Helicopter operator Erickson Inc. has put its flying fleet into bankruptcy, blaming oil and gas companies that cut back on drilling operations during a slump in energy prices. Lawyers who put the Portland, Ore., company into bankruptcy on Tuesday said that profitability has declined since 2013 and that it couldn’t overcome “sustained economic distress” in the oil-and-gas industry, where it provides lift services for production rig equipment. Erickson officials said they plan to negotiate with lenders behind some of its roughly $561 million in debt. The 700-worker company also struggled with the slower pace of U.S. military activity in Afghanistan, cutting the need for moving troops, delivering cargo to ships, airdropping supplies and rescuing personnel. Its defense revenues fell about 32% throughout last year to $105.2 million, said Chief Restructuring Officer David W. Lancelot in documents filed in […]