Recent Helicopter Sightings

There has been some notable helicopter sightings at Ardmore in recent days, a nice change from what has been a prolonged quiet period.

Still awaiting its first flight from NZ soil, Heli Harvest's Super Puma ZK-HHL was outside the Eurocopter facility at Ardmore 04 February. 

BO105 ZK-HAX was out flying from Oceania 05 February.  

Hughes 500FF ZK-HIP caught departing its base on 04 February, making the most of reasonably calm conditions to conduct spray operations. 

Hughes 500FF ZK-HQK is yet to be put on the Kiwi register and is ex N471SD. 

Robinson R44 ZK-HQV is seen here alighting from the Helisika base at Ardmore 05 February, a long way from its Ashburton home. 

And Agusta A139 ZK-IHJ was captured as it taxied for an IFR departure at Christchurch 05 February as it made its way from New Plymouth to Dunedin via fuel stops at Wellington and the Garden City.  The helicopter is being operated by Helicopters NZ in support of oil exploration and alongside A139 ZK-IHK have been deployed from the company's Taranaki base.  The oil exploration operation is in the process of moving location to abeam Otago.