Wellington sightings today 24-05-2026

 Allister Jenks was on site at Wellington Airport today and offers these photographs of some of the activity from the Western side.

The Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter ZK-HES4 arrived in from New Plymouth with a patient transfer - then departed back to its home base

This MBB MBB-BK117 B2 / 850D2 with the c/n 7205 was initially registered in Germany as D-HIMV in 1992 and operated in the EMS role. It moved up to Norway and became LN-OSY2 before returning to Germany in 2008 as D-HBAY4 with ADAC. It was converted to an 850D2 model and joined the New Zealand register as ZK-HES4 with Airwork (NZ) Ltd on 18-09-2017. 

It has served in the EMS role at several locations since then under the Search And Rescue Services title since October of 2019 - and is currently the Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter based at New Plymouth.

Its HES registration letters are cunningly hidden behind the winching gear.

The classic Cessna 172 ZK-BVP c/n 36582 harks back to March of 1958 when it was listed by Rural Aviation Ltd at New Plymouth. After a multitude of owners it was taken up by Avskills in 2011 and passed to Nicola Marchant of Amberley in April of 2014. It dropped into Wellington from the family property in the northern Marlborough Sounds.

Grumman American AA-1B Trainer ZK-DKX c/n AA1B-0198 was one of a batch of GA aircraft imported by NZ Aerospace Industries at Hamiton in the '70's. It has lived in the Takaka - Nelson region since 1980 - currently listed to Gallett Properties Ltd of Nelson. 

It popped into Wellington on its way to Paraparaumu today.

A recent addition to the EMS fleet in NZ is this MBB BK117D-2 ZK-IGB2 c/n 20247. 

Built as D-HADY9 for delivery to REGA in Switzerland as HB-ZQM in February of 2019.

It was listed to GCH Aviation Ltd at Christchurch as ZK-IGB2 on 14-11-2025 and first flew at Christchurch as such on 10-03-2026.

On a quick flight from Christchurch to Wellington and back to Christchurch today.

HELiPRO in receivership

  Check out this news release.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10592384/Helipro-put-into-receivership

 

 

A quick look at the HELiPRO listing shows a fleet of 24 aircraft:-

 Cessna 152's. ZK-DAD, FCO, JCC, KID, MUN, NAN, PQO, PQP, SIS, SON.

Piper PA-28-151 ZK-ELX.

Piper PA-34 ZK-UPX.

Robinson R22's ZK-HDF, HDT, HEY, HFY, HGQ, HGW, HGY, HHD, HIL, HRD, HWU.

Hughes 269's ZK-HVK, HVY.

 

And a look at Rick Lucas Helicopters shows another 24 aircraft:-

Piper PA-34 ZK-RSQ.

KHI 369 ZK-HBS.

Robinson R22's ZK-HDX, HFO, HYU.

Robinson R44's ZK-HES, IAA, IBJ, ICG.

Bell 206 ZK-HRS.

Hughes 269 ZK-HGA.

AS 355's ZK-HXO, HYJ, HYN.

AS 350's ZK-HYD, HYW, IAP.

BK117's ZK-HYE, HYI, HYZ, IED, IPP.

MBB BO105's ZK-HYT, IAI.


Plus  DQ-HYO BK117A-4 in Suva plus BK117B-2s VH-UAN and VH-UAX in NSW.
(Thanks to Anonymous).
 

 

Wellington from Alister of zkarj.co.nz #1

 Here we have the first of two posts from Allister working Wellington Airport from a different perspective.

Into Winter from Allister of zkarj.co.nz

 

Allister on 27th June, 2026

I thought it had been a while since I posted, but I see it was only in May. Go me! This post does a little bit of a catch-up, but not quite up to today. (See the following post for the reason). Below Carefully concealing its registration behind a winch, BK117B-2 ZK-HES4 does a short hover-taxi before departing. From memory, it had come down from Taranaki to Wellington Hospital before positioning to the airport, presumably for fuel. See HERE for a previous posting on ZK-HES4. I hadn’t seen the Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 ZK-RJZ for a while. The registration refers to the owners — Robert Jones Holdings Ltd. The founder, Bob Jones, passed away about a year ago. It is currently operated by Wellington Jet Charter Trust. This cute little Grumman American AA-1B Trainer, ZK-DKX, was a rarity. I’ve seen the closely related Traveller before, but not this model. It has been registered to Gallett Properties Ltd of Nelson since August of 2005. I got probably my best study yet of Wellington’s new Life Flight Trust rescue helicopter, Airbus Helicopters H145 D3 (basically the descendant of the BK117 line), ZK-IXS3. See HERE for a previous mention of ZK-IXS3. I’ve seen Wellington Aero Club’s Piper PA-38 Tomahawk, ZK-WAC3, often enough but this was a perfectly timed shot. And finally for this post, I got another chance to see QantasLink’s green-liveried Airbus A220-371 c/n 55253, VH-X4A. I was close to the runway with a long lens, so went for this tight shot.

The second post will cover Allister's photographic efforts at Wellington Airport.

Ardmore and Pauanui today

Richard Currie dropped in on Ardmore today and has provided these three photographs.

 The Robinson R44 Raven I ZK-IWV (c/n 0184) was sourced from Japan and became ZK-HES3 to Rotor Flite N.Z. Ltd on 29-04-2003 and moved over to Action Helicopters Ltd of Upper Moutere from 17-09-2003.

It became one of the Helipro/Rick Lucas Helicopters fleet on 30-07-2005 and following their demise it joined many others at Heliflite Pacific Ltd from 01-07-2015.

Its current owner Chris Hanley of Whitford took it on from 26-04-2016 and it was re-registered to ZK-IWV a month later.

 The Partenavia P68B VH-PNY (c/n 70) arrived in NZ on 15-12-1976 and did a NZ tour in March of 1977 before becoming ZK-LAL with Lakeland Aviation Ltd at Taupo on 13-12-1977. 

At least ten owner/operators later we see it with Air Charter Manawatu/Flight Training Manawatu Ltd from 22-09-2000 with a change to its current operator Aerial Surveys Ltd from 01-11-2013.

Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk ZK-WAC2 (c/n 38-82A0086) was a pre-loved example that arrived from the States to become ZK-WAH from 13-12-1990 with the Waitemata Aero Club. 

After a brief spell with the Auckland Aero Club (Inc) from mid-November 1999 it went to Helicare Services Ltd at Nelson from 13-07-2000. 

They passed it on to the Wellington Flying Centre Ltd from 18-02-2002. 

On 26-02-2002 it was re-registered as ZK-WAC and listed with the Wellington Aero Club (Inc) - with whom its is still listed - although it looks decidedly un Wellington Aero Clubish in this shot.

And just the one from Pauanui today.

Robinson R44 Raven II ZK-HSU2 (c/n 10992) has been with Advanced Flight Ltd since 12-10-2015.

ZK-HES at Wellington waterfront on 31-05-2013

Rick Lucas Helicopters Ltd's Robinson R44 Astro ZK-HES3 (c/n 0184) resting on its trolley on the Wellington Water front - as captured on 31-05-2013 by Bargeldo1.

Helicopters at Ardmore 11-12-2020

 As usual at Ardmore last Friday there were quite a lot of helicopters about, and there were a couple that were new or different from the last time they were blogged:

MBB BK 117-B2 ZK-HES4 changed ownership to Search and Rescue Services Ltd on 2/10/19 and it now wears Bay of Plenty Coastal Region titles for the TECT Helicopter Rescue Service.

At Airbus Helicopters the H145 model M-PURE was outside briefly.  It is registered in the Isle of Man and I understand it comes from the superyacht "Air".

Also outside Airbus Helicopters was another black EC130 helicopter that looked unremarkable however I fired off a quick shot of it at the drop of a hat.  However it turned out to be the almost new EC130 T2 ZK-HAT3 (c/n 8867) that was registered on 2/10/20 to a Private Owner.  This is an example of how confusing New Zealand helicopters can be as I have previously photo'd a black EC 130 helicopter ZK-HAT - but that turned out to be ZK-HAT2 (c/n 4925) which was a EC130 B4 model ( and which was re-registered as ZK-HLG4 on 17/6/20, also to a Private Owner which only adds to the confusion).

Oh well!

ARHT at Ardmore Today 24-7-2019

A nice day at Ardmore today saw the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust's new base being worked on with lots of tradesmen working on the hangars and the ancillary buildings.  The AHRT have now completely moved out of Mechanics Bay.

Outgoing BK 117s ZK-HKZ3 and ZK-HES4 were parked out.

However there was no sign of the new Leonardo AW 169s.  

Then AW 169 ZK-HLH4 arrived back from flight training.

I was told that AW 169 ZK-IZB was out on an emergency job.

Some North Is Helicopters

Travelling down to Wellington the East Coast way a number of helicopters were noted en route this week starting with the Bay of Plenty Coastal Region rescue helicopter BK117B-2 ZK-HES4 at Taupo which has new sponsorship titling,  Aerocool Developments.   This was imported from Germany in 2017.

Parked up at Hastings airfield was Kahu Helicopters' Sikorsky EH60A ZK-HKU3 which has been busy assisting with Cyclone recovery work in the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne regions.

Based at Dannevirke airfield is Tararua Heliwork's Bell 206B ZK-IBP.   This was imported from Taiwan in 2021.

And at Wairarapa Helicopters' base at Wainuioru, east of Masterton, was their Hughes 369D ZK-HNT.  This was imported new back in 1979 and has been with the company since early 2021.

 

Some late February Helicopter Movements at Ardmore

Eurocopter EC135 P2+ ZK-ICM msn 632 of Helicopters Queenstown  Ltd seen outside Airbus Helicopters on 22-2-18 

Eurocopter AS350 B2 ZK-HWG msn 2816 of Nokomai Helicopters Ltd, RD 3 Lumsden at Ardmore on 26-2-18

Eurocopter AS350 BA ZK-HBR msn 1386 of Helilink Ltd Auckland but with Inflite titles at Ardmore on 28-2-18

The Auckland Helicopter Rescue Trusts newest helicopter MBB BK117 B-2 ZK-HES msn 7205 ex D-HBAY at Ardmore 28-2-18

Helipro on Queens - 3

I was in Wellington last Friday 25 January on another "you can't beat Wellington on a good day" day.  The waterfront was humming with locals and tourists from 2 cruise ships that were in port.

And Helipro had a full complement of 3 helicopters at their Queens Wharf base.  I always find that helicopters on the wharf are very photogenic, and even more so on such a great day.

Robinson R 44 ZK-HES headed off for a sight-seeing flight with a load of tourists...

Followed by Aerospatial AS 350D Squirrel ZK-HYD with another load of tourists...

While Kawasaki BK 117 A-3 ZK-HYE sat and in the sun and waited for the next emergency call.  It didn't come while I was there.

Pauanui

Down from Auckland last evening was the latest addition to the Auckland Resue helicopter fleet,  BK117B-2 ZK-HES,  engaged in rescuing 2 snorkellers stranded on rocks in the wind and the rain.

Over from Hamilton for the weekend was Helicorp's EC120B ZK-IGE

Out of the air for some time Yak 52 ZK-YNZ has been doing engine and taxi runs this week so hopefully will fly again soon.

Ardmore rotary wings 10th May.

 Errol Cavit had his long lens out at Ardmore on Saturday the 10th.

The MBB MBB-BK117 850D2 ZK-HES4 c/n 7205.

Now carrying Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter titles.

With TOI Foundation on the tail.

The Hughes 369D ZK-HRE2 c/n 1087D of Adept Ltd hover taxying at Ardmore.

A May 1982 vintage - initially as N5114Y with Hughes Helicopters Inc of Culver City before being taken up by Rocky Moutain Helicopter Incorporated of Provo, Utah from June of that year.

It then served twenty years in Japan as JA9417 from 16-08-1985 until joining the NZ register on 20-07-2005 with Rotor Flite N.Z. Ltd.

It was signed over to Adept Ltd of Auckland from 11-10-2005 who sent it to Heli-Flight (NZ) Ltd/Heliflight Ltd from 20-03-2007 until being returned to Adept from 01-09-2009.

ZK-HES

Operating a medevac flight into Pauanui today was the Tauranga Hospital based TECT Bay of Plenty rescue helicopter BK117B-2 ZK-HES4.    This was originally imported from Germany in 2017 and operated as part of the Auckland rescue helicopter fleet before moving onto Tauranga in late 2019.

 

Helipro On Queens Wharf, Wellington 10/11/2012

While waiting for my transport to Masterton last Saturday, a quick check of Helipro's base was in order.

Robinson R 44 ZK-HES was out in the sunshine basking in a "You Can't Beat Wellington on a Good Day"day.  I had a feeling that the weather was going to be pretty good in the Wairarapa.