Helicopter Aviation Expertise Built From the Cockpit Up.

The Mission Behind ARC

ARC Aviation Resource Consulting was built from decades of real-world helicopter operations across military special operations, utility powerline construction, aerial firefighting, and Department of Defense aviation support. This is not consulting built from a classroom or a curriculum.

It is built from thousands of hours in demanding environments where precision is everything and mistakes are not recoverable.

ARC exists for one reason — to close the gap between legal currency and operational readiness, and to raise the standard of preparation across every helicopter industry sector.

Pax aut Bellum (Peace or War)

ARC Founder David Tappe

DAVID TAPPE

Founder — Aviation Resource Consulting

I'm David Tappe — a helicopter pilot and aviation consultant with 39 years of hands-on experience and 11,500+ flight hours, including over 10,000 as Pilot-in-Command across the Airbus H225/EC-225, CH-47D Chinook, AS-332 Super Puma, MD-500 series, and many others. My career has taken me through combat zones, wildfire battles, and precision utility missions — always with a focus on safety, leadership, and getting the mission done right. In August 2024 I founded Aviation Resource Consulting LLC to bring that experience directly to operators, teams, and organizations who need more than just a consultant — they need someone who has actually been there.

Military Roots and Tactical Special Operations

My aviation career began in 1986 as a U.S. Army Warrant Officer (CW3), serving with the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment — the Night Stalkers. Flying the MH-6 Little Bird and UH-1H Huey, I accumulated 2,000 hours in military operations, earning a Bronze Star, Air Medals, and an Honorable Discharge for missions demanding precision in non-permissive environments.

Later as Assistant Site Lead at Forward Operating Base Shank in Afghanistan with Presidential Airways, I managed eight aircraft and 80 personnel while serving as Pilot-in-Command on the SA-330J Puma — coordinating Department of Defense transport of military personnel under austere conditions with rapid adaptability to degraded environments and compressed timelines.

In 2023 and 2024 with Air Center Helicopters, I flew the EC-225 during the ISR-integrated evacuation of U.S. citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti — a high-stakes operation requiring non-GPS-reliant navigation and discretion in urban chaos. These experiences built my foundation in tactical special operations planning, ISR integration, and secure payload movement — expertise I now bring directly to civil and defense aviation consulting through ARC.

Night Vision Goggle (NVG) Operations

Night operations have been a cornerstone of my career — hundreds of night flight hours under NVG systems including ANVIS 6/9, White Phosphorus, and NL-93. Qualified and current in NVG, I have flown diverse scenarios from low-level tactical special operations and combat insertions during my Army tenure to NASA/SpaceX recovery missions, Department of Defense training operations, and State Department evacuations.

In 2023 as an Instructor Pilot for NATO forces in Croatia with Lukos LLC, I trained teams on NVG tactics using the AS-532AL Cougar — bringing real operational experience into structured instruction for military aviation professionals.

Through ARC I offer specialized consulting on NVG program development, training curriculum design, and operational integration to ensure safe and effective nighttime missions across military, government, and commercial helicopter operations.

Leadership in Crew and Team Management

Leadership in aviation is not just about flying — it is about building and guiding teams to succeed in high pressure environments where the margin for error is thin. As Director of Training and Standards at Construction Helicopters from 2014 to 2015, I oversaw heavy-lift operations curricula and mentored pilots on Crew Resource Management — certified through Oregon Aero.

As Training Captain and Instructor Pilot across multiple airframes and environments, I have led crews through live combat assaults as flight leader, multi-agency wildfire responses, and multi-million dollar utility projects. With Lukos LLC I instructed Slovenian military pilots on special operations tactics emphasizing mission planning, teamwork, and decision-making under pressure.

My time as Assistant Site Lead in Afghanistan further solidified my ability to manage large teams under austere conditions. Through ARC I provide consulting on crew leadership, CRM implementation, and operational efficiency — helping aviation organizations build cohesive teams that deliver results safely and effectively across every mission environment.

Aerial Firefighting and Fire Suppression Operations

Aerial firefighting has been a vital and demanding part of my career where precision meets urgency at every turn. Carded by the U.S. Forest Service for long-line and tanked aircraft operations under Part 133 and Part 137, I have logged thousands of hours battling wildfires across rugged terrain and adverse weather conditions.

