Pacific Helicopters

29/07/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐇𝐋. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲, 𝐃𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝?
I started life in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and ended up working on helicopters by accident. After a couple of peacekeeping missions, I then worked as a helicopter engineer on and off for the next 20 years. Lately, I’ve been trying my hand at project management with some government work while completing a finance degree.

𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲?
Probably the tuna boat. I spent about 9 months at sea as a travelling engineer aboard a fishing vessel looking after a helicopter, which is not somewhere I thought I’d ever end up as an engineer. The Pacific Ocean is a big place that can be pretty unforgiving at times, which made for some interesting work stories. I was on a mostly Spanish speaking boat, and I quite enjoyed getting to know the guys catching the fish as well. Mount Kare in PNG was awesome too, mainly for the isolation and the type of work.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧?
If you’re keen, there’s loads of variety and opportunity and it can take you all over the world. Also, the people. It’s a pretty small industry and the same faces and names keep popping up. The industry has allowed me some unique experiences shared with some great people over the years.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲?
The integrity required to make difficult decisions. Pilots and engineers constantly weigh up risk and balance the need to get jobs done while keeping people safe. When you find yourself working in a strong culture like that, it breeds a supportive environment and makes it easier to navigate those tough calls. I think that’s why I like both the people and industry.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐇𝐋?
A sense of excitement about where they are headed . PHL has a strong culture formed through some fairly turbulent COVID years, and what we’re trying to do out of that is quite unique in PNG.

Pacific Helicopters is the leading provider of helicopter services for Oil, Gas, Mining, Construction and Telecommunications Companies in the Asia Pacific region.

20/07/2026

What does the future hold for helicopter operations across Australasia and the South Pacific? RotorHub International has published a fascinating feature by Emma Kelly on the growth and evolution of helicopter fleets across the region, with perspectives from OEMs, lessors and operators, including Pacific Helicopters' Overseas Non-Executive Director - Aviation Operations, Cameron Craig.

Read the full article below, including a spotlight on Pacific Helicopters’ growth opportunities.

24/06/2026

The Asia-Pacific region is home to some of the world’s most complex aviation environments. From rugged mountain ranges to remote island destinations and offshore operations, safe and efficient flying relies on experience, adaptability and a deep understanding of local conditions.

Pacific Helicopters has built that experience one flight at a time over five decades. We’re excited for the opportunities ahead to continue to connect people, communities and industries across the Pacific region. Thanks to Matt Hoffmann at MKH Visual Aspect Productions for the great video.

03/06/2026

Pacific Helicopters was proud to contribute to the inaugural Vertical Aviation International Southeast Asia Aviation Safety Conference in Bali.

Our Quality & Safety Manager, Stephen Kamp, presented on the evolution of Pacific Helicopters’ Quality & Safety systems from reactive approach to proactive, alongside fellow safety expert Bob Muse.

It was great to connect and collaborate with industry peers closer to home in APAC. We often travel much further afield for events like this, so the opportunity to exchange ideas and share lessons learned on such a critical issue within our region was especially valuable.

Safety is a continuous journey and forums like this play an important role in helping the industry learn from one another and keep raising standards.

Pictured left to right in the first photo is Pacific Helicopters' Deputy Chief Pilot Clinton van der Spuy, Russell Allen of Russell Allen & Partners PTE LTD and Stephen Kamp. In the second photo, Stephen is presenting.

25/05/2026

We love these photos of young Papua New Guineans watching our aircraft land in their village. The images were captured during work supporting the United States Defense POW / MIA Accounting Agency, which investigates and recovers service personnel lost during conflict – a mission we have proudly contributed to for nearly 30 years.

Aviation has a special way of inspiring people to imagine careers they may never have considered before, and it’s often moments like these where that spark begins. Thank you to Austin Boucher from the POW/MIA agency for sharing these photos and his kind words about our team:

“During investigations we rely heavily on eyewitness accounts, stories, historical documents and past accounting efforts in the areas we’re investigating. Pacific Helicopters' professionalism supports our efforts to build strong relations with local people, ultimately aiding in our investigation efforts.”

