to you personally, usually within a few hours.