From 2016 to 2019 with Billings Flying Service I served as Captain on the CH-47D Chinook — coordinating directly with incident commanders for retardant and water drops in mountainous terrain with over 4,236 mountain hours total. Earlier roles with Erickson Air-Crane in 2012 and Construction Helicopters from 2013 to 2016 involved heli-tanker operations and precision drops during peak fire seasons — always requiring flawless execution at high-density altitudes with safety as the absolute priority.

Through ARC I consult on aerial firefighting strategy, aircraft selection, crew training, and operational planning to equip helicopter teams for the full demands of wildland fire suppression operations.

Electrical Powerline Construction and Helicopter Construction Operations

Utility and powerline construction represents some of the most technically demanding helicopter aviation work in the industry — and it has been a specialty of mine for over 5,000 powerline hours. Carded under Part 133 for Class A/B/C/D operations including vertical reference and long-line, I have specialized in Human External Cargo, wire stringing, live-line maintenance, and transmission patrols across high-voltage confined environments.

Pilot and leadership roles with multiple aviation utility companies involved precision work on MD-500 series helicopters in some of the most demanding low-level environments in the industry. In helicopter construction I have led heavy-lift projects with Construction Helicopters flying the AS-332 Super Puma and CH-47D Chinook for major infrastructure builds — with 4,342 vertical reference hours ensuring the accuracy these operations demand.

Through ARC I offer expert consulting on powerline project planning, risk assessment, external load operations, and safe execution — helping utility operators and construction contractors navigate the full complexity of aerial utility and helicopter construction operations.

From Pilot to Consultant

After a career spanning EMS flights with Metro Aviation and Rocky Mountain Helicopters, offshore operations with Tex-Air, and electronic news gathering with Helicopter Services — I have seen helicopter aviation from every angle and every environment imaginable.

Holding an ATP Rotorcraft-Helicopter certificate with type ratings in the H225/EC-225, SK-61, AS-332, and CH-47D, and maintaining a current FAA Medical, I am as committed to excellence today as I was when I first took flight in 1986. Educated in English Writing at Carroll College, I bring clear and precise communication to every consulting engagement — because in this industry clarity saves lives. Outside the cockpit I enjoy classic car restoration, landscaping, and woodworking — passions that keep me grounded and remind me that craftsmanship matters in everything worth doing.

At Aviation Resource Consulting LLC I leverage 39 years and 11,500+ flight hours of real-world experience to deliver tailored solutions for helicopter aviation challenges with one overarching goal — to save lives and prevent loss. Whether enhancing NVG or tactical programs, optimizing powerline operations, or building resilient aerial firefighting teams — ARC is dedicated to advancing helicopter aviation safety one mission at a time.

Real Operations. Real Experience. Real Environments.

Every image tells a story built from 39 years of helicopter operations across utility, construction, aerial firefighting, military special operations, and international aviation missions. This is the experience behind every ARC consulting engagement.

From utility powerline operations to Department of Defense aviation support —

ARC delivers real-world expertise for every mission environment.

Serving Helicopter Operators Across the United States and Globally

ARC supports utility helicopter operators, powerline and energy companies, aerial construction contractors, government and military aviation programs, and pilots operating in high-risk environments worldwide. Every consulting engagement and training program is built from 39 years of real-world helicopter experience — aligned with FAA regulations, NTSB safety guidance, and industry standards established by IHST, VAST, and NWCG. Precision. Safety. Disciplined execution. Every mission. Every environment.

Why Operators and Organizations Choose ARC

Experience That Cannot Be Taught

39 years and 11,500+ flight hours across military special operations, utility powerline construction, aerial firefighting, NVG operations, and Department of Defense aviation. ARC brings knowledge that only comes from actually doing the work.

Credentials That Back Every Engagement

ATP Rotorcraft-Helicopter certified. U.S. Forest Service carded. Part 133 Class A/B/C/D. Current FAA Medical. Type ratings in the H225, CH-47D, AS-332, and SK-61. SDVOSB. Every credential earned in the field.

A Mission That Never Changes

Safe effective helicopter operations in environments where mistakes are not recoverable. That is what ARC was built for and it is the standard behind every service we deliver.