Association overview

Along with the rest of the world, 2020 has been a very challenging year for the Australian helicopter industry. International and state border restrictions have decimated the local aviation industry. These restrictions have affected helicopter charter and tourism operations most severely. The JobKeeper program and the support of domestic tourists has allowed some operators to survive but many remain on a knife edge. 2021 may see some small improvement but the tourism and charter market are likely to remain problematic for some time.

Another challenge is some state government agencies wanting to operate their own helicopter fleets rather than contract the established and well-equipped local helicopter companies. This is poor behaviour by state governments at any time, and particularly at a time of severe economic downturn. Governments often boast that they are model litigants and procurers. This is currently not the case in helicopter contracting, particularly in NSW.