We are incredibly proud to continue contributing to a mission carrying such historical and human significance, and working in an industry that creates meaningful impact in communities across Papua New Guinea.

08/05/2026

We’re pleased to welcome three new faces to our Quality and Safety team: Jagannath Baskaradoss as our new Deputy Quality and Safety Manager and Lorraine Loga and Carolyn Drapok as Assistant Quality and Safety Managers.

They each bring deep experience and a fresh perspective to a function that sits at the core of everything we do, and we look forward to the impact they will have.

Vertical Plus

Read more:

The company has served the oil-and-gas, mining, telecommunications and construction sectors across the Asia Pacific region since 1975.

27/04/2026

On World Pilot Day 2026, we get inside the cockpit with Chris Green to hear how life is as Pacific Helicopters’ chief pilot flying in Papua New Guinea. Chris first joined the team in 2004 and then spent four years with Southern Lakes Helicopters in his home country of New Zealand before returning in 2013, having stayed connected in the years between by supporting us on a few trips each year.

Chris has flown in Borneo, Canada and Antarctica and logged more than 15,000 flights hours. He was just 12 years old when he took his first test flight, and while the details are a bit hazy, it was enough to set him on course for a lifelong career.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠? When I was young. there were always helicopters working around my home on the West Coast of New Zealand, either on the glaciers with tourists or conducting venison recovery around the farm. I enjoyed operating machinery, and helicopters seemed like the ultimate machine.

𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. I can’t remember! I had my first trial flight when I was 12 in a R22 (a Robinson R22), and it was enough to set the hook to fly.

𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭? Seismic operations in Papua New Guinea have always been a highlight. Good crews, good flying, good times.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐥𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲? The old Lama (Aerospatiale SA315B) was a privilege to fly, but my old sock is definitely the AS350, especially our new Airbus H125’s. The way they’re configured, being brand new and how they fly, is just so nice to operate.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭? Willingness to adapt and think ahead; not only while flying, but operationally. So, being organised for a mission by thinking: where is there fuel? What else do I need to have with me? How else could this job be done, better or more efficiently? Someone who thinks for themselves will contribute to better outcomes overall for a company and its clients.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬? Arm yourself with extra capabilities to stand out. For example, achieving your IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) rating or working towards it. Willingness to get involved with everything - like keeping your helicopter and gear cleaned. You need to set yourself apart from others, and attitude goes a long way in doing that.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜? The people, especially the ones who have helped get Pacific Helicopters to get to where it is today. There’s a real sense of pride in the team and wanting to make things better, stronger and safer.

16/04/2026

Our CEO Eddie Matane recently had the honour of breaking bread in Goroka with two remarkable figures in aviation, Sir Bob Bates and Barry Payne.

Originally from New Zealand, both share a deep and long-standing connection to Papua New Guinea. Sir Bob arrived as a young engineer and played a key role in building infrastructure that opened up remote regions of the country, laying the foundations for PNG’s tourism sector, before going on to become one of the country’s most experienced pilots.

Barry, who once flew for Pacific Helicopters, has captured Sir Bob’s extraordinary life and their shared adventures in his new book, ‘Wings Over Wild’, launched last month in Mt Hagen by Prime Minister James Marape. The biography chronicles Sir Bob’s pioneering work connecting communities across PNG and his legacy in aviation. A special moment reflecting on the people and stories that have shaped aviation in PNG.

07/04/2026

The remote and rugged terrain of Papua New Guinea demands an engineering team as finely tuned as our aircraft to keep our operations running smoothly and clients’ projects moving.

For more than 50 years, we have proudly supported the oil and gas, mining, construction and telecommunications sectors from our bases in Goroka and Port Moresby, flying over jungle, oceans and waterfalls to name but a few of nature’s many challenges that define our operating environment.

25/03/2026

A few glimpses of our team at work captured by the talented MKH VisualAspect - Darwin Photographer & Videographer Productions.