"We purchased them in order to increase our presence in our current markets—specifically construction, the oil and gas industry, and aerial firefighting. As former military aircraft, they will be operated by Columbia Helicopters under FAA Restricted Category regulations. As such, we won't be permitted to use them in a passenger transport role, but we should be able to deploy them to meet our other project requirements."
Source: Todd Petersen, Vice-President, Marketing, for Columbia Helicopters --- which is expanding its fleet of heavy lift, twin-rotor aircraft with the acquisition of five Boeing CH-47D helicopters, formerly operated by the US Army.