Helicharter Nelson owners Matt and Rebecca Gibb this year celebrate being in business for 15 years. “Matt and I both grew up on the West Coast before moving up to Nelson. Our children have grown up in Brightwater and we have a strong connection to the community. We enjoy helping at school galas and supporting our local sports teams, we really believe in supporting local businesses.” Says Rebecca.
With a solid reputation for experience, safety and skill, Matt has been flying for over 25 years and was drawn to it from a young age, loving the freedom it instilled. Within the business, Matt operates a Hughes 500D Helicopter – which comfortably holds four passengers and has a cargo carrying capacity of 500kg - and the couple have recently added a AS350 B2 Squirrel to the fleet, enabling the team to cover a huge range of services.
“The Squirrel can hold six passengers and can carry cargo of 1000kg. This allows for a much larger scope especially within commercial and equipment transport needs.”
“Pilot, Willie King, who hails from D’Urville Island, has been with us for two years. Willie specialises in agricultural spraying while local lad Hamish Reade provides ground crew support for the company.” Rebecca rounds out the team in charge of the Safety management System and administration.
Helping when its needed comes with the territory for the company, with Matt being one of the first helicopters in the air during the 2019 Pigeon Valley fire, at the scene of one of the country's largest aerial fire fights. Amid building a home at the end of Eves Valley, the business’s own hanger had also become dangerously close to the action and needing evacuating.
Rebecca, along with friends, set to task removing as much as possible while Matt was in the air flying for 12 hours a day to fight the blaze. “That was a scary moment in time. The fire came very close to our neighbours and friends house, our community was like a war zone” says Rebecca.
Another moment that stands out for the team is the rescue of two trampers in Anatori, in 2020. Flying above the remote terrain for several days looking for points of interest, Matt was the first to spot smoke set by the couple in need, which ultimately led to a successful extraction.
Helicharter Nelson offers flights around both the Nelson and Marlborough region and the Top of the South. From fighting fires to providing scenic flights and chartering into remote locations, to lifting water tanks and tackling gorse, and everything in between.
With experienced pilots, Helicharter Nelson has a reputation for both safety and skill. “Our helicopters are smooth, reliable, fast and comfortable.” Helicharter Nelson is fully CAA licenced to carry passengers with D.O.C. concessions to operate in the Nelson / Marlborough / West Coast areas.
Contact Helicharter Nelson to get in amongst it, “And get access to some truly amazing places in our region.”
