Columbia Helicopters, Incorporated (CHI) is an aircraft manufacturing and operator company based in Aurora, Oregon, United States.

These helicopters are used in stream restoration and forestry, including heli-logging, aerial firefighting, oil exploration, construction, government support, film production, disaster response, and many other activities.

In addition, the company operates a large FAA repair station supporting customers worldwide.

With help from his brothers, he supported his young company with many odd jobs, such as carrying Santa Claus to trapeze acts.

Lematta gained great notoriety on September 15, 1957, by rescuing 15 sailors from a sinking dredge near Coos Bay, Oregon.

One of these large jobs was working on the John Day Dam on his company's namesake, the Columbia River.

The concept was that the pilot could lean out the side of the aircraft and see directly where the load would be placed rather than relying on visual instructions from the ground crew or a mirror.