COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
9 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2021 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Fleet — The Company’s unfunded capital commitments as of December 31, 2021 consisted primarily of agreements to purchase helicopters and totaled $80.4 million, payable beginning in fiscal year 2022. The Company also had $1.3 million of deposits paid on options not yet exercised.
Included in these commitments are orders to purchase three AW189 heavy helicopters and five AW169 light twin helicopters. The AW189 helicopters are scheduled to be delivered in fiscal year 2023 through 2025. Delivery dates for the AW169 helicopters have yet to be determined. In addition, the Company had outstanding options to purchase up to ten additional AW189 helicopters. If these options are exercised, the helicopters would be scheduled for delivery in fiscal years 2024 through 2026. The Company may, from time to time, purchase aircraft for which it has no orders.
The Company may terminate $68.4 million of its capital commitments (inclusive of deposits paid on options not yet exercised) without further liability other than aggregate liquidated damages of approximately $1.9 million.
General Litigation and Disputes
In July 2021, the Company settled a bankruptcy preference claim related to amounts paid under a termination agreement between Old Bristow and Columbia Helicopters, Inc. The settlement was considered a gain contingency and resulted in a $9.0 million cash receipt.
The Company operates in jurisdictions internationally where it is subject to risks that include government action to obtain additional tax revenue. In a number of these jurisdictions, political unrest, the lack of well-developed legal systems and legislation that is not clear enough in its wording to determine the ultimate application, can make it difficult to determine whether legislation may impact the Company’s earnings until such time as a clear court or other ruling exists. The Company operates in jurisdictions currently where amounts may be due to governmental bodies that the Company is not currently recording liabilities for as it is unclear how broad or narrow legislation may ultimately be interpreted. The Company believes that payment of amounts in these instances is not probable at this time, but is reasonably possible.
In the normal course of business, the Company is involved in various litigation matters including, among other things, claims by third parties for alleged property damages and personal injuries. In addition, from time to time, the Company is involved in tax and other disputes with various government agencies. Management has used estimates in determining the Company’s potential exposure to these matters and has recorded reserves in its condensed consolidated financial statements related thereto as appropriate. It is possible that a change in its estimates related to these exposures could occur, but the Company does not expect such changes in estimated costs or uninsured losses, if any, would have a material effect on its business, consolidated financial position or results of operations.
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