Townsville Helicopters

Dick Arnold founded Townsville Helicopters in 2008 after eleven years mustering cattle in the Cloncurry and Gulf country and six years flying in Canada, and the business remains locally owned and operated as a family company. Arnold has logged more than 19,500 hours in command and over 7,000 hours instructing across a 34-year flying career. From its base at Townsville Airport, the company runs scenic flights over Townsville city, Magnetic Island and Cape Cleveland, including a Cape Cleveland lighthouse flight that lands for a picnic on Magnetic Island, a nine-islands scenic run, and a tropical escape to Havannah Island. It also flies charter fishing trips to Sweers Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria and runs a half-day barramundi fishing tour by air. Townsville Helicopters trains private and commercial pilots alongside its tourism and charter work, and operates sister brands National Aviation Academy, ZephAir Australia and Aviatrix Australia, the last dedicated to advancing women into flying careers.