PHELK Petroleum Helicopters - Non-Voting Common Stock (MM)

Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. (NASDAQ:PHEL) (NASDAQ:PHELK) (PHI) today reported net earnings of $0.4 million ($0.07 per diluted share) on operating revenues of $74.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. For the same period of 2004, the Company reported net earnings of less than $0.1 million on operating revenues of $67.0 million, which is further discussed in the Company's 10-Q for the 1st Quarter 2005. Mr. Al A. Gonsoulin, Chairman and CEO, stated; "Although we had a weak first quarter in large part due to extreme weather, we feel because of new contracts in Oil & Gas Deepwater and new programs in Air Medical that show increased flight volumes subsequent to the end of the quarter, that these increased flight hours should result in increased revenue and earnings in the second quarter." PHI provides helicopter transportation and related services to a broad range of customers including the oil and gas industry, Air Medical programs and the third-party maintenance business. PHI Common Stock is traded in The NASDAQ SmallCap Market (symbols PHEL and PHELK). -0- *T Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. released the following earnings figures for the three months ended March 31, 2005. (All figures, except per share data, are shown in thousands.) For the Quarter Ended March 31, --------------------- 2005 2004 --------- --------- Operating revenues $ 74,239 $ 66,973 Gain, net on disposition of property and equipment, net 646 673 Other 96 83 --------- --------- 74,981 67,729 --------- --------- Expenses: Direct expenses 64,036 57,285 Selling, general and administrative expenses 5,229 5,144 Interest expense 5,117 5,016 --------- --------- 74,382 67,445 --------- --------- Earnings before income taxes 599 284 Income taxes 240 231 --------- --------- Net earnings $ 359 $ 3 ========= ========= BASIC: Net earnings per share $ 0.07 $ -- ========= ========= DILUTED: Net earnings per share $ 0.07 $ -- ========= ========= *T