A touch of hollywood as choppers descend off Four Mile Beach
CHOPPER TRAINING
FOUR Mile Beach had a touch of the 1970’s cult classic Apocalypse Now about it this morning.
While that’s more than a slight exaggeration, those standing on the sands of the famous strip could hear Ride of the Valkyries blasting out from Port Douglas superyacht M.Y. Flying Fish as two helicopters completed pilot training offshore.
Five pilots from Nautilus Aviation in Cairns were conducting their bi-annual training aboard an R44 and EC120, using the M.Y. Flying Fish helipad and advanced navigation and communications systems.
“It was ideal conditions for it today,” said Paul Nelson, Chief Engineer and Manager of M.Y. Flying Fish.
“It’s a bit daunting for the pilots because they are coming down onto something, but I’m talking to them the whole time and guiding them in.
“It’s something they need to do twice a year.”
Tourism tycoon Chris Morris has based the M.Y. Flying Fish in Port Douglas since April. With more than $6.5 million worth of vessel in their eye line, the pilots could be forgiven for being a little jumpy manoeuvring the aircraft onto the back of it.
“It’s a perception thing really,” Nelson said.
“If a pilot has a big mast and canopy in front of him then it can feel like quite a small deck area, but the landing H (helipad) is exactly the same size as what it is on a normal air strip.
“The biggest thing to account for is roll, it’s not so much the pitch, but we have all the equipment to make life a bit easier for them.”
The EC120 chopper can carry up to five passengers while the R44 usually carries two.
