-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FBuvs/nutfg24DRTF8g/AVsJV/20hO3twsAU5BkUH9ZbJ7epn86JWzzYBDhdRuvW
 yOpbLZCGn3ohG/6VIEnouw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001185212-08-000002.txt : 20081124
<SEC-HEADER>0001185212-08-000002.hdr.sgml : 20081124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081124111547
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001185212-08-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081121
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SORENSON W PETER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185212

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09827
		FILM NUMBER:		081209467

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		114 PECK BLVD.
		CITY:			LAFAYETTE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70508

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHI INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000350403
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AIR TRANSPORTATION, NONSCHEDULED [4522]
		IRS NUMBER:				720395707
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			LA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2001 SE EVANGELINE THRUWAY
		STREET 2:		-
		CITY:			LAFAYETTE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70508
		BUSINESS PHONE:		-

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 90808
		CITY:			LAFAYETTE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70509

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000350403</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHI INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PHIIK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185212</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SORENSON W PETER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2001 SE EVANGELINE THRUWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAFAYETTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>70508</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>DIRECTOR, MARKETING &amp; PLANNING</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NON-VOTING COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>506</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.14</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>506</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>W. PETER SORENSON</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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