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| In 1948, an adventuresome young man named Carl F. Brady brought a Bell 47A helicopter to Alaska, establishing what is now the world's oldest helicopter company - a company that by 1998 would boast commercial operations in several countries, fixed-wing service, and flight seeing service for travelers.Originally from Arkansas, Brady learned to fly helicopters in Washington state. He formed a company with two partners, called Economy Pest Control and based the operation in Yakima, Wash. In 1948, as the U.S. government was preparing to map the territory of Alaska, Brady saw an opportunity for his Bell 47A.Renaming his company Economy Helicopters, Brady convinced federal surveyors that a helicopter was the ticket for mapping what later became the 49th state. By 1950, Brady's Alaska-based company had moved into the petroleum-support business as well, working on geophysical jobs. Economy Helicopters was instrumental in helping launch offshore operations in the Kenai area.
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