"Our success is directly related to our clarity and honesty about who we are, who we're not, where we want to go, and how we're going to get there. No matter your life's purpose, do it because it's right, not because it's right for your resume."
Nick Herle is the founder and former CEO of Heli Aviation, and current CEO of flyVENTURE, Diamond Helicopters, and AeroParts.com.
Niclas Herle (who goes by "Nick") was born on January 31, 1990 in Germany. He spent his early years growing up in Baden-Baden, a city located in the Black Forest, Germany. During his teenage years, he founded Herle Radioservices GmbH in 2005, which provided communication radio packages for governmental agencies and private entities. Nick sold the company in 2011. During this time, he also participated in the German Red Cross for over 10 years, serving as a Battalion Chief for the local crisis response unit. Parallel to working in the telecommunications industry, Niclas Herle began to fly helicopters and achieved his EASA pilot licenses in 2007 at the age of 17. Herle soon realized helicopters were his passion and saw the lack of opportunities available in Europe and decided to relocate to the United States. He graduated in 2010, having majored in Business Economics.
In 2011, Nick moved to Oregon where he converted his EASA pilot licenses to FAA Commercial, Instrument and Flight Instructor Certificates. While completing his flight training, he founded Heli Aviation in 2012, a flight training and utility helicopter company, headquartered in Tampa, FL with a satellite base in Broomfield, CO. Originally, Heli Aviation provided turbine flight training with the intention of providing such at a affordable rate. At the time, his fleet consisted of one Robinson R66 Turbine helicopter, which was the only R66 helicopter utilized for commercial purposes at the time. During that time, consumer demand was strong for affordable flight training services, which provided Heli Aviation with the opportunity for growth and to direct their focus into entering the helicopter utility industry. By 2014, his fleet has expanded to consist of 7 helicopters, which provided services for forest management prescribed burning, firefighting operations, search and rescue missions, aerial surveys and powerline inspection work. In late 2014, Herle acquired Diamond Helicopters, LLC which provided an active 14 CFR 135 Certification, which opened the doors for Heli Aviation’s major shift towards providing governmental contracts and specialized utility services, more specifically external-load operations. By 2015, Herle obtained a 14 CFR 133 External-Load Certificate, prompting his management team to begin investing into developing a patented aerial saw, for vegetation clearing along powerline right-of-ways. Parallel to Herle’s shift into the external-load industry, he acquired a 14 CFR 137 Agricultural Spraying Certificate, which allowed for the inclusion of chemicals during Heli Aviation’s fire suppression programs. The expansion into the specialized utility sector, proved to be a decision which would prompt the company’s growth and launch of a satellite base in Broomfield, Colorado.
In late 2018, a significant televised helicopter crash in New York City, brought much criticism and concern towards the Part 91 Sightseeing Tours operations provided throughout the United States, more specifically the doors-off-experiences. Herle realized, these operators lacked the familiarity and equipment that was standard in the helicopter utility industry. This realization inspired his launch of a new company, flyVENTURE, LLC, which offered the general public doors-off-helicopter-experiences using the safety standards and equipment prolifically used throughout the utility industry. The formation of flyVENTURE also provided a new brand, under which Heli Aviation could transfer its tourist and non-utility services towards. This separation of the brands functions allowed Niclas Herle to still provide a multitude of helicopter services under companies that were able to maintain their specialized focuses.
To this day, Nick has a 15-year accident/incident free flying record.
In 2017, Nick Herle received the Sikorsky Humanitarian Award for the aerial search of the Canadian filmmaker Rob Stewart, as well as a Presidential Letter of Appreciation (PLOA) from President Trump for donating helicopters and crews during Hurricane Matthew in the Bahamas.
Nick is the Author of two books, including "7700: Engine Failure and OEI Techniques". The book provides detailed, and easy-to-understand overview of the fundamentals of engine failures in single-engine helicopters, and autorotation techniques, as well as OEI procedures in multi-engine helicopters.
Nick has an 13-year accident/incident free flying record and started his flying career at the age of 17. In 2011, he moved to the U.S. and started Heli Aviation. Currently, he holds an EASA Commercial Pilot Certificate, and FAA Commercial/Instrument and Flight Instructor rating and flies and provides training in Bell 206L, Bell 407, MD500, Agusta 109's, and Robinson R22/44/66's.
Naturally-occurring fires caused by lightning once played a major role in forming and maintaining much of Florida’s pine lands, sandhills, scrub areas, prairies and wetlands. Over time, many wildlife species came to depend on the nourishing vegetation that burst from fire-enriched soils. Today, the FWC in cooperation with Heli Aviation uses safely-controlled prescribed fire techniques to improve and maintain habitats for deer, quail, turkey and many other wildlife species.
“You want to do what with a helicopter?!” That was the reaction when Niclas “Nick” Herle first approached utility companies with his idea of how to clear trees and other vegetation surrounding power line and other utility right-of-ways. Herle developed and engineered a patented aerial saw. Herles’ idea was essentially to suspend an enormous saw below a helicopter. Guided by precision flying, it would be able to access areas around a power line that would otherwise be too difficult or tight to reach, and clear the surrounding vegetation. The original idea may have seemed a little bizarre at first, but the operation quickly proved a hit when it was put into practice. Today, aerial saws carried by Herle’s fleet of 7 aircraft can be seen performing their highly-skilled work right across the eastern half of the United States, for a client base that includes approximately 10 utility companies. The present saw assembly is 20 feet long, consisting of 8 blades of 24-inch diameter. The blades are attached to a square beam that houses the drive components — and it’s all powered by a gas engine located at the top of the beam, controlled directly from the cockpit.
Nick Herle is donating $25,000 through two charitable organizations sending food, supplies and helicopters to Bahamian communities recently stricken by hurricane Matthew. For his generous effort, Herle received the Presidential Letter of Appreciation (PLOA) from President Trump in 2017.
Thousands of spectators travel worldwide to enjoy powerboat racing, but its easy to forget the importance of limiting the impact to marine wildlife during such events. For over 6 years, Nick Herle has donated helicopter for aerial marine wildlife spotting during power boat race events.
Helicopters inspire children to think outside the normal confines of everyday life. Nick Herle frequently participates in community school and youth focused events, in hopes to expose and inspire our future leaders of tomorrow in pursuing the many career opportunities possible in aviation.
Aerial Video Production
Aerial Film Production
Aerial Film Production
Story Helicopter
Aerial Video Production
Aerial Photo Shoot
Aerial Video Production
Story Helicopter
Transportation Services
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