Officials break ground on $13M Timberline Helicopter expansion in Sandpoint

By Zach Hagadone
Reader Staff

Just shy of three months after the Idaho Economic Advisory Council cleared the way for Timberline Helicopters’ expansion in Sandpoint, representatives from the locally based company joined City Hall officials May 21 to break ground on a new $13 million facility at the Sandpoint Airport.  

Mayor Jeremy Grimm and Timberline President Tyson Davis gathered with a number of other dignitaries, including those from Washington Trust Bank and Idagon, to ceremonially turn dirt for the facility, which will include a 42,000-square-foot structure and two 8,000-square-foot quonset storage buildings at 902 E. Mountain View Drive, just to the east of the airport runway. 

Sandpoint city officials and Timberline Helicopter representatives break ground at the site of the company’s new 42,000-square-foot facility. Courtesy photo.

Timberline will use the approximate nine-acre site to “repair, manufacture parts, assemble and disassemble helicopters,” according to planning documents filed with the city.

According to a news release from City Hall, the facility will create about 24 jobs, including 20 airframe and powerplant mechanic positions, which, as the Reader previously reported, will carry salaries that may exceed $80,000.

Timberline specializes in “heavy-lift” helicopter services, aerial firefighting and external load operations. The company operates a feet of Blackhawk and K1200 helicopters and other aircraft, supporting firefighting, infrastructure projects and other specialized aerial operations.

Calling it “a transformative investment that underscores our commitment to diversifying the local economy beyond tourism and toward high-wage, high-skill industries,” City Hall also stated, “These roles not only offer competitive wages but also stimulate additional employment opportunities in our community.”

In March, the city estimated that Timberline’s expansion would contribute to more than 20 additional indirect jobs in the region and another 12 induced jobs in the local aerospace industry.

City Hall highlighted that Daher Kodiak, which acquired Quest Aircraft in 2019, has since increased production of the Kodiak 100 and 900 aircraft in Sandpoint, and increased its production capacity in 2024. Meanwhile, Sandpoint-headquartered Tamarack Aerospace Group specializes in the “Active Winglet” technology, which improves aircraft performance and fuel efficiency.

“These companies, along with Timberline Helicopters, are fostering a robust aerospace cluster in Sandpoint, creating high-quality jobs and contributing to the city’s economic resilience,” the city stated. “The growth of industrial and commercial projects like these not only diversifies our economic base but also increases the city’s tax revenue. This expanded tax base helps to alleviate the financial burden on residential property owners, promoting a more balanced and sustainable fiscal environment.”

Timberline’s local expansion was made possible in part through the Idaho Department of Commerce via the Tax Reimbursement Incentive program, which provides performance-based tax credits to qualifying businesses.

“As we witness the continued ascent of Sandpoint’s aerospace industry, the city remains committed to supporting initiatives that drive innovation, create employment opportunities and enhance the quality of life for all residents,” Grimm stated.