Crews use helicopter to install new AC units in Trapper Gym

Bystanders on the Northwest College campus and residents of surrounding neighborhoods were treated to an unfamiliar sight Tuesday morning: a Bell UH-1 helicopter, commonly known as a “Huey,” landing in the parking lot of the Johnson Fitness Center.

The aircraft from Sky Aviation in Worland was on hand to assist with the installation of a pair of new air conditioning/heating units in the Trapper Gym.

David Plute, NWC facilities director, said the installation was the first part of a two-phase renovation project for the Johnson Fitness Center complex.

The helicopter portion of the work had been originally scheduled for Monday afternoon. But as you might expect, getting the green-light from the Federal Aviation Administration to land a Huey in a residential area turned out to be a bit of a process.

“We encountered a bit of a delay with the FAA processing what they call the ‘restricted area,’” Plute said. “You have to get a congested area plan to chopper in to basically a residential-type setting like that.”

At first glace, an industrial crane may have seemed the logical choice for installing the units. However, according to Plute, the helicopter proved to be more cost-effective.

“We would have had to bring in a big crane with a lot of stick to be able to get to that high roof and to get the reach from that parking lot,” he explained. “Bringing in a crane from Billings, with the travel time and setup, it was actually cheaper to the project to use the helicopter for the lift. The cost of the crane and the helicopter were pretty close to the same, but where the contractor saved a lot of money is that his guys would have been tied up pretty much all day [if they had used the crane].”

As it was, the helicopter was on site for less than an hour, accomplishing in that time what could have been an all-day process.

“That thing went even quicker than we thought it would,” Plute said. “The contractor is in charge of means and methods as part of our contract. We just assisted with coordinating with the FAA, making sure we had all the insurance and approvals, then coordinating with the campus and the Powell Police Department so that we were able to close off the streets and secure the area.”

The contractor for the renovation project is Jim’s Building Services in Powell; the HVAC project is subcontracted to Schrader Metal and Design in Cody, which enlisted the services of Sky Aviation.

Plute said everything went off without a hitch and, as an added bonus, people in the area were treated to something they don’t see everyday in their neighborhood. The helicopter even assisted with a little campus housekeeping.

“As a side benefit, they blew some of the leaves on the sidewalks and in the gutters away,” Plute said. “But if we ever have to do it again, I’m bringing the Visine concessions, because it got pretty dusty here standing around.”

Other work on the gym this summer involved taking out old, combustible insulation, Plute said.

“We have plans next year to re-do the gym floor, make some repairs, as well as improvements to the ceiling of the fitness center,” he said. “That and some other things will be phase two for next year.”