Helicopter Air Transport
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation, Helicopter services |
| Founded | 1945 in New Jersey, United States |
| Founder | Jonathan (John) Wilford, Norman Wallace George Edgar |
| Defunct | 1947 |
| Fate | Declared bankruptcy; assets reclaimed by manufacturers |
| Headquarters | Camden, New Jersey , United States |
Key people | Jonathan (John) Wilford (President), Norman Wallace George Edgar (Executive Vice President), Peter Wright (Sales Manager), Frank T Cashman (Chief Pilot) |
| Products | Commercial helicopter services, training academy, aerial surveys, charters, mail transport, inspections, photography, police support, cattle herding assistance, oil exploration support |
Helicopter Air Transport Incorporated (HAT), founded in New Jersey, United States, holds the distinction of being the first commercial helicopter operator worldwide, capitalizing on advancements in helicopter technology following World War II.
Origins
Established in 1945 by business pioneers Jonathan (John) Wilford and Norman Wallace George Edgar, HAT set out to lead the development of commercial helicopter services. Edgar, a British entrepreneur and former army captain from World War I, had earlier established Western Airways Ltd, which was once the busiest airline globally before World War II. After contributing to the Air Transport Auxiliary during the conflict and recruiting American women pilots, Edgar chose to remain in the United States to initiate the inaugural commercial helicopter company.
Wilford assumed the role of president while Edgar took on executive vice president responsibilities. The firm operated out of Camden Central Airport in New Jersey, previously known as Crescent Airport.
Among the key management were Peter Wright as sales manager, who brought experience from piloting Curtiss P-40 fighters with the Flying Tigers and flying boats for American Export Airlines. Chief pilot duties were fulfilled by Frank T Cashman, a former helicopter instructor with the United States Army Air Force. The pilot team also included ex-military test aviators such as Lou Leavitt, recognized for his work testing the Platt-LePage XR-1 and autogyros manufactured by Kellett Autogiro Corporation and Pitcairn Aircraft Company.
This combination of skilled leadership and seasoned pilots provided HAT with a strategic edge during the early phase of commercial helicopter aviation.
Operations
HAT’s initial aircraft inventory featured three Sikorsky S-51 helicopters, each seating four passengers, delivered in August 1946—marking the first commercial delivery of helicopters. These machines supported early operational activities including aerial surveys, executive and passenger charters, as well as U.S. mail transport.
In the fall of 1946, HAT inaugurated a training academy at Camden Central dedicated to helicopter pilots and mechanics under Frank Cashman’s direction. Distinct from manufacturer-operated training intended primarily for owners, HAT’s institution gained recognition from both manufacturers and the CAA, attracting participants even from France’s air ministry.
Between late 1946 and early 1947, HAT expanded its fleet by adding three two-seat Bell 47B helicopters along with additional Bell 47 models acquired through leasing. The company broadened its service portfolio to include charter flights, parcel delivery, mail routes, pipeline and powerline inspections, aerial photography missions, police operations support, cattle herding assistance, and notably oil exploration tasks for Standard Oil using a float-equipped Bell 47B operating in Louisiana’s marshlands. The company also showcased rescue missions and trialed crop protection methods utilizing helicopter rotor downwash.
In spring 1947, HAT procured a twin-rotor XR-1A helicopter for refurbishment with intentions to employ it as a crop duster and utility aircraft; however, records suggest it never entered active service.
Fleet
| Aircraft | Quantity | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Bell 47B | 3 | NC7H, NC15H, NC21H plus additional leased Bell units. |
| Platt-LePage XR-1A | 1 | NX6950 formerly 42-6581 |
| Sikorsky S-51 | 3 | NC13301, NC92803 (later US Coast Guard 233; currently exhibited at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum), NC92804 |
| Total | 7 |
The Bell and Platt-LePage helicopters were finished in red paint schemes; Sikorsky models displayed blue and silver colors consistent with manufacturer designs.
Decline
On September 21, 1947, an S-51 (NC92804) was lost during a training flight; fortunately, both the instructor and trainee pilot Jean Boulet escaped injury. Although founder Norman Edgar remained optimistic about the prospects of commercial helicopter services, the enterprise struggled financially and experienced continual losses. By October 21, 1947, HAT had declared bankruptcy, leading Bell and Sikorsky to reclaim their helicopters. Subsequently, on April 2, 1948, an auction resulted in the XR-1A being acquired by Frank Piasecki, a former engineer at Platt-LePage and the founder of Piasecki Helicopter. This airframe was then adapted for use in Piasecki’s PA-2B Ringwing tiltrotor project.
Peter Wright went on to establish Keystone Helicopters and contributed to founding the American Helicopter Museum. Norman Edgar died in Nova Scotia in 1983.