Authorized Robinson Dealer Since 1985
About Aerial Recon Ltd.
Canada’s Oldest and Top-Selling Robinson Helicopter Dealer — Since 1985.
Some dealerships sell Robinson helicopters. Aerial Recon helped build them.
Since 1985, Aerial Recon Ltd. has been Canada’s authorized Robinson helicopter dealer — the oldest in the country, and consistently its top seller. Over four decades, we have imported more than 180 Robinson helicopters into Canada, accumulated over 250,000 commercial flight hours on Robinson aircraft across western Canada, and maintained a working relationship with the Robinson factory that has directly influenced the design, safety, and reliability of both the R44 and the R66.
We are not a general aviation business that added a Robinson dealership to its portfolio. Helicopters — specifically Robinson helicopters — are all we do. That singular focus, combined with four decades of hands-on operational experience, is what we bring to every buyer and seller we work with.
Here is the full story.
Read More ↓Our History
Four Decades in Canadian Aviation
Aerial Recon Ltd. was founded in 1985 by Eric Gould and John Wadlow, who recognized early that Robinson Helicopter Company was building something exceptional — and that Canada needed a dedicated, experienced dealer to represent it properly.
What began as a dealership grew into one of the largest commercial helicopter operations in western Canada. Over the following two decades, the commercial operating business expanded to over 60 aircraft and 225 personnel, completing more than 250,000 hours of commercial work across western Canada — survey, utility, resource sector, and more — with Robinson aircraft as the backbone of the company.
When the commercial operating business was sold in 2005, we made a deliberate decision: keep the Robinson dealership, and focus on it completely. The commercial operating experience didn’t disappear when the business changed — it became the foundation of how we advise every buyer and seller we work with today. When we talk about operating costs, maintenance expectations, and real-world performance in Canadian conditions, we are drawing on 250,000 hours of direct operational experience. No other Robinson dealer in Canada can say the same.
Factory Partnership
Our Relationship With Robinson Helicopter Company
The relationship between Aerial Recon and Robinson Helicopter Company is not simply a dealer agreement. It is a 40-year technical and operational partnership that has shaped the aircraft thousands of Canadian pilots fly today.
When Robinson delivered its first R44s in 1993, Aerial Recon received some of the earliest serial numbers — 006, 007, 010, and 0012 among them. The modifications we developed in the field — informed by commercial operations across western Canada — were reviewed by the factory, refined, and incorporated into subsequent production aircraft.
When Robinson needed to validate R66 performance in cold weather for Canadian certification, they chose Aerial Recon. In February 2011, we completed the cold weather and winter certification testing of the R66 in Canada — work that directly contributed to Transport Canada approval of the aircraft.
Frank Robinson himself was a collaborative partner in this work — genuinely open to field-informed improvements, and in most cases he took our suggestions and made them better when applied at the production level. We continue to maintain that long-standing relationship today.
Today
What We Do Today
Today, Aerial Recon Ltd. is focused exclusively on helping Canadians buy, sell, and lease Robinson helicopters — and doing it better than anyone else in the country.
Our Approach
Experience Over Volume
Aerial Recon is not a high-volume listing service. We take on the clients and transactions we can represent properly, and we bring the same level of attention and expertise to a first-time private buyer as we do to a commercial operator managing a fleet.
Our client base is built almost entirely on referrals and repeat business. Buyers come back for their second and third helicopters. Commercial operators return when they are ready to expand or divest. That pattern — consistent repeat engagement from clients who could go anywhere — is the most honest measure of whether a dealership is actually delivering value.
We are proud of that record. And we work to earn it with every transaction.
Four Decades. One Focus. One Manufacturer.
Client Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
“Luke has become our go-to guy for my serial helicopter addiction! He’s just handled a second R44 sale for us. No fuss, no muss — the man knows his product and how to treat a customer.”
Norm Behan
“Working with Luke for the third time in purchasing helicopters has been another fantastic experience. Luke consistently delivers effective solutions, understands my needs and provides a seamless process.”
Tony C.
“I purchased my first helicopter, an R44 Raven II, from Luke and the Aerial Recon folks back in 2018. The entire experience was outstanding from start to finish — Luke was knowledgeable, patient and walked me through the whole process.”
Tony C.
“It was a pleasure to fly my new Raven II home to Canada from California. You said it would be painless — and it was. Thank you for all of your help.”
K.R. Millar
Get Started
Ready to Work With Canada’s Most Experienced Robinson Dealer?
Whether you are buying your first helicopter, selling an aircraft you’ve outgrown, or simply exploring what the Robinson lineup can offer — we are happy to start with a conversation. No pressure. Just four decades of genuine expertise, at your disposal.
✆ 403-508-1717FAQ