By Brenton G Davis 

Park a Ferrari in your driveway and people know you’ve made it! It’s one of the ultimate status symbols, a true icon of our age for the modern mogul and well-to-do. Amazing really, that the same dollars spent on most peoples’ dream car, would only just get you into the entry level of helicopters.

Even then, that great big fat cheque would not even buy you into the turbine side of the market. Roughly speaking, that two seat weapon of a Ferrari is the same dollar value as an R44, four seat piston helicopter. And an R44 is where a great deal of today’s successful business types are starting in their pursuit of new private pleasures to enhance their lifestyle.

The economy has turned they say. We’ve ridden out the massive ‘correction’ as we like to call it and avoided a technical recession. Australia is producing resources deals that seem to be propelling our great country towards another age of prosperity. And in the west, three great examples of helicopter utilization reflect the success and lateral thinking of the individuals concerned.

Australia is massive, of that there is no doubt. W.A., being our largest state, has stretches of land between towns that overseas visitors just cannot comprehend. So if you live in the west, are based in Perth but have other interests far away, and you can afford it, the helicopter becomes the obvious ultimate private transport choice. Point A to point B, straight line travel at around 250kph and being able to land anywhere in roughly the size of a tennis court, it just cannot be matched for distances under say 600km. And those facts become very appealing for busy, successful  people, where time is money and traffic hassles are a problem best avoided if possible.

Nigel Joyce emigrated to Australia from the U.K. His background in earthmoving and property development have allowed him to indulge his passions for aviation and exploring our great country. Today he owns and runs Savage Suzuki and still does property development around Perth but his great love is his R44 helicopter. Nigel completed his fixed-wing training in Perth, then went on and bought a two-seat R22 to do his helicopter license in. Moving up to the larger R44, he saw a golden opportunity and seized upon it. Looking toward his future aviating plans, he realized the Clipper option of pop-out floats and four seats would really suit his requirements. He also had no need to have the helicopter available to him full-time. So when he’s not needing his chariot of choice, it stays on cross-hire to the local training organization where he gained his license. This way, the aircraft provides a very appealing financial angle to the owner and provides a great service to students for their advanced stages of training.

A five acre property in the Perth hills allows Nigel the luxury of flying from his back door when he wants to. His aviating is purely a hobby to him and he has no plans to do anything more than private flying. But he does have plans on where he wants to go. He has given himself a five-year window to systematically fly around the whole country. Tasmania, the Kimberly, and all the miles in between have already been conquered. Rottnest Island and W.A.’s great south-west are regular destinations, with Queensland and the snow country looming large on his radar for future trips. Heli-camping is also an idea he wants to try, but for now roadhouses and resorts are the popular stops outside of traditional airport overnights, where he says he is always well received. The ability to land where he likes and explore all those magical little spots you find when you fly helicopters is of great appeal. Talking to Nigel, it is obvious that he loves his flying and he really enjoys life. He has found an excellent way to utilize helicopters to enhance his lifestyle and explore this great country.

Down at Fremantle, where the Swan River meets the ocean, a waterfront heliport left over from the America’s Cup days, houses another great helicopter story. Azure Helicopters owners have a long history of private helicopter ownership, with a genealogy that reads Bell206, AS350, a BK117, back to another 350 and soon to boast a brand new EC135. Like Nigel, these owners saw the benefits of divesting the ownership burden, but rather than cross-hiring their machine out, here it has always been a case of shared ownership in their turbine machines. Like minded business people with complimentary needs for helicopter travel have come together in a varied mix of ownership deals. Today, Azure Helicopters is part of a much larger group with mixed business interests. The owners themselves both hold private licenses and do mostly all of their own flying. For the last nine years they have employed a full-time engineer to manage their aircraft and this has evolved to the point of being appointed as an Approved Eurocopter Maintenance Facility, the only one in W.A. and the only privately owned one in Australia.

Once again, the helicopter is primarily employed to expedite transport between the owners preferred destinations. Up north to Broome and down south to Bunker Bay are the typical routes but, as you would expect with such a long helicopter involvement, there are not many places their machines have not toured. Over the years their helos have provided a multitude of roles in cross-hire scenarios for their varied business interests. This developed to such a degree that seeing opportunities ahead, the owners sought to secure their own A.O.C. In the process they sponsored their engineer through his Private Helicopter License and on to his Commercial ticket, and placed an order for a new single pilot IFR EC135. This machine is due to be coming on line as this issue hits the streets.

Azure is looking at holding on to both aircraft and exploring the charter market. With VIP configurations on both machines, quick-release pop-out floats, dedicated engineering and a unique OCTA heliport central to virtually everything in Perth, they have developed an excellent mix. They are a great example of determined owners using helicopters to enhance their private lifestyle, whilst exploiting a clever business angle.

Not far away, at the Perth Domestic Airport, an enormous elegant hangar plays home to yet another level of helicopter involvement. The owner of Griffin Helicopters has made use of his own aircraft since 1985. Back then an MD500 was seen as a fast solution to his personal transport logistical issues. Living high in the hills above Perth, the helicopter saved him a one hour drive each way to the City office. Needing to spend his time developing his core business, the owner never sought to do his own flying but has always employed professionals to provide that service. Right from the start the helicopter has always been planned to run as a charter business to offset ownership costs, in keeping with sensible business practice. And by having professionals managing the assets, growth has been assured. Today the fleet boasts three Jetrangers, three Squirrels and the recent new edition of a Bell 430. Griffin operate their aircraft in a wide variety of roles throughout the state and have gained a solid reputation in the industry.

The 430 was chosen to bring twin-engine IFR capability to the fleet. Its low operating costs, Cat A performance and spacious VIP interior were features that appealed during the selection process. The machine is the only retractable version in the country and still allows a useful 2.7 hours endurance. This allows the owner to reach his primary destinations in one hop where fuel dumps can be accessed for onwards or return travel. In a sensible move to compliment the twin-engine reliability of the 430, it is always flown with a two pilot crew, further enhancing the safety aspect of the move to a bigger aircraft. This gives Griffin the unique position of being the only two-pilot, twin-engine IFR General Charter helicopter in Perth and W.A.  

The rear of the helicopter features a luxury VIP interior with club seating for four passengers. In flight entertainment is available through the drop down DVD screens, and an automatic sliding ‘chauffeur window’ provides privacy when required. The aircraft will cruise at 130kts, with a fast cruise available of 143, all courtesy of the twin Rolls Royce C40B engines. Griffin are a great example of one man’s private aviation requirements developing into an impressive stand alone business.

Three separate cases and three very different approaches to enjoying the unique attributes of the helicopter. These versatile and impressive pieces of modern engineering have long adorned the asset lists of the world’s most wealthy people. As well as their remote and unique applications in the working world, the helicopter will continue to provide the ultimate in Private Pleasures for a few lucky owners in virtually every capital city right around the world.