Premier Helicopter Transportation Services

Kathryn Purwin is the CEO and Owner of Helinet Aviation Services. She has been involved in the aviation community for over 30 years and has flown both private jets and helicopters professionally.

Kathryn’s late husband, Alan Purwin, co-founded West Coast Helicopters in 1987 and merged it with Helinet Aviation in 1998. Working alongside her husband, Kathryn was involved in the company’s strategic direction and growth since its early years. She stepped in to lead the company in March 2016 and remains committed to continuing its legacy of safe operations and outstanding customer service.

Kathryn is active in the Los Angeles and Van Nuys aviation community and serves on the Van Nuys Airport Association’s (VNAA) Board of Directors. She also serves on the Board of Trustees at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, an organization with which she has a long history. Helinet has transported more than 11,000 critically ill children for CHLA, and since 1999, Helinet’s CHLA pilots have been on-site, ready to launch 24/365. Helinet the costs associated with our two dedicated CHLA Sikorsky S-76s and all related expenses, including maintenance, pilot salaries, and insurance. There is no cost, ever, to the hospital or its patients.

Numerous publications have recognized Kathryn’s leadership, including the Los Angeles Business Journal, which named her a top female business owner.

Kathryn graduated with Honors from UCLA with a double major in History and Political Science. Her flight ratings and certificates include Commercial Multi-Engine, Instrument Airplane, and Rotorcraft.

Allison Rakun has been an integral part of Helinet Aviation for a decade, contributing significantly to the company’s growth and success. Allison joined Helinet in 2014, and has since held various key positions, including VP of Marketing, VP of Business Development, VP of Policy and Strategy, and EVP of Mission Support before stepping into the role of President of Helinet in 2024. Through every position, Allison has showcased her proficiency in managing and overseeing the diverse and critical aspects of the business, from finance to human resources to operations.

With a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California Lutheran University, Allison’s expertise extends beyond Helinet. Her tenure as VP of Marketing at Shotover Systems highlighted her ability to lead impactful product launch campaigns, cultivate global brand awareness, and forge strategic partnerships.

Allison’s leadership has fostered a collaborative and innovative environment while prioritizing the welfare of every Helinet team member. As President of Helinet, Allison continues to lead the company with her vision and expertise, ensuring the delivery of top-tier helicopter services across various sectors, including medical, news, charter, public safety, utility, and commercial production markets. Her unwavering commitment to excellence positions her as a driving force behind Helinet’s continued growth and innovation.

A distinguished member of the airborne law enforcement community for over 38 years, former LAPD Sergeant-Senior Supervisor Jorge Gonzalez now serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Helinet. Jorge’s responsibilities include overseeing the organization’s operational activities and spearheading new growth opportunities for the company’s Helinet Technologies division, which supports law enforcement, public safety, and government agencies with customized aviation technology solutions.

Beginning his career with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1983, Gonzalez dedicated his life to protecting and serving those in the community, earning 320 commendations and Two Life Saving Medals for bravery – the second highest medal awarded within the LAPD.

Jorge brings many unique skills to Helinet, having served in field operations, patrol, special problems units, federal gang enforcement units, aviation management, safety, leadership, and investigations. Gonzalez was a winged Los Angeles Police Department Tactical Flight Officer and Command Pilot. He holds a commercial helicopter rating and has logged over 7,000 flight hours.

Al joined Helinet Aviation as a line pilot in 2004. Between 2004 and 2008, Al flew ENG, Part 135 charter and medical flights. Al stood out for his leadership qualities, strategic thinking skills, and his commitment to the Helinet team. He was promoted to Helinet’s Operations Manager in 2008. As Operations Manager, a position that Al held through 2015, Al managed and oversaw Helinet’s dispatch office, charter sales and medical flight group and continued as a Part 135 pilot.

Al became Helinet’s Director of Operations in 2015. As DO, Al is responsible for operational control over all flight operations, ensuring compliance with FAA regulations and company policies. Al’s additional responsibilities include communicating with the FAA and working with Helinet’s Safety Manager to continually improve the company’s SMS program. In 2024, Al was promoted to Executive Vice President and holds this position along with the Director of Operations role.

Al’s flight ratings include Commercial Pilot Helicopter, Instrument Helicopter, CFI Helicopter, and CFI Instrument Helicopter.

Negin Navidi joined Helinet in January of 2023 as the Vice President of Accounting and Finance. She is responsible for processing the organization’s financial activities to maximize company profits and plan for growth. Negin is a Certified Accountant and brings over ten years of financial management and accounting leadership to the company. She has worked in a variety of sectors, including education, healthcare, biomedical, and entertainment. She also brings hands-on experience overseeing the financial management of foreign operations in corporate and start-up environments.

Dan Duffin has been with Helinet Aviation since 2018, bringing extensive experience in both aviation and mechanical work. Dan began his career in aviation as a flight instructor and then flying tours at the Grand Canyon. He later supported oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico before joining Helinet.

At Helinet, Dan began as an ENG pilot, flying for major networks like ABC, Fox, and CBS. He soon moved into flying Twin Star and A109 helicopters for charter and organ transplant flights. In 2022, he joined the CHLA pilot team and became the S76 lead pilot in 2023.

In 2024, Dan was promoted to Assistant Chief Pilot and Safety Manager before transitioning to Chief Pilot in 2025, overseeing pilot training, safety protocols, and daily operations. Outside of work, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, and their dog, Freddie.

Ty Evans is an award-winning director and cinematographer, known for directing a wide-range of iconic films and commercial work. For more than 20 years, Evans has been at the forefront of filmmaking, gaining the respect of the most elite talent from around the world. His unquestionably authentic resume highlights a range of impeccable camera skills, techniques, and visual effects, featuring groundbreaking content shot in diverse locations and environments across the globe.

Evans has crafted a distinctive visual style by merging the do-it-yourself ethos of action sports culture with the precision of Hollywood filmmaking. Evans has demonstrated his capacity to bring his creative vision to life through films like We Are Blood, Pretty Sweet, Fully Flared, Yeah Right, ‘Til Death, and iconic commercial projects for Apple, Chevrolet, Nestle, Mountain Dew, and Nike, marking them as some of the most ambitious accomplishments in the realm of filmmaking.

As Director of Aerial Production at Helinet, Ty orchestrates all aspects of the production process, from FAA compliance and crew scheduling to location scouting and billing. As head of the production team, Ty drives sales initiatives and devises marketing strategies to expand the division’s reach. Ty also manages Helinet’s in-house aerial production equipment, maintaining excellent performance and reliability and ensuring Helinet’s reputation as a premier provider of aerial cinematography services.

Josh manages Helinet’s FAA Certified 14 CFR Part 145 repair station and is responsible for the oversight, maintenance, and field support of Helinet’s fleet. Prior to his role as Director of Maintenance, Josh was Helinet’s Shop Foreman for 11 years. He has a 23-year career in helicopter maintenance with factory training and extensive experience in multiple helicopter airframes and engines.

Hilda Dubon-Barroso is a seasoned Human Resources professional with a strong foundation in business management. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from California State University, Northridge. Hilda has worked in Human Resources since 2014, specializing in Employee Relations, HR Policies & Procedures, Conflict Management, Employment & Labor Law, and Training and Development.

Hilda brings a wealth of experience from both nonprofit and technology sectors, demonstrating versatility in addressing the unique challenges of different industries. Her strategic mindset allows her to align human capital initiatives seamlessly with organizational goals. Hilda ensures that HR practices play a pivotal role in contributing to overall business success.

Hilda joined the Helinet Aviation team in 2022, bringing her expertise to enhance the company’s human resources functions. With her proactive and strategic approach, she has helped to cultivate a positive workplace culture, fostering growth and success for both employees and the organization.

Sean Moretz joined Helinet in 2022 and now serves as our Part 133 Chief Pilot, where he leads our training programs for utility and external load operations. With over 20 years of experience in the helicopter industry, Sean has built a strong background in utility, gas & oil, HAA, and IFR operations—most recently serving as an IFR captain on the Sikorsky S-76D and Bell 407GXI.

Holding an ATP, FAA Designated Pilot Examiner certification, and qualifications as a Certified Flight Instructor and Advanced Ground Instructor, Sean also holds an unrestricted type rating in the Sikorsky S-61. His deep industry knowledge and commitment to safety ensure that our Part 133 operations and training programs meet the highest standards.