COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
9 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2015 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Fleet. The Company’s unfunded capital commitments as of September 30, 2015 consisted primarily of agreements to purchase helicopters and totaled $174.5 million, of which $65.3 million is payable during the remainder of 2015 with the balance payable through 2017. The Company also had $1.6 million of deposits paid on options not yet exercised. The Company may terminate $107.3 million of its total commitments (inclusive of deposits paid on options not yet exercised) without further liability other than aggregate liquidated damages of $2.5 million.
Included in these commitments are orders to purchase nine AW189 heavy helicopters, three S92 heavy helicopters and five AW169 light twin helicopters. The AW189 and S92 helicopters are scheduled to be delivered in 2015 through 2017. Delivery dates for the AW169 helicopters have yet to be determined. In addition, the Company had outstanding options to purchase up to an additional ten AW189 helicopters and three S92 helicopters. If these options are exercised, the helicopters would be scheduled for delivery beginning in 2016 through 2018.
Other. In the normal course of its business, the Company becomes involved in various litigation matters including, among other things, claims by third parties for alleged property damages and personal injuries. Management uses estimates in determining the Company’s potential exposure to these matters and has recorded reserves in its financial statements related thereto where appropriate. It is possible that a change in the Company’s estimates related to such exposure could occur, but the Company does not expect such changes in estimated costs would have a material effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In April 2014, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter), a division of Airbus Group (formerly European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company), with respect to the extended suspension of operations of H225 heavy helicopters in 2012 and 2013. The settlement agreement provides for certain service and product credit discounts, including credits that will be available to the Company for a period of four years from the date of the agreement to be applied against support services available from Airbus Helicopters covering spare parts, repair and overhaul, service bulletins, technical assistance or other services. The Company expects to be able to apply such service credits over the next two to three quarters, and such credits will result in a reduction in operating expenses in the periods utilized. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company utilized credits in the amount of $1.4 million and $3.9 million, respectively.
|