HNZ Australia Starts Flying out of Mackay Airport to Blossom Banks with Airbus H145 Helicopter VH-ZRU

As expected, on Monday 27 May, locally-based HNZ Australia commenced flying from Mackay Airport to the Blossom Banks and back.  This sees the start of a contract to fly marine pilots from Mackay Airport to nearby ships.

File photo

HNZ Australia Airbus Helicopters MBB-BK117 D-2 H145 chopper VH-ZRU (pictured above) operated the first flight having spend the previous few weeks completing a series of local test flights.

VH-ZRU is joined on the Australian aircraft register by fellow H145 helicopter VH-ZRP which seems to have also recently taken to the air to complete test flights.

As mentioned previously, these two brand new-production choppers have recently arrived in Australia from Germany and were registered in mid-April this year.  VH-ZRU (c/n 20179) is ex-D-HADI(10), while VH-ZRP (c/n 20149) is ex-D-HNUB - as pictured below.

HNZ (Helicopters New Zealand) is headquartered in Nelson, New Zealand and operates helicopters from 8 locations throughout New Zealand, Australia, South East Asia and Antarctica. They Operate in support of a range of multi-national companies and government agencies, including onshore and offshore oil & gas, mineral exploration, marine pilot transfer services, military support, charter services, utilities and flight training.

To find out more about HNZ Australia visit their website:  http://www.hnzglobal.com/

We wish HNZ Australia all the very best with this new venture!

